Chad Gilbert, New Found Glory Guitarist, Dies at 45

Chad Gilbert, a founding member and guitarist for New Found Glory, has died. He was 45.

Gilbert’s death was announced on social media Sunday (Sept. 20) by the pop-punk band and his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, six months after the musician revealed that he was battling cancer.

“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.”

The Florida group 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.”

The message was signed by New Found Glory members Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Cyrus Bolooki, and touring guitarist Dan O’Connor, along with Gilbert’s wife, Cimorelli.

Gilbert had been open with fans about his health struggles in recent years. In late March, he shared a series of photos from his hospital bed while updating fans on his recovery from brain cancer surgery. The emergency procedure came after he struggled to control movement in his left hand during a show in Nashville earlier that year.

The surgery followed another major health scare several years earlier. In December 2021, Cimorelli described finding her husband “unresponsive” in their bed, initially believing he was sick or simply sleeping late. After being rushed to the hospital, Gilbert was diagnosed with a “rare tumor called a pheochromocytoma,” which grows on the adrenal gland and secretes hormones that drive your blood pressure up while eating away at your blood sugar.

Gilbert later revealed that the cancer had spread to his spine and lungs. In August 2025, he told fans he was undergoing additional treatment after doctors discovered a “small spot” on his back.

His death comes as New Found Glory marks nearly three decades together. The band released its 11th studio album, Listen Up!, in February. Following the album’s release, the group hit the road for an extensive run of shows.

New Found Glory formed in 1997 in Coral Springs, Florida, with vocalist Pundik, Gilbert on guitar, bassist Grushka and drummer Bolooki.

Reflecting on Gilbert’s contribution to the band, New Found Glory wrote Sunday, “Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades.”

The band added, “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.”