New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert dies aged 45 after cancer battle
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Chad Gilbert, guitarist and co-founder of pop-punk band New Found Glory, has died aged 45 following a lengthy cancer battle. His death on 20 September marks the loss of a defining figure who shaped the band's identity across nearly three decades and contributed significantly to their success through multiple platinum records and world tours.
Gilbert was diagnosed with metastatic pheochromocytoma in 2021, undergoing emergency surgery and subsequent treatments for tumours on his spine and back. In 2026, three brain tumours were removed and his diagnosis was revised to stage-four adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of adrenal cancer. He died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family and friends, and is survived by his wife Lisa Cimorelli, daughter Lily, mother Jackie and brother Brian.
- New Found Glory co-founder Chad Gilbert dies at 45 after cancer
- Diagnosed 2021; multiple treatments including brain tumour removal in 2026
- Survived by wife, daughter, mother, brother; band mourns three-decade partnership
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New Found Glory is an American pop-punk band formed in Florida in 1997. Chad Gilbert was one of its founding members and guitarists, and helped write well-known songs including “My Friends Over You” and “Head on Collision”.
Gilbert became a prominent figure in the pop-punk scene as the band built a long-running career and influenced later musicians. He had been receiving treatment for cancer since being diagnosed with liver cancer in 2021, later undergoing treatment for three brain tumours that affected his ability to perform.
Full account
Chad Everett Gilbert, the founding guitarist and primary songwriter of New Found Glory, died on 20 September 2026 at the age of 45. The musician passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his wife Lisa and his mother, according to a statement released jointly by his family and the pop-punk band. The announcement came after Gilbert had endured a prolonged struggle with cancer that began in late 2021.
Gilbert's illness was first diagnosed in December 2021 when a rare tumour originating from his adrenal gland was discovered following an emergency hospitalisation. The initial diagnosis identified the growth as a pheochromocytoma, though the condition had already spread to his liver. Physicians undertook extensive surgery to address the tumour, requiring the removal of half his liver, his gallbladder, and one adrenal gland. Within weeks of this procedure, Gilbert announced that follow-up scans had revealed no remaining evidence of malignancy. However, this remission proved temporary.
Over the subsequent five years, the cancer returned multiple times, necessitating repeated surgical interventions and rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Doctors identified additional tumours affecting his spine, lungs, and brain. In April 2026, Gilbert disclosed that his diagnosis had been reclassified as stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma, a particularly aggressive malignancy of the adrenal tissue. By mid-2026, he was publicly acknowledging his battle with brain cancer as he continued treatment.
Gilbert had been central to New Found Glory's formation in Florida in 1997, when he was just seventeen years old, and remained with the band throughout its entire recording history of more than a dozen albums. His most recent work with the group, the album Listen Up!, appeared in February 2026. Beyond New Found Glory, he was recognised for his contributions to the broader alternative music scene, including production work for several notable bands and his involvement with the hardcore outfit Shai Hulud. His songwriting defined some of the defining tracks of early 2000s pop-punk.
In tributes following his death, fellow musicians emphasised Gilbert's generosity of spirit and creative influence. Mark Hoppus of Blink-182, himself a cancer survivor, described him as possessing "the soul of a joyous, courageous warrior" in his final illness. His New Found Glory bandmates expressed their devastation whilst underscoring his artistic and human legacy, pledging that his influence would endure in their continued performances. Gilbert is survived by his wife, his daughter, his mother, and his brother.
Where outlets differ
Source 3 describes the initial cancer as 'liver cancer' whilst Sources 1 and 2 specify the origin as a rare adrenal gland tumour (pheochromocytoma) that spread to the liver—a material distinction in disease characterisation.
Only Source 1 explicitly mentions the April 2026 diagnosis revision to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma; other sources do not reference this specific reclassification.
Only Source 2 provides detail about Gilbert being discovered unconscious at home by his wife during the initial episode.
Source 3 names Stephen Klein as a co-founder, whilst other sources list different co-founder combinations; Sources 1 and 2 do not mention Klein.
Only Source 3 includes biographical details about Gilbert's personal relationship with Paramore's Hayley Williams and includes Mark Hoppus's tribute statement; these details are absent from Sources 1 and 2.
Only Source 1 specifically mentions his work leading Shai Hulud and his production credits for A Day To Remember, H2O, and Terror.
Only Source 1 lists his complete surviving family members (daughter Lily, mother Jackie, brother Brian); Source 3 omits these details.
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