New Order's Gillian Gilbert, 65, reveals she is 'living with cancer' after bowing out of the band's upcoming gigs due to 'health reasons'

New Order's keyboardist Gillian Gilbert has announced she is 'living with cancer', after she and her husband Stephen stepped down from the group's concerts 'due to personal health reasons'. 

The musician, 65, issued a statement on Instagram to address the 'misunderstanding' when her husband, who is the drummer in the band, spoke about a 'health problem' in a recent interview. 

Ahead of New Order and Joy Division being inducted together into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame earlier this year, Stephen had told Rolling Stone magazine: 'I've got a bit of a health problem at the minute, which precludes leaving the country for any length of time.'

Asked if he'd return to the band at some point, he added: 'I don't know. I really don't want to dwell on what this illness is, but it's pretty serious. It's not something that someone's going to come up with a cure for.'

Gillian subsequently issued a statement on Tuesday to 'gently clarify' the situation.

She wrote on Instagram: 'Thank you to everyone who has reached out following Stephen's recent interview with Rolling Stone.

'We have both been incredibly touched by all the kind words and well wishes.

'I would like to gently clarify a misunderstanding from the interview, in the course of which comments were misinterpreted leading people to believe that Stephen is seriously ill.

'Thankfully, he is well. It is in fact me, who like many other people is living with cancer.

'We completely understand how the misunderstanding arose and simply wanted to ensure that the correct information was shared.

'We are enormously grateful for everyone's kindness and support and would appreciate some privacy as I continue with my treatment.'

The couple's decision to step back from New Order was announced by the band in June.

A statement posted on their social media accounts read: '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.'

The news came after former bassist Peter Hook – who left the group in 2007 – had claimed Bernard Sumner would be touring solo under the New Order moniker.

He told the Rock Daydream Nation show on YouTube: 'Barney is touring in New Order on his own this year, because Stephen and Gillian have left, that's what I've heard.

'So now Barney is New Order. Which is quite interesting. He's actually booked a gig in Chile that he will be playing as the only member of New Order, which is quite rich.'

In recent years, the touring line-up of the band – who were formed after the death of their Joy Division bandmate Ian Curtis in 1980 – has seen Bernard, Stephen and Gillian perform with guitarist Phil Cunningham and bassist Tom Chapman.