Bernard Sumner

This is a rather guarded memoir, though I think was the first time Bernard really spoke publicly at all about his childhood and family. As it moves on to the Joy Division and New Order story its treading familiar ground I've read about in other books, so always interesting to hear the same story from multiple viewpoints, Rashomon style. It doesn't feel like its got too much of an axe to grind, its more a tale of naivety and hedonism leading to poor decisions and fall outs. Its pretty entertaining and doesn't take itself too seriously, but the writing is a bit clunky in places.… (mehr)

This was an interesting biography of Bernard, starting with his youth and going through to present day (about 2014). I agree with some of the reviewers, that there is quite a bit of repetition of ideas and thought, but for me, it wasn't very troubling. It helped me get a feel for his voice.

This isn't a tell-all book, which is refreshing for me. Some like to bathe in the debauchery that entertainers have gone through. Sumner touches on some of these things, but mostly focuses on relationships, and the successes and failures that Joy Division and New Order had through their history, and some of his own thoughts about Electronic and Bad Lieutenant.

I have been a New Order and Electronic fan for some time, and reading this book increased my interest in listening to their music, which I have done with more regularity during and since reading.

I feel that Sumner's explanation of what happened with New Order and Peter Hook appear to be balanced, without ad hominem attacks.

I give it a 3 out of 5 because I enjoyed it, but I don't anticipate wanting to read it again.… (mehr)

This is an interesting autobiography by someone who's been in some really successful bands and who's now trying to sort out things. I have little doubt that the advent of his former Joy Division/New Order band mate Peter Hook's autobiography, which was released a little earlier this year, which threw daggers at Sumner. Here, Sumner spends a good deal of time to sort that out.

At the same time, Sumner explains his growing up in Salford, Manchester, a lot. It's been really interesting to read about his upbringing and how he's handled things, including massive success.

Sumner's really self-deprecating which is funny and injects air into the story. In other words, he takes the piss out of himself which is fun.

All in all: a good read on what his life's been like so far. He seems to know that he's lucky enough to be able to support himself by creating and performing music.… (mehr)

This seems to be the year of reading musicians' memoirs for me: this is the third I've read in the last few months by an English musician of around my age, following Viv Albertine's superb memoir (still the best book I've read this year), and Tracey Thorn's which is almost as good in its quietly reflective way. Bernard Sumner's is not quite as well written as either of those two, but I still found it fascinating - both because I love the music of Joy Division and New Order, the bands for which he is most famous, and because his origins in Salford in the 1950s have many parallels with my own in Grimsby a couple of years later.

New Order were famous for their hedonism, but I was relieved that he dialled down the drugs, drink 'n debauchery to focus more on the music and the personalities - not neglecting some of the epic legal struggles in which the band has been involved. If you are interested in the music of the post-punk and acid house eras, or if you are keen to read an English perspective that is distinctly Northern, I think you'll enjoy this book.… (mehr)