New Found Glory guitarist and founding member Chad Gilbert has died aged 45, five years after sharing a cancer diagnosis.
The musician died this morning (September 20), with a statement shared on his social media accounts saying that he “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,” it 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.”
Gilbert’s New Found Glory bandmates also paid tribute to his contribution to the group over nearly three decades.
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades,” they wrote. “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.”
The message, signed by his wife Lisa and bandmates Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Cyrus Bolooki and Dan O’Connor, concluded: “Rest in peace, Chad. We love you forever.”
Gilbert had been undergoing treatment for cancer for several years. In December 2021, he revealed that he had undergone emergency surgery after being diagnosed with a rare tumour called a pheochromocytoma, having been found unconscious at home by his wife.
The tumour originated on his adrenal gland and had spread to his liver, leading doctors to remove half of his liver, his gallbladder and one adrenal gland. The following month, he announced that scans had come back clear and that he was “officially cancer free”.
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. pic.twitter.com/b8oNxSeYIV
— New Found Glory (@newfoundglory) September 20, 2026
Later that year, however, doctors discovered another tumour in his spine, leading to further surgery. Gilbert subsequently said “the cancer in my spine is gone” after having the remainder of the affected vertebra removed.
His health problems continued in the years that followed, and earlier in 2026 Gilbert underwent emergency brain surgery after three tumours were discovered when he began losing control of his left hand and leg. He later said doctors had revised his diagnosis to stage four adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of adrenal cancer.
Despite his illness, Gilbert continued working with New Found Glory and helped make their latest album ‘Listen Up!’, which was released in February. Four months later, he made an emotional return to the stage with the band in Nashville, performing from a mobility scooter after his brain surgery.
Born in Florida in 1981, Gilbert first became known as the teenage vocalist of hardcore band Shai Hulud, appearing on their influential 1997 debut album ‘Hearts Once Nourished With Hope And Compassion’.
He went on to co-found New Found Glory in Coral Springs later in the ’90s, becoming the group’s lead guitarist, backing vocalist and one of their principal songwriters.
Alongside Pundik, Grushka and Bolooki, Gilbert helped establish the group as one of the defining bands of the early-2000s pop-punk boom. Their early records included 1999 debut ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ and their 2000 self-titled album, before their breakthrough with 2002’s ‘Sticks And Stones’.
Beyond New Found Glory, Gilbert was a prominent producer within the pop-punk and hardcore scenes. His credits included work with A Day To Remember on albums including ‘Homesick’ and ‘What Separates Me From You’, as well as records by H2O and Terror.
He also released music through his solo project What’s Eating Gilbert and fronted New Found Glory’s hardcore side-project International Superheroes Of Hardcore.
Gilbert is survived by his wife Lisa, daughter Lily, mother Jackie and brother Brian.
