Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert leave New Order

[DopeFiend]

News today, Stephen and Gillian are no longer part of NO henceforth.
It was mentioned by Peter Hook recently, and now officially confirmed by the band.
This means they won't be in any foreseeable live performances, and presumably won't be contributing to any
new songs or remixes. (Not that NO have been bringing out new music)

It's obviously sad, and obviously everyone wishes for these two to be in good health.
The exact quote from the band is:

New Order are very happy to be playing Primavera in Chile in November marking the band’s first performance there in seven years.
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.

Which sounds a bit strange. How can 2 people both have personal health reasons. Is it to do with their kids? Is 1 of them struggling with a debilitating illness and the other is the caretaker? Anyway, more interesting than that is the future of NO.

Specifically, with Bernard. Essentially Bernard Sumner is all of New Order now.
Someone's suggested for him to rejoin Johnny Marr and perform as Electronic.

Could this result in Bernard beginning a new project, or reforming Electronic?
Will this at all take the wind out of the sails of New Order?
Either way, this is the biggest change in the band since the 2011 reunion.

As petheads we'd love for Electronic to come back, and have Neil (Chris too) feature as guest.
But it seems unlikely. Never say never, though! Johnny Marr is quite active these days.

This all comes a odd timing, with New Order gaining their spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an expanded reissue of The Rest Of New Order coming out, containing 2 discs of bonus material, and just last week their World In Motion single package was released on digital platforms to commemorate the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

I'm hoping Bernard creates something new, but you never know. It will be strange to witness the upcoming live performance, seeing the replacements for Stephen Morris and Gillian.
The upcoming performance will be at Fauna Primavera 2026 at the end of November, which is after the Hall Of Fame ceremony of the 14th of Nov.

[ChoonHound]

Because one is sick and the other is supporting them, numb nuts.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Because one is sick and the other is supporting them, numb nuts.

Indeed, and that's also not necessarily "leaving New Order".

The decent thing for the OP to do would be to change the title for "Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert stop touring with New Order" or words to that effect until there's any actual confirmation of them "leaving New Order".

Retro.

[Gabby]

Yeah I saw the Peter Hook interview, and my takeaway was he was either misinformed and/or NO camp are spinning it as a temporary departure of live duties for Stephen and Gillian.

I agree with PH though that it's no more New Order with just Bernard than it would be if it were just PH.

As for the RRHOF that will be all the more interesting now as its only a short time before that live date in Chile.

[Patrick Bateman]

Very much a Trigger's Broom situation now.

[Gabby]

Very much a Trigger's Broom situation now.

Or The Beast from Worlds End!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-fbKoq26baw

[Spittingcat]

Speculation...

Morris stepped in for Gabe Gurnsey (Factory Floor) on drums recently when there was a family issue for him. Suggests he's up for playing live. So I'd suggest it's the touring, not playing, that's the issue. Plenty of treatment that would require you to stay nearer to home and not be on tour (either for one of them or for another family member). I hope it all goes well. I also (selfishly) hope this means they do a bit of writing/recording/producing/remixing while away from touring. I don't care if it's not under the New Order name at all.

Seen some promo posters/images recently that just show Sumner/Cunningham/Chapman... so that's the New Order that's touring now... I'd rather they didn't use the name... and mixed up the setlist to include other material. When Bad Lieutenant supported PSB the set list was full of lovely surprises... eg. Out of Control and Temptation mixed together if my memory doesn't fail me.

[tottenhammattspurs]

Just call it “Bernard Sumner and the Dark”.

[Gabby]

The NO camp is going out of their way to legitimize the current lineup. This post about Phil Cunningham on FB recently wasn't really called for or necessary under any other circumstances imho.

https://www.facebook.com/10004442826967 ... 2/?app=fbl

That being said, he has been with the band a long time (and lest we forget before Hooky departed).

PH (as much as he is a hero of mine) is coming across as a rather foaming at the mouth child right now. I don't doubt he was badly "wronged" by Sumner, but Sumner has the upper hand by simply not engaging in the fray.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

PH (as much as he is a hero of mine) is coming across as a rather foaming at the mouth child right now. I don't doubt he was badly "wronged" by Sumner, but Sumner has the upper hand by simply not engaging in the fray.

Originally when Hooky was blocking the release of Lost Sirens, I was particularly annoyed at him. Once he started Peter Hook & The Light, I respected his approach in terms of how PH&TL approached the JD/NO legacy. I vaguely recall that he dialled down the booze (?), and for the most part, seemed a reasonable bloke. I get that him and Sumner have tense relations, and I've given up any intent of understanding it or even taking sides, but Hooky seems to go a bit too far in my eyes when he collectively calls them "bastards" and in doing so, ropes Gillian and Stephen into it. However, he's entirely correct when he says Sumner live (without Hook, Morris & Gilbert) is no longer New Order. Once you've lost the quorum, you can't legitimately do that.

Retro.

[Gabby]

Greetings,

PH (as much as he is a hero of mine) is coming across as a rather foaming at the mouth child right now. I don't doubt he was badly "wronged" by Sumner, but Sumner has the upper hand by simply not engaging in the fray.

...Hooky seems to go a bit too far in my eyes when he collectively calls them "bastards" and in doing so, ropes Gillian and Stephen into it. However, he's entirely correct when he says Sumner live (without Hook, Morris & Gilbert) is no longer New Order. Once you've lost the quorum, you can't legitimately do that.

Retro.

Agree. He's not doing himself any favors by simply name calling. My impression is Stephen wasn't picking sides, but taking the line of least resistance (his books show he's not overly pushy) and Gillian and Stephen are always going to stick together obviously.

Without "the Other Two" Sumner is no better calling his band New Order than Hook would be with Pottsy.