Joy Division
Sumner and Hook attend a Sex Pistols show at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall, only 35 to 40 people are in attendance, but that night has been credited with igniting the Manchester music scene
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Bernard Sumner Biography and Timeline
Follow Bernard Sumner through 8 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Bernard Sumner, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
8Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1976–1980Years on this page
1976
Joy Division
Joy Division is formed, originally named Warsaw, the band consists of Ian Curtis (vocals and guitar), Bernard Sumner (guitar and keyboards), Peter Hook (bass guitar and vocals), and Stephen Morris (drums and percussion)
1977
Joy Division
The band rename themselves Joy Division in late 1977, borrowing their new name from the prostitution wing of a Nazi concentration camp in the 1965 novel The House of Dolls
1978
Joy Division
Joy Division contribute two tracks recorded with producer Martin Hannett to the compilation double 7" EP A Factory Sample, the first release by Tony Wilson's record label Factory Records
1979
Joy Division
The band begin recording their debut album Unknown Pleasures at Strawberry Studios, producer Martin Hannett contributes significantly to the final sound
1980
Joy Division
With Martin Hannett again producing, the band record their second album Closer Britannia Row Studios
New Order
Joy Divisions is renamed New Order, reborn as a three piece with Sumner assuming vocal duties; the group later recruited Morris girlfriend Gillian Gilbert to round out the lineup on keyboards. After the suicide of Ian Curtis, the remaining members of Joy Division reform as New Order
Suicide
After the suicide of Ian Curtis, the remaining members of Joy Division reform as New Order
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.