13 Facts About Gillian Gilbert

Gillian Lesley Gilbert was born on 27 January 1961 and is an English musician.

Gillian Gilbert is the keyboardist and guitarist of the band New Order.

Gillian Gilbert disliked living in Cheshire as a teenager and had wanted to live in Manchester.

Gillian Gilbert was then in a punk band with three girls, the Inadequates, who rehearsed at premises next to Joy Division.

Gillian Gilbert had already played with Joy Division a number of times, filling in for both Curtis and Bernard Sumner playing guitar.

Gillian Gilbert stopped touring with New Order in 1998 so that she could care for their children, one of whom suffers from neuromyelitis optica.

Gillian Gilbert's husband had briefly offered to care for the children, but Gilbert reasoned that it would be easier for the band to replace her than her husband.

Gillian Gilbert participated in the recording of 2001's Get Ready, after which she was replaced by Phil Cunningham in New Order's line-up.

That year, Gillian Gilbert was diagnosed with breast cancer, from which she recovered.

Gillian Gilbert re-joined New Order in 2011, after a 10-year absence from their albums.

Gillian Gilbert performed alongside Cunningham, expanding the group to a quintet.

Gillian Gilbert is quoted as saying that she felt glad that she had done other things during her time away from the band.

In 2021 Gillian Gilbert contributed to a band interview reflecting on the previous 10 years of New Order.