Chad Gilbert, founding member and lead guitarist of the pop-punk band New Found Glory, has died at age 45.
The Florida group and Gilbert’s wife, Lisa Cimorelli, announced his death on Sunday via social media, six months after the guitarist revealed he was battling brain cancer. Gilbert was initially diagnosed with liver cancer in 2021.
“On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep,” the band wrote. “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.”
His bandmates continued, “We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went. The amount of visitors that crowded the hospital lobby at a moment’s notice is a testament to how beloved and cherished Chad was, and always will be. He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father. His biggest dreams came true.”
Since forming the band alongside Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, and Stephen Klein in 1997 at just 17 years old, Gilbert became an integral part of New Found Glory, writing most of the group’s songs, including pop-punk staples “My Friends Over You” and “Head on Collision.”
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades,” his bandmates wrote Sunday.
“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. 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.”
With New Found Glory, Gilbert became a cornerstone of the pop-punk scene in the early 2000s. He contributed guest vocals to a track on Fall Out Boy’s From Under the Cork Tree and guitar work on the band’s 2007 song “The Take Over, The Breaks Over.” Gilbert was also previously married to Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams.
In a tribute post following the news, Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus wrote, “Chad was the best friend to every person he met. The most positive and creative force in any room he walked into.” Hoppus, who battled lymphoma in 2021, detailed Gilbert’s strength during his illness: “These past years he fought his sickness with the soul of a joyous, courageous warrior. You’ll be sorely missed by more people than you could ever imagine. See you on the other side.”
Earlier this year, New Found Glory honored Gilbert during their set at the 2026 Vans Warped Tour stop in Washington, D.C. “Give it up for Chad!” they told the crowd. Gilbert was unable to perform after losing sensation on the left side of his body due to three tumors pressing against his brain.
In April, the guitarist detailed his arduous cancer journey in an interview with Rolling Stone. “It felt good to know that there’s still a battle to be going on and that I can recover from this and grow stronger from this,” he said at the time. Gilbert and Cimorelli shared that his treatment plan included promising immunotherapies to keep the cancer from spreading to his brain.
Gilbert maintained a positive outlook throughout his battle. “I have my crying moments where, like everyone, I have to let it out,” he said. “But I like that we can turn it around into something positive… It’s always been just to inspire and grow a community of people that want to go to our shows and smile and have a good time.”
