Chad Gilbert, Founder and Guitarist of New Found Glory, Dies at 45
Chad Gilbert, guitarist and founder of pop-punk band New Found Glory, has died at 45 after battling a rare cancer. He leaves behind a rich musical legacy and his family.
The rock and pop-punk world is in mourning: Chad Gilbert, the guitarist and founder of the band New Found Glory, has passed away at the age of 45. His family announced that he died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his loved ones, after years of battling a rare form of cancer and undergoing complex medical treatments.
In a statement released by the family, it was shared that Gilbert took his last breaths with his wife and mother by his side, just as he had wished. Loved ones expressed shock at the rapid deterioration of his condition, but expressed deep gratitude that he passed away without suffering and in quiet moments with the people he cherished.
His medical battle began in 2021 when he was diagnosed with metastatic pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor originating in the adrenal gland. In recent months, a dramatic worsening occurred: after experiencing weakness in his left arm and leg and suffering a fall at home, three tumors were discovered in his brain, one of which was described as the size of a walnut. Gilbert underwent emergency surgery to remove them, and it was later revealed he was facing stage four adrenocortical carcinoma.
Despite his severe condition, Gilbert never gave up on music. This past June, shortly after surgery, he made an emotional comeback, performing with his bandmates in Nashville while using a motorized scooter. For him, it was a deeply personal moment, not least because his daughter Lily watched him perform.
Gilbert founded New Found Glory in Florida in 1997 when he was just 16 years old. He played a central role in shaping the sound of the band, which became one of the most prominent acts in the early 2000s pop-punk wave. Among their well-known hits are "My Friends Over You", "Hit or Miss", and "All Downhill From Here".
He is survived by his wife Lisa Cimorelli, their daughter Lily, his mother Jackie, and his brother Brian. His family and bandmates emphasized that alongside his impressive musical career, Gilbert considered his roles as a husband and father to be his greatest and most important achievement in life.
