New Order Drummer Stephen Morris Says Illness Is "Pretty Serious," Future Onstage Return Unclear

Stephen Morris, founding drummer of New Order, says his current health condition may prevent him from traveling for the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on November 14, and that he isn't sure whether he'll perform with the band again. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Morris described his condition as "pretty serious" and said it isn't something that can be cured. As compiled by Far Out Magazine, it's the first time Morris has spoken in detail about his situation since the band announced in June that he and keyboardist Gillian Gilbert would step back from touring.

What Morris said

Morris said he and Gilbert tried testing how his body would hold up with a short trip to New York to see an Ian Curtis lyrics exhibition — just two days — and it ended in what he called a "disaster." He declined to go into detail about his diagnosis but was blunt that things aren't going to improve.

Still, he said he has no intention of giving up drumming, comparing losing music to losing a leg. He said he remains in regular contact with bandmates Bernard Sumner, Phil Cunningham, and Tom Chapman, and that a show close to home would likely be manageable — it's the long-haul travel that comes with touring that's the real obstacle.

On the band touring for the first time without him, Morris called it "strange," but said it's the only workable option — better to be upfront now than to cancel at the last minute.

The June statement and the South America tour

In June, New Order posted a statement on social media saying that Morris and Gilbert would not be joining touring plans for the foreseeable future due to personal health reasons, while Sumner, Cunningham, and Chapman would continue performing. The band is set to tour Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia later this year, with none of those dates featuring Morris or Gilbert.

Fellow founding member Peter Hook has publicly criticized the band for continuing to tour without the two, saying Sumner has benefited from a "Dracula effect" — relying on younger backing musicians to carry the live show.