New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert dies at 45 following battle with cancer

Passing and announcement

Chad Gilbert, the founding lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and songwriter of New Found Glory, died on the morning of September 20, 2026, at age 45. His death was confirmed in a joint statement published on social media by his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, and his longtime bandmates Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Cyrus Bolooki, and Dan. The statement shared that Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by friends and family. Gilbert took his final breaths with his wife and his mother by his bedside at the hospital.

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.

Medical history and cancer treatments

Gilbert's death followed five years of medical treatments for cancer, which began with surgery in 2021 to remove a pheochromocytoma tumor. He underwent a second surgical operation in 2022 and completed chemotherapy sessions during 2023. In March 2026, Gilbert required emergency brain surgery after physicians identified three tumors in his brain. Following that operation, medical teams upgraded his diagnosis from metastatic pheochromocytoma to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma. He had previously spoken publicly about his ongoing battle with stage 4 adrenal cancer and the procedures required to treat it.

Formation and career with New Found Glory

Gilbert was born on March 9, 1981, in Coral Springs, Florida, and entered the music industry as a teenager. In 1997, he co-founded New Found Glory alongside vocalist Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka, guitarist Steve Klein, and drummer Joe Moreno. Moreno was replaced shortly afterward by Cyrus Bolooki, establishing the band's core lineup. Gilbert left high school after finishing 11th grade when the band secured a record deal with Drive-Thru Records. The band issued its debut studio album, Nothing Gold Can Stay, in 1999 and went on to release more than a dozen albums over nearly three decades. The band achieved top-10 chart placements with Sticks and Stones and the 2004 album Catalyst, which both entered the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. Gilbert contributed to every studio record in the band's catalog, including the album Listen Up!, released earlier in 2026.

Production work, side projects, and family

In addition to his work with New Found Glory, Gilbert engaged in multiple musical endeavors across the punk and hardcore scenes. He performed with the band Shai Hulud and participated in the side project International Superheroes of Hardcore. Gilbert also wrote, recorded, and released solo music under the moniker What's Eating Gilbert. As a music producer, he produced music for bands including A Day to Remember and H2O. In his personal life, Gilbert was previously married to Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams and singer Sherri DuPrey. He is survived by his wife Lisa Cimorelli, their daughter Lily, his mother Jackie, and his brother Brian.