Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and songwriter whose driving riffs helped define a generation of pop-punk, has died. He was 45.
New Found Glory announced the news on Sunday, September 20, saying Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep that morning, surrounded by friends and family, with his wife, Lisa, and his mother, Jackie, by his side — just as he had wished.
“On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep. He left this world surrounded by friends and family and took his final breaths with his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished. We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went,” the band wrote in a statement shared on social media.
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades. Through more than a dozen albums, endless tours around the world, and more accolades than we ever could have imagined, Chad challenged all of us to grow as musicians, performers, and human beings,” the statement continued. “While we are devastated to lose him, we are so grateful for the incredible life he lived, the memories we shared, and the brotherhood we had. His influence will always be part of New Found Glory and his spirit will be felt on every stage we stand on, with every note we play.”
A Years-Long Battle With Cancer
Gilbert’s death followed a battle with cancer that stretched across nearly five years. In December 2021, he was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor of the adrenal gland, and underwent emergency surgery after being found unresponsive in bed. The cancer later spread to his spine and lungs.
His health took a turn earlier this year. On February 20, after playing a show in Nashville, Gilbert began struggling to control the movements of his left hand. His left leg weakened in the days that followed, and he started stumbling and falling. Three days later, he was taken to the emergency room, where a CT scan revealed three new tumors in his brain. He underwent successful brain surgery on February 27 and immediately regained function in his left hand, telling fans at the time he was “feeling much better now and getting stronger by the day.”
In April 2026, his diagnosis was changed to Stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma, according to a People report. Throughout it all, Gilbert stayed remarkably open about what he was facing. In a Kerrang! interview in February, he said: “I either tell people ‘I’m dying’ or ‘I’m doing good’. But I don’t take this pain and waste it. I turn it into joy.”
A Pop-Punk Pioneer
Born Chad Everett Gilbert on March 9, 1981, in Coral Springs, Florida, Gilbert helped form New Found Glory in 1997 alongside vocalist Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka, guitarist Steve Klein, and drummer Joe Marino (later replaced by Cyrus Bolooki). As the band’s lead guitarist and backing vocalist, he spent nearly three decades co-writing the band’s signature pop-punk sound across more than a dozen albums.
The band became one of the defining acts of the pop-punk movement, with staples like “My Friends Over You,” “Hit or Miss,” and “All Downhill From Here” cementing their place in the genre’s history. The video for “All Downhill From Here” earned a VMA nomination for Breakthrough Video of the Year in 2004.
Gilbert’s influence extended far beyond his own band. He produced albums for H2O, including 2008’s Nothing to Prove, and helmed three A Day to Remember records — Homesick (2009), What Separates Me From You (2010), and Common Courtesy (2013). He also worked with State Champs, Fireworks, and Lisa Loeb, among others.
Before New Found Glory, Gilbert was the original vocalist of the influential hardcore band Shai Hulud from 1995 to 1998, returning for a stint from 2012 to 2013. He also fronted his hardcore project International Superheroes of Hardcore and his solo project What’s Eating Gilbert.
His Final Album
New Found Glory released their latest studio album, Listen Up!, on February 20, 2026, through Pure Noise Records. Gilbert recorded the album while in active cancer treatment, making it his final record with the band. Days earlier, in his Kerrang! cover feature, he reflected on performing through his illness: “I turn it into joy.”
Gilbert is survived by his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, whom he married on October 3, 2020; their daughter, Lily; his mother, Jackie; and his brother, Brian.
No separate statements from individual band members or fellow artists had been confirmed at the time of publication. This story will be updated as tributes are verified.
Sources: The Mosh Network (Sept 20, 2026); Kerrang! (Sept 20, 2026; interview Feb 11, 2026); New Found Glory official statement via social media (Sept 20, 2026); People (March 24, 2026; April 20, 2026); Billboard (Feb 21, 2026); Loudwire (Dec 21, 2021).