New Order Members Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert Halt Touring Indefinitely
New Order Members Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert Halt Touring Indefinitely
Iconic New Order members Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert will not tour for the foreseeable future due to health reasons. Learn what this means for the band's live shows and future.
Iconic electronic pioneers New Order have announced that two of their long-standing members, drummer Stephen Morris and keyboardist Gillian Gilbert, will not be touring with the band "for the foreseeable future." The surprising news, confirmed via a statement on social media on June 29, cites "personal health reasons" as the cause for their indefinite absence.
This significant change means both Morris and Gilbert will miss upcoming live engagements, including New Order's highly anticipated performance at Primavera in Chile this November – a show marking the band's first return to the country in seven years. The official statement highlighted that other members, Bernard Sumner and Phil Cunningham, alongside Tom Chapman, will continue with the scheduled performances.
Stephen Morris, a founding member who was also the drummer for Joy Division alongside Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Ian Curtis, was instrumental in the band's formation after Curtis's passing in 1980. Gillian Gilbert joined shortly thereafter, playing a pivotal role in shaping New Order's distinctive sound as they transitioned from post-punk into electronic music. Their presence has been central to New Order's live performances since the band reformed without bassist Peter Hook in 2011.
The announcement has also drawn a reaction from former bassist Peter Hook, who has had a strained relationship with his former bandmates following his departure in 2007 and a subsequent legal dispute settled in 2017. Speaking on the YouTube show Rock Daydream Nation, Hook claimed he had already heard of their departure. "Barney is touring in New Order on his own this year, because Stephen and Gillian have left, that’s what I’ve heard," Hook commented, adding, "So now Barney is New Order. Which is quite interesting. He’s actually booked a gig in Chile that he will be playing as the only member of New Order, which is quite rich."
This development marks a substantial shift in New Order's live dynamic, potentially altering the sound and feel of their iconic performances moving forward. Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how the band adapts to this new chapter without two of its defining contributors.
