Gillian Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Gillian Lesley Gilbert is an English musician, keyboardist
, guitarist
and singer, best known as a member of New Order
and a founding member of The Other Two
.
to the nearby market town of Macclesfield
when she was young. She has two sisters: Kim and Julie. In a 1987 New Order interview, Gilbert says that she disliked living in Cheshire
as a teenager and wanted to live in Manchester
.
In the late 1970s, Gilbert was in a punk band with three girls who happened to rehearse next to Joy Division
, which included singer Ian Curtis
, guitarist Bernard Sumner
, bassist Peter Hook
, and drummer Stephen Morris. In a 1987 interview with Option, Gilbert reflected on the first time she became familiar with Joy Division: "[W]e didn't have a car and us three needed a lift home. So we asked them, and they said, 'Alright, but you have to buy one of our singles.' So we did and got it home and played it on this horrible record player. We'd known Stephen before. We thought, 'My god, this sounds horrible.'" Gilbert would later begin dating Morris.
Ian Curtis's death in May 1980 left a three-member band that named itself New Order
. Wanting to complete their line-up with someone they knew well and whose musical skill and style was compatible with their own, New Order invited Gilbert to join the band during the early part of October 1980, as keyboardist and guitarist. She had already played with Joy Division a number of times, filling in for both Curtis and Sumner playing guitar. Gilbert's membership was suggested by band manager Rob Gretton
. Gilbert's first live performance with New Order occurred at The Squat in Manchester on October 25, 1980.
Gilbert's voice can be heard on several New Order tracks: the 1981 single
"Procession
"; the 1983 single
"Confusion"; "Avalanche" from the album
Republic
on which she sang a single word, "faith"; and "Doubts Even Here
" from their first album, Movement, on which she provided a spoken-word background vocal.
As New Order members Sumner and Hook had already produced music outside New Order, Gilbert and Morris formed their own band, The Other Two
. The Other Two released its first single "Tasty Fish" in 1991 and released two albums, The Other Two & You
in 1993 and Super Highways
1999.
Gilbert and Morris were engaged in 1993 and married shortly afterward. Gilbert and Morris live in Rainow
, outside Macclesfield. The couple have two daughters: Tilly and Grace. Their daughter Grace has transverse myelitis
. Consequently Gilbert has not toured with New Order since 2001 so that she can care for her daughter. She reasoned that it would be easier for the band to replace her than her husband. In 2001 she was replaced by Phil Cunningham
in New Order's line-up.
In 2007, Gilbert and Morris remixed two tracks for the Nine Inch Nails
remixes album Year Zero Remixed
.
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and singer, best known as a member of New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
and a founding member of The Other Two
The Other Two
AlbumsSingles-External links:* * - Videos :* * * *...
.
Biography
Gilbert's family moved from her birthplace ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to the nearby market town of Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
when she was young. She has two sisters: Kim and Julie. In a 1987 New Order interview, Gilbert says that she disliked living in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
as a teenager and wanted to live in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
In the late 1970s, Gilbert was in a punk band with three girls who happened to rehearse next to Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, which included singer Ian Curtis
Ian Curtis
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
, guitarist Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner , also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer....
, bassist Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
, and drummer Stephen Morris. In a 1987 interview with Option, Gilbert reflected on the first time she became familiar with Joy Division: "[W]e didn't have a car and us three needed a lift home. So we asked them, and they said, 'Alright, but you have to buy one of our singles.' So we did and got it home and played it on this horrible record player. We'd known Stephen before. We thought, 'My god, this sounds horrible.'" Gilbert would later begin dating Morris.
Ian Curtis's death in May 1980 left a three-member band that named itself New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
. Wanting to complete their line-up with someone they knew well and whose musical skill and style was compatible with their own, New Order invited Gilbert to join the band during the early part of October 1980, as keyboardist and guitarist. She had already played with Joy Division a number of times, filling in for both Curtis and Sumner playing guitar. Gilbert's membership was suggested by band manager Rob Gretton
Rob Gretton
Rob Gretton was the manager of Joy Division and New Order. He was also a partner in Factory Records, proprietor of the Rob's Records label and a co-founder along with Tony Wilson of The Haçienda nightclub in Manchester, England. In 1977, Gretton became a leading figure in the Manchester punk...
. Gilbert's first live performance with New Order occurred at The Squat in Manchester on October 25, 1980.
Gilbert's voice can be heard on several New Order tracks: the 1981 single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Procession
Procession (song)
"Procession" is the second single by British group New Order, released in September 1981 on 7" vinyl record. The single's Factory Records catalogue number is FAC 53.-Overview:...
"; the 1983 single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Confusion"; "Avalanche" from the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Republic
Republic (album)
Republic is the sixth studio album by New Order. Released in 1993 by London Records, it was their first album released after the demise of Factory Records, and their last for eight years....
on which she sang a single word, "faith"; and "Doubts Even Here
Doubts Even Here
"Doubts Even Here" is the seventh track of eight on New Order's debut album Movement, released on November 13, 1981. After the death of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, the surviving members formed New Order with drummer Stephen Morris's girlfriend Gillian Gilbert. This led to a large dispute over...
" from their first album, Movement, on which she provided a spoken-word background vocal.
As New Order members Sumner and Hook had already produced music outside New Order, Gilbert and Morris formed their own band, The Other Two
The Other Two
AlbumsSingles-External links:* * - Videos :* * * *...
. The Other Two released its first single "Tasty Fish" in 1991 and released two albums, The Other Two & You
The Other Two & You
* Although "Loved It " is not strictly a hidden track, it is separated from the preceding track by a silent pregap lasting a full minute.-Personnel:* Gillian Gilbert* Stephen Morris* Jeremy Kerr – backing vocals on "Tasty Fish"...
in 1993 and Super Highways
Super Highways
1 "Tasty Fish" was not featured on the Japanese edition of the album.-Personnel:* The Other Two – production* Tim Oliver – production , bass, additional keyboards, additional programming...
1999.
Gilbert and Morris were engaged in 1993 and married shortly afterward. Gilbert and Morris live in Rainow
Rainow
Rainow is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, located, mostly, on the eastern side of the River Dean valley next to the B5470 road, between Macclesfield and Kettleshulme in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It straddles the eastern side of the Peak...
, outside Macclesfield. The couple have two daughters: Tilly and Grace. Their daughter Grace has transverse myelitis
Transverse myelitis
Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by an inflammatory process of the spinal cord, and can cause axonal demyelination. The name is derived from Greek referring to the "spinal cord", and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation...
. Consequently Gilbert has not toured with New Order since 2001 so that she can care for her daughter. She reasoned that it would be easier for the band to replace her than her husband. In 2001 she was replaced by Phil Cunningham
Phil Cunningham (rock musician)
Phil Cunningham is a British guitarist who is a member of the band Bad Lieutenant. He was previously a member of New Order, where he replaced Gillian Gilbert as a band member, but with a slightly different role, with less synthesizer and more guitar work.Cunningham was also a member of the...
in New Order's line-up.
In 2007, Gilbert and Morris remixed two tracks for the Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
remixes album Year Zero Remixed
Year Zero Remixed
-Vinyl:-Critical reception:Year Zero Remixed received generally positive reviews. Virgin Media's review described the album as "a real cornucopia of treats" and "Highly recommended." Pitchfork Media's review, however, criticized the album, writing that it "lacks cohesion and is predictably...
.