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Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory Dies at 45
Confirmed
In Short: Chad Gilbert, guitarist for the pop-punk band New Found Glory, died Sunday at age 45.
Chad Gilbert, a founding member and guitarist for New Found Glory, died Sunday at age 45, the band announced on social media.
The band and his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, shared the news on Instagram, stating that Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 20.
Gilbert had been battling cancer since 2021, when he was diagnosed with a rare tumor called a pheochromocytoma, which grows on the adrenal gland and secretes hormones that drive blood pressure up while eating away at blood sugar.
In April 2026, Gilbert's diagnosis was revised to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of adrenal cancer.
Formed in 1997 in Coral Springs, Florida, New Found Glory is often referred to as the 'godfathers' of pop-punk, credited with defining the genre in the early 2000s.
Gilbert co-founded the band with vocalist Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka, and drummer Cyrus Bolooki.
In addition to New Found Glory, Gilbert was also the original vocalist of influential hardcore band Shai Hulud and produced music for several other acts, including A Day to Remember and H2O.
The band's statement highlighted Gilbert's impact, noting that he was the kind of friend most people don't get to have in a lifetime and that his guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades.
Gilbert is survived by his wife, Lisa, his daughter, Lily, his mother, Jackie, and his brother, Brian.
Fans and fellow musicians expressed their condolences, noting the outpouring of support at the hospital and the impact Gilbert had on the pop-punk and hardcore scenes.
What this adds
The extent of Gilbert's health struggles since 2021 has been detailed by multiple sources, highlighting the rarity and severity of his condition.
The band's longevity and impact on the pop-punk genre are well-documented, but the personal details of Gilbert's health journey add a poignant layer to his legacy.
What's confirmed
- Chad Gilbert, a founding member and guitarist for New Found Glory, has died.
- “On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep,” the band wrote.
- 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.
- Earlier this year, Gilbert underwent brain surgery after three tumors were discovered.
What's still developing
- Gilbert later revealed that the cancer had spread to his spine and lungs.
- Gilbert had been open with fans about his health struggles in recent years.
- 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.
- He left high school after 11th grade when New Found Glory was signed to Drive-Thru Records, releasing their debut album Nothing Gold Can Stay in 1999.
- Gilbert first underwent surgery to remove a pheochromocytoma cancerous tumor in 2021, before undergoing another operation in 2022 and chemotherapy the following year.
- In addition to all 13 albums with New Found Glory (including 2026’s Listen Up – Pure Noise Records ), Chad was the original vocalist of influential Hardcore legends Shai Hulud, a member of punk supergroups Hazen Street and International Superheroes of Hardcore, solo music under What’s Eating Gilbert, as well as countless producing credits for H2O, A Day to Remember, Terror, Trapped Under Ice, Lisa Loeb, State Champs, Candy Hearts, and more.
- Beyond that, we covered Chad and his bands all-around the world on countless tours, including Warped Tour and Riot Fest.
- The statement noted that Chad was surrounded by loved ones at the hospital and remembered him as both a musician and family man.