New Order is gearing up for its first performance at Festival Fauna Primavera in Santiago, Chile, in November – but it won't be the same without two of its longest-serving members. Drummer Stephen Morris and synth legend Gillian Gilbert will be absent from the stage "for the foreseeable future", citing personal health reasons. The news has left fans reeling, with Bernard Sumner being the only original Joy Division member set to perform live – a poignant reminder that time waits for no band.
Morris was part of the original Joy Division lineup in 1976, alongside Sumner, Peter Hook, and Ian Curtis. After Curtis's tragic passing in 1980, Morris joined forces with his mates to form New Order, with Gilbert on board shortly after. She brought a game-changing synth sound to the table, catapulting them from post-punk pioneers into electronic music royalty – an evolution that defined their enduring success.
It's a blow for fans who had grown accustomed to Morris and Gilbert's dynamic presence at live shows. But with a significant year on the horizon – including induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame alongside Joy Division – this change of lineup might just prove to be an unexpected silver lining. The current touring crew has been bolstered by the talents of Phil Cunningham (guitar) and Tom Chapman (bass), but with Morris and Gilbert out, significant adjustments will be made for upcoming live dates.
This development also shines a light on the complex history between New Order's founding members – none more so than Peter Hook, who departed in 2007 after a bitter dispute. Hook has announced he won't be joining his former bandmates at the Hall Of Fame induction ceremony this year, citing unresolved tensions. It's a poignant reminder that even in the world of music, wounds can take years to heal.
The absence of Morris and Gilbert from live shows will undoubtedly change the on-stage chemistry – but fans remain hopeful that the show must go on, with Sumner at its helm. The big question now is who'll be joining him for those upcoming dates...