New Order's Gillian Gilbert Clarifies: She's the One With Cancer, Not Stephen Morris
New Order keyboardist Gillian Gilbert issued a statement on Tuesday, September 15, clarifying a misunderstanding that had spread through recent media coverage: it is she, not her husband and bandmate, drummer Stephen Morris, who is living with and being treated for cancer. In the statement she thanked fans for their concern and said Morris is currently in good health. Back in June, the Manchester band had announced that the pair would not be touring with the group for the foreseeable future due to "personal health reasons."
What sparked the confusion
The mix-up traced back to an earlier interview Morris gave to Rolling Stone, published ahead of New Order and Joy Division's joint induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Morris had mentioned he was currently dealing with "a bit of a health issue" that prevented him from traveling abroad for long stretches. Asked whether he might return to touring, he said he wasn't sure, describing the condition as "pretty serious."
In her statement, Gilbert said she wanted to "gently clarify" the misreading the interview had caused, stressing that she is the one who is unwell, and asked for a measure of privacy during her treatment. She also expressed gratitude for the goodwill and support she's received.
Gilbert's role in the band's history
Morris was previously the drummer for Joy Division alongside Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Ian Curtis; after Curtis's death in 1980, the remaining members formed New Order. Gilbert joined in the 1980s and became a central architect of the band's synthesizer sound. She and Morris also run a side project, The Other Two, which released its debut album The Other Two & You in 1993 and followed up with Super Highways in 1999.
Gilbert has spoken to NME about the awkward circumstances of joining the band — outsiders had reportedly expected a replacement singer rather than a female keyboardist, and during a 1980s trip to Japan, crew members would relay messages to her only through the band's male members. Producer Kelly Lee Owens, interviewed in 2020, described Gilbert as the "synth queen" of New Order's lineup during the 1980s and '90s.
Recent band activity
- South American tour: the band is set to play Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia later this year
- New Order released a remastered compilation, The Best & The Rest Of New Order, this year, featuring classic singles alongside rare and previously unreleased remixes
- The Joy Division live recording box set Eternal is due out September 30, comprising 14 CDs and 2 DVDs