Chad Gilbert, the guitarist and founding member of pop-punk band New Found Glory, has died aged 45 after a protracted battle with cancer. The musician passed away peacefully in his sleep on 20 September, surrounded by family, having fought multiple aggressive tumours over nearly five years. His death marks the loss of a key figure in a band that shaped the pop-punk scene for nearly three decades.

Gilbert was first diagnosed with a rare pheochromocytoma on his adrenal gland in December 2021, which had spread to his liver and required major surgery to remove half his liver, his gallbladder and one adrenal gland. Though he was declared cancer-free in early 2022, subsequent tumours appeared in his spine and brain, with doctors ultimately diagnosing him with stage four adrenocortical carcinoma. Despite his deteriorating health, Gilbert continued creating and performing with New Found Glory, contributing to their 2026 album 'Listen Up!' and making an emotional return to the stage in Nashville in June, performing from a mobility scooter following brain surgery.