New Order hitting the road without Morris and Gilbert due to health reasons

New Order has announced that two of its members will not be joining the band on tour for the foreseeable future. Drummer Stephen Morris and keyboardist and guitarist Gillian Gilbert, who have been married since 1994, will not be accompanying the band at upcoming shows due to personal health reasons. The band made the announcement on Monday via Instagram.

The news comes ahead of New Order's planned appearance at Fauna Primavera in Santiago, Chile, taking place from November 26 to 28. It will be the first time in seven years that the band has performed in Chile. In the Instagram post, the band writes: "Due to personal health reasons, Stephen and Gillian won't be touring for the foreseeable future and will not be joining for this show. Bernard, Phil and Tom are really sorry that Stephen and Gillian can't join us this time, but unfortunately the circumstances make it impossible."

This means that frontman Bernard Sumner will be the only original founding member of New Order appearing at the festival. He will be joined by Phil Cunningham and Tom Chapman, both of whom have been part of the group since it reunited in 2011. Morris and Gilbert have been involved with the band since its earliest days: together with Sumner and now estranged bassist Peter Hook, they founded New Order following the death of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis in 1980.

Things have been eventful around the band as the year draws to a close. Joy Division and New Order will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on November 14 in Los Angeles as part of the class of 2026. Hook has already confirmed he will be present at the ceremony, but will not be taking the stage alongside his former bandmates. He said in April that he has not been in contact with the other members for years.

For fans hoping to see New Order in their classic lineup, the news will come as a disappointment. Morris and Gilbert are a defining part of the band's sound, from the signature drum patterns to the synthesizer textures that give tracks like Blue Monday and Bizarre Love Triangle their distinctive character. When they will be available for live performances again remains unknown for now.