New Order’s Gillian Gilbert Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

A health scare surrounding New Order has taken an unexpected turn: drummer Stephen Morris is well, while his wife and bandmate Gillian Gilbert has revealed that she is the one living with cancer.

The clarification follows a recent interview with Rolling Stone in which Morris discussed the “pretty serious” health problem that would likely prevent him from attending New Order and Joy Division’s Nov. 14 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and joining the band’s upcoming South American tour. “I really don’t want to dwell on what this illness is,” he said. “It’s not something that someone’s going to come up with a cure for.”

More from Spin:

• Ed Sheeran Breaks Silence On Macklemore’s Tour Removal
• Bob Dylan Readies 39-CD ‘Rolling Thunder Revue’ Set
• Every Stevie Wonder Album, Ranked

In a new statement, Gilbert — New Order’s keyboardist and an original member of the band, as well as Morris’ wife of 32 years — explained that the comments had been misinterpreted. “Thankfully, he is well,” she wrote. “It is in fact me, who like many other people, is living with cancer.” Gilbert, 65, added that she and Morris had been “incredibly touched” by the public’s concern, while asking for privacy as she continues treatment.

The confusion arrives amid a major transitional moment for New Order. As previously reported, Morris and Gilbert had already announced that they would sit out the group’s upcoming South American dates in November and December due to personal health reasons. They’ll mark the first time New Order has performed without founding drummer Morris, although Gilbert took a hiatus from the touring with group between 1998-2011.

So far, original bassist Peter Hook — the former bandmate whose relationship with New Order has remained bitterly estranged for nearly two decades — is the only member confirmed to attend New Order and Joy Division’s Rock Hall induction.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.