New Order’s Gillian Gilbert reveals she is living with cancer
Gilbert and her husband and bandmate, Stephen Morris, will not be joining New Order on their South American tour
New Order keyboardist Gillian Gilbert has shared she is undergoing treatment for cancer.
Concerns for the 65-year-old’s health were raised after an interview her husband and bandmate, drummer Stephen Morris, gave Rolling Stone . In the interview, when asked if he would attend New Order’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in November, Morris said, “I’ve got a bit of a health problem at the minute, which precludes leaving the country for any length of time ... it’s pretty serious.”
In response to the interview, Gilbert took to Instagram to clarify Morris’ statement. “I would like to gently clarify a misunderstanding from the interview, in the course of which comments were misinterpreted leading people to believe that Stephen is seriously ill,” she wrote. “Thankfully, he is well. It is in fact me, who like many other people, is living with cancer. We completely understand how the misunderstanding arose and simply wanted to ensure that the correct information was shared.”
Gilbert also thanked fans for their concern and well wishes, adding that she would “appreciate some privacy as I continue with my treatment”. You can read her full statement below.
New Order are still expected to fulfil their tour dates in South America in November, with Gilbert and Morris replaced by touring musicians.
Gilbert joined the band shortly after they formed from the ashes of Joy Division following singer Ian Curtis’ death. Since then, Gilbert has been a pivotal member of the band alongside Morris, singer Bernard Sumner, and former bassist Peter Hook.
In the decades since forming, Gilbert has had a hand in writing every New Order album until 2001’s ‘Get Ready’, after which she took a break from the band to raise her and Morris’s children.
In 2007, Gilbert was successfully treated for breast cancer before returning as a touring member of New Order.
This summer, New Order released ‘ The Best & The Rest Of ’ compilation, which featured unreleased remixes from Dave Clarke, Sabres of Paradise, CJ Bolland, Howie B, Richie Hawtin and Shep Pettibone and more.
