New Order's Bernard Sumner blasts Welsh lockdown for keeping him from his boat

TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, IRELAND - 2019/07/07: Lead vocalist and guitarist Bernard Sumner performs live on stage with English rock band New Order at the Summer Series Festival in Trinity College, Dublin. (Photo by Ben Ryan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Bernard Sumner is not happy that he can't visit his boat in Wales. (Getty Images)

Rock star Bernard Sumner has blasted Wales’ lockdown rules for keeping him from using his boat.

The 64-year-old musician - a founding member of Joy Division and New Order - lives in Manchester but owns a boat in Wales which he is no allowed to visit because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Sumner told The Times: “I’ve got a brand new boat waiting for me in Wales and I can’t go to it because the f***ing Welsh won’t let me.

“So yeah, lockdown’s doing my f***ing nut in.”

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England lockdown rules have been now relaxed, allowing people to travel to parks and beaches.

However, the Welsh government have chosen to extend lockdown which means people in Wales cannot travel for exercise and Welsh second home owners are not permitted to visit the country.

NETHERLANDS - JANUARY 16:  ROTTERDAM  Photo of Joy Division performing live in Rotterdam, Bernard Sumner (left) & Ian Curtis  (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns)
Joy Division's Bernard Sumner & Ian Curtis (Getty Images)

Sumner is a singer and guitarist with New Order, the band formed by the remaining members of Joy Division following the suicide of frontman Ian Curtis in 1980.

Joy Division had a song called Isolation.

Sumner said: “I guess back in those days we were all pretty isolated anyway because there was nowhere to go.”

** ARCHIV ** Ein undatiertes, von der Produktionsfirma Warner zur Verfuegung gestelltes Archivbild zeigt die Pop-Gruppe "New Order". Von links: Der 49-jaehrige Bassist der Gruppe, PeterHook, Schlagzeuger Stephen Morris, der Snger und Gitarrist Bernhard Sumner und Keyboarder Phil Cunningham. Im 25. Jahr ihres Bstehens veroeffentlicht die Band ein bemerkenswert frisches Album (Waiting For The Sirene's Call).  (AP Photo/Warner, Deidre O'Callaghan) ** zu unserem KORR. APD4693 **
New Order's Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernhard Sumner and Phil Cunningham. (AP)

New Order were due to tour America with Pet Shop Boys this year, but due to the coronavirus crisis, it has been postponed until next 2021.

And Sumner is trying to look past lockdown.

He said: “We look forward to a bright future.”