New Order to Tour Chile Without Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris Amid Health Concerns
New Order is set to return to Chile for the first time in seven years, but two of the band's longtime members won't be making the trip. The group confirmed on Monday that keyboardist and guitarist Gillian Gilbert and drummer Stephen Morris, who have been married since 1994, will sit out the upcoming Primavera Chile performance and will not be touring with the band for an undetermined stretch going forward.
The announcement came via the band's official Instagram account, where New Order expressed enthusiasm about returning to Chilean audiences after such a long gap. The post noted that the November show would mark the group's first appearance in the country in seven years, a milestone the band seemed eager to celebrate even as it delivered the harder news about its lineup. According to the statement, Gilbert and Morris will be stepping away from touring duties for the foreseeable future due to personal health reasons, meaning their absence won't be limited to just the Chile date.
The remaining members of the band, Bernard Sumner, Phil Cunningham, and Tom Chapman, used the same post to convey their disappointment over the situation. They acknowledged feeling sorry that Gilbert and Morris wouldn't be part of this run of shows, while making clear that the circumstances left them without another option. Beyond that, New Order offered no further explanation about the nature of the health issues involved, leaving fans without clarity on what exactly prompted the change. It also remains unknown at this point who, if anyone, might step in to cover Gilbert and Morris's parts during the shows they'll be missing. As of now, a representative for the band has not provided additional comment in response to inquiries about the matter.
The timing of this news adds an extra layer of significance to an already eventful year for the band. New Order, alongside the project that preceded it, Joy Division, is finally being welcomed into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after facing repeated snubs over the years. The induction ceremony is scheduled for November 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, an event that will later be broadcast to a wider audience when it airs on ABC and streams on Disney+ the following month.
Gilbert and Morris's connection to New Order dates back to the band's earliest days, and their absence marks a notable shift in how the group will present itself on stage in the months ahead. Both musicians have remained closely tied to the band's identity for decades, contributing not only to its sound but to the personal history that has shaped its story, given their decades-long marriage and shared tenure in the lineup. Their stepping back, even temporarily, changes the composition of a band that fans have come to associate with a fairly consistent core lineup over the years.
Fans hoping for more clarity on the health situation, or on how the band plans to handle live performances without its full lineup, will likely have to wait for further updates as the November dates approach.
