Gillian Gilbert, keyboardist with New Order, has announced she is currently receiving treatment for cancer, moving to clarify confusion that arose following a recent interview given by her husband and bandmate Stephen Morris.
The 65-year-old musician made the announcement via Instagram in response to Morris's appearance on Rolling Stone earlier this month, where he had discussed a serious health issue affecting his ability to travel. According to Morris's interview with Rolling Stone, the drummer stated:
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.He declined to discuss the illness in greater detail, though he indicated it was unlikely to be curable.
Gilbert's statement addressed the misinterpretation that had followed. She wrote:
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. 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.
She expressed gratitude for the support she had received and requested privacy during her ongoing treatment. According to reports from the music press, Gilbert's public clarification came after the confusion surrounding Morris's comments had prompted widespread concern about his wellbeing.
Gilbert's history with New Order
Gilbert has been integral to New Order since the band's formation in the early 1980s, emerging from Joy Division following the death of frontman Ian Curtis. Morris, alongside Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook, initially performed one tour before recruiting Gilbert to handle keyboards and guitar duties.
Reflecting on her early involvement, Gilbert once recalled:
It seemed like a dream, really. A dream come true. I was a bit daunted because they were obviously songwriting, and I couldn't play keyboards at all, and I thought I'd just play guitar. But they said, 'Well, we've got some keyboard parts.' So, I got my sister's Bontempi organ out.
She performed and co-wrote on every New Order studio album from their 1981 debut Movement through 2001's Get Ready. She then stepped back from the group for approximately a decade to focus on raising her and Morris's children, including their daughter Grace, who had become physically disabled following an illness.
Previous cancer diagnosis and treatment
Gilbert was successfully treated for breast cancer in 2007, marking her first experience with the disease. She subsequently returned to the band's touring lineup and contributed to their most recent album, providing both performance and creative input as the group continued its work.
Recent touring changes and upcoming commitments
In June 2026, New Order announced that Gilbert and Morris would not tour for the foreseeable future due to personal health reasons. The statement indicated that Bernard Sumner, Phil Cunningham and Tom Chapman would continue performing without them for upcoming dates.
The band is scheduled to perform in Chile in November 2026 with touring musicians replacing Gilbert and Morris in the lineup. That same month, New Order will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a significant recognition of their influence on alternative and electronic music over four decades.
Key Facts
- Gilbert, 65, announced via Instagram that she is living with cancer and undergoing treatment
- Her statement clarified confusion from Stephen Morris's Rolling Stone interview, in which he had discussed his own serious health issue
- Gilbert was previously treated for breast cancer in 2007
- New Order will perform in South America in November 2026 without Gilbert and Morris, using touring musicians
- The band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction is also scheduled for November 2026
