Chad Gilbert, founding member and lead guitarist of the pop-punk band New Found Glory, died on the morning of September 20 at the age of 45, according to announcements made by the band and his wife, Lisa Cimorelli.
According to a joint statement released on social media by New Found Glory and Cimorelli, Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his friends, wife, and mother. While a specific cause of death was not detailed in the band’s initial statement, Gilbert had publicly documented a multi-year battle with cancer. In early 2026, he revealed to People that doctors had discovered three brain tumors and was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma years after receiving treatment for a rare adrenal cancer.
A Legacy Shaping Modern Pop-Punk
Formed in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1997, New Found Glory quickly became a defining force of the late 1990s and early 2000s pop-punk movement. Gilbert served as the band’s primary songwriter, writing staples such as “My Friends Over You”—which peaked at No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100—and “Head on Collision” from the breakthrough 2002 album Sticks and Stones.
Throughout nearly three decades, Gilbert performed on more than a dozen albums, spanning from the group’s 1999 debut Nothing Gold Can Stay to their 11th studio album, Listen Up!, released earlier in 2026. Beyond New Found Glory, Gilbert’s musical footprint extended to hardcore and side projects including Shai Hulud and the International Superheroes of Hardcore, as well as contributing guest vocals and guitar work for peers like Fall Out Boy.
Tributes From the Music Community
Following the announcement of his death, figures across the alternative music community shared tributes honoring Gilbert’s resilience, creativity, and impact.
Earlier in the year, New Found Glory honored Gilbert’s ongoing fight during their set at the Vans Warped Tour stop in Washington, D.C., noting his absence from the stage after losing sensation on the left side of his body due to the brain tumors. In an interview with Rolling Stone in April, Gilbert expressed optimism regarding his rigorous treatment plan, which included immunotherapies designed to manage the cancer.
Gilbert is survived by his wife Lisa, his daughter Lily, his mother Jackie, and his brother Brian, according to Variety.
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