Chad Gilbert, founding guitarist and songwriter for New Found Glory, has died at 45 after a long battle with cancer. The band said he died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family, leaving behind nearly three decades of records, tours and guitar riffs built to turn any room into a jump-along chorus.
Gilbert co-founded New Found Glory in Florida in 1997, when pop-punk was moving from small clubs toward radio, malls and the giant communal singalongs that defined the early 2000s.
His guitar made the sweetness hit harder
The band's sound paired melodic hooks with thick, palm-muted guitars drawn from hardcore. Gilbert's playing helped give songs such as “My Friends Over You” their combination of bounce, weight and immediate recognition.
He also produced and collaborated with other artists, including A Day to Remember and H2O, extending his influence beyond the records bearing his own band's name.
He fought to return to the stage
Gilbert was diagnosed with metastatic pheochromocytoma, a rare adrenal cancer, in 2021. The disease later spread, requiring multiple surgeries, including procedures for tumors in his spine, lungs and brain. In June, he returned to perform from a motorized scooter in Nashville, with his young daughter watching.
Entertainment Weekly reported his death and the band's remembrance on September 21, 2026.
His wife, Lisa Cimorelli, and bandmates emphasized that he considered being a husband and father his greatest role. Fans will remember the records and the shows. The people closest to him are mourning the man who went home after the encore.
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