Just two months ahead of New Order’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, the British post-punk act’s original keyboardist and guitarist Gillian Gilbert has revealed she is “living with cancer.”
Gilbert disclosed her illness in a social post shared on New Order’s official accounts. Earlier, Gilbert’s partner in life and the band, Stephen Morris, spoke with Rolling Stone for an interview in which he was interpreted as having cancer.
“I’ve got a bit of a health problem at the minute, which precludes leaving the country for any length of time,” he told RS. “I really don’t want to dwell on what this illness is, but it’s pretty serious. It’s not something that someone’s going to come up with a cure for.”
The health problem is a shared one, but the nuance is lost on some.
“We have both been incredibly touched by all the kind words and well wishes,” Gilbert writes on Instagram Stories. “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.”
The 65-year-old artist didn’t disclose the nature of her illness, or its progress, but she assured that she’s taking it seriously.
“We are enormously grateful for everyone’s kindness and support and would appreciate some privacy as I continue with my treatment,” she explained.
New Order and the band it emerged from, Joy Division, will be inducted into the Rock Hall this November, members of a class that includes Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
Following the death of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in May 1980, the three surviving members — Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Peter Hook — rallied and formed New Order in Manchester, north England in the same year. Gillian was invited to join the band in October 1980.
If Joy Division was a cult band, New Order enjoyed the rare air of international mainstream success. In the United Kingdom, New Order has landed 11 top 10 album, including two No. 1s with 1989’s Technique and 1993’s Republic. In the United States, New Order has had six entries on the Billboard Hot 100, and nine appearances on the Billboard 200 chart.
Gillian ceased touring with New Order in 2001, and returned to its new-look lineup (with Hook departed) in 2011. In June of this year, Morris and Gilbert revealed they would not be joining their show at Primavera in Chile in late November “due to personal health reasons.” A statement issued at the time read, “Circumstances make it impossible.” Gillian’s social post explains those personal health reasons.
The Rock Hall 2026 induction ceremony will take place Nov. 14 in Los Angeles and air on ABC and Disney+ in December. Before that, Warner Music next Friday, Sept. 25, drops Eternal: Live, the career-spanning 14xCD and 2xDVD “definitive” New Order box set.
Read Gilbert’s social post below.
Thank you everyone who has reached out following Stephen’s recent interview with Rolling Stone.
We have both been incredibly touched by all the kind words and well wishes.
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.
We are enormously grateful for everyone’s kindness and support and would appreciate some privacy as I continue with my treatment.
