New Found Glory Co-Founder Chad Gilbert Dies Peacefully at 45

Chad Gilbert, founding member, lead guitarist and songwriter for New Found Glory, died Sept. 20 at the age of 45.

In a joint Instagram post, the band and Gilbert’s wife, Lisa Cimorelli, said Gilbert died “peacefully in his sleep” and “was surrounded by friends and family” after living with cancer since 2021.

“On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep. He left this world surrounded by friends and family and took his final breaths with his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished,” New Found Glory and Cimorelli wrote. “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.”

Gilbert was a vocalist for Shai Hulud before joining New Found Glory, which became an influential band in the pop punk movement of the late ’90s and early 2000s. They broke through in 2000 with their self-titled sophomore album, which included their smash hit “Hit or Miss,” and with their infectious energy and hooks, New Found Glory quickly became festival darlings at events such as Warped Tour.

New Found Glory is the most successful band under Drive Thru Records, a label that helped popularize emo and pop punk with acts such as Something Corporate, Hellogoodbye, Finch and The Starting Line.

“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades,” the band wrote in its statement. “Through more than a dozen albums, endless tours around the world, and more accolades than we ever could have imagined, Chad challenged all of us to grow as musicians, performers, and human beings. While we are devastated to lose him, we are so grateful for the incredible life he lived, the memories we shared, and the brotherhood we had. His influence will always be part of New Found Glory and his spirit will be felt on every stage we stand on, with every note we play.”

Rock stars mourned the beloved guitarist and responded with posts of their own or responses to New Found Glory’s Instagram post.

“Today, the world lost a legend. RIP Chad,” The Offspring wrote in a post that included a photo with New Found Glory.

> View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lisa Cimorelli (@lisacimorelli)

blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus also took to Instagram and posted a photo of him with Gilbert and wrote, “Chad was the best friend to every person he met. The most positive and creative force in any room he walked into. These past years he fought his sickness with the soul of a joyous, courageous warrior. With dignity, love, and gratitude. He never complained once, only kept saying how lucky he was. For everything. Today we lost a good one, and the world won’t be the same. Rest easy now, my friend. And thank you for just. Being. You’ll be sorely missed by more people than you could ever imagine. See you on the other side.”

Ryan Key, lead singer of Yellowcard, recently co-headlined a tour with New Found Glory and credited Gilbert with getting his band back together.

“Chad was the kind of friend most people don’t get to have in a lifetime,” Key wrote on Instagram . “I owe so much to him for encouraging me to keep going back in 2017 when Yellowcard broke up. The bear hugs I got every time I walked in his door will be around me forever. He brought me into the New Found Glory family at a time when I needed my friends so badly. I looked to Chad as an example of how to stay positive in the most difficult times. I watched him fight his illness in awe of his strength and desire for life. Sending all of the love I can muster to Lisa, Lily, and the entire family.”

Dashboard Confessional singer Chris Carrabba often performed with New Found Glory, and both acts emerged from the Florida rock scene and forged a decades-long friendship.

“I’ve watched them build a band, a following, a fan base, and a culture. And the whole time it felt like a family. They made me feel like I was part of it. I bet they made you feel that too,” Carrabba wrote . “ … These last few years watching Chad battle have been hard but I don’t think I will remember them that way. The heartache was overshadowed by the display of incredible strength and sheer positivity I witnessed in Chad. The word that comes to mind is ‘Herculean.’”

Gilbert is survived by his wife, daughter Lily, mother Jackie and brother Brian.

_Originally reported by [Pollstar](https://news.pollstar.com/2026/09/20/chad-gilbert-new-found-glorys-founding-guitarist-dies-at-45/)._