New Order: concern for Stephen Morris: "My illness is serious, I don't know if I'll be back"

Stephen Morris has alarmed New Order. The drummer, a key figure in the history of the band and, before that, of Joy Division, has spoken openly about the health issues that have forced him to stop performing in recent months, though without revealing the nature of the illness. So much so that he has admitted he doesn't know if he will be able to return to playing live with the band.
Last June, New Order had announced that Morris and Gillian Gilbert would not take part in concerts "for the foreseeable future" for health reasons. Now the musician has provided a few more details in an interview with Rolling Stone, explaining that his condition mainly prevents him from leaving the UK for extended periods.

"I've got a health issue at the moment that stops me leaving the country for a significant length of time," Morris said. The drummer had also tried to see whether he could travel again by going to New York for an exhibition dedicated to Ian Curtis's writings, but the experience didn't go as hoped: "It was only two days and it turned into a disaster."
Even more worrying were his words when asked whether he could picture a stable return to New Order in the future. "I don't know. I really don't want to dwell on what this illness actually is, but it's pretty serious. It's not something anyone's going to find a cure for," he explained.

However, Morris has no intention of giving up music. "I can't really stop making music. It'd be a bit like losing a leg, or something a lot worse," he added, noting that he remains in touch and on good terms with Bernard Sumner, Phil Cunningham and Tom Chapman. An occasional return to the stage is therefore not ruled out: "If it was a gig nearby, I'm sure we'd be fine."
Uncertainty also surrounds his presence at the upcoming Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, which this year will see Joy Division and New Order inducted together into the American institution. Morris still doesn't know whether his condition will allow him to make the trip.

The drummer had joined Joy Division alongside Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook. After Curtis's death in 1980, the three surviving members formed New Order, later joined by Gillian Gilbert. Morris has remained a constant presence throughout the band's history, contributing decisively to its signature fusion of post-punk, electronics and dance.
The induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inevitably brings his relationship with Peter Hook back into the spotlight too. Hook left New Order in 2007 and was later involved in a long legal dispute with his former bandmates, which was settled in 2017. Hook has already made it known that he has no intention of performing alongside the other band members during the ceremony.

Meanwhile, New Order will continue their live activity with new dates in South America. In 2026, the compilation "The Best & The Rest Of New Order" was also released, while on the Joy Division front, the monumental live box set "Eternal", made up of 14 CDs and two DVDs, is due out on September 30th.

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