New Found Glory Guitarist Chad Gilbert Dies at 45

Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and backing vocalist whose playing helped define New Found Glory’s pop-punk sound, has died at 45. The band and Gilbert’s wife, Lisa Cimorelli, announced that he died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, September 20, with family beside him.

The announcement did not identify a specific cause of death. Gilbert had, however, spoken openly about years of cancer treatment. Earlier in 2026, doctors discovered three brain tumors after he experienced difficulty controlling his left hand during a performance, leading to emergency surgery. He had previously been diagnosed with a rare adrenal-gland tumor in 2021 and later said the cancer had spread to his spine and lungs.

A defining force in pop-punk

Gilbert helped form New Found Glory in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1997 alongside Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka and other early members. He played on the group’s albums from its 1999 debut, Nothing Gold Can Stay, through 2026’s Listen Up!. The band’s early-2000s breakthrough, powered by records such as Sticks and Stones and the single “My Friends Over You,” made it one of the era’s most recognizable pop-punk acts.

Beyond his guitar work, Gilbert contributed songwriting and backing vocals, and he also performed with Shai Hulud and New Found Glory’s side project International Superheroes of Hardcore. In its statement, the band emphasized that his creativity, humor and determination shaped the group for nearly three decades.

Musicians remember a generous friend

Tributes quickly arrived from across the rock community. Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus remembered Gilbert as an unusually positive and creative presence, while members of The Offspring, Yellowcard and Bayside also honored his friendship and influence.

Gilbert is survived by Cimorelli, their daughter Lily, his mother Jackie and his brother Brian. For fans, his legacy lives in a catalog that helped move melodic punk from club stages into the mainstream while preserving the communal spirit that first brought New Found Glory together.