en.malanginspirasi.com – Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and primary songwriter for the influential Florida pop-punk group New Found Glory, has passed away at 45.
The musician’s death was confirmed Sunday in a joint social media post by his bandmates and his wife, Lisa Cimorelli. His passing comes six months after he announced a brain cancer diagnosis, following a prior battle with liver cancer that began in 2021.
“On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep,” the band wrote. “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.”
“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 co-founded New Found Glory in 1997 at age 17 alongside Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, and Stephen Klein.
Over the next nearly 30 years, he served as the band’s core creative force, authoring genre-defining hits like “My Friends Over You” and “Head on Collision.”
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades,” his bandmates wrote Sunday.
“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.”
A central figure in the 2000s pop-punk boom, Gilbert also made notable guest appearances across the genre, lending vocals to Fall Out Boy’s From Under the Cork Tree and guitar work to their 2007 track “The Take Over, The Breaks Over.”
He was previously married to Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams from 2016 to 2017 following a long-term relationship.
Tributes poured in from across the music community following the announcement.
Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus, himself a survivor of lymphoma, shared a heartfelt message honoring Gilbert’s outlook and resilience.
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“Chad was the best friend to every person he met. The most positive and creative force in any room he walked into,” wrote Hoppus. “These past years he fought his sickness with the soul of a joyous, courageous warrior,” he added. “You’ll be sorely missed by more people than you could ever imagine. See you on the other side.”
Gilbert was forced to step away from live performances earlier this year after three brain tumors caused loss of sensation on the left side of his body.
It prevented him from playing at the 2026 Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C., where his bandmates led the crowd in a shoutout to honor him.
Despite the severe medical setbacks, Gilbert maintained a hopeful outlook during a candid interview with Rolling Stone in April while discussing his treatment regimen, which included immunotherapies aimed at targeting the brain tumors.
“It felt good to know that there’s still a battle to be going on and that I can recover from this and grow stronger from this,” he said at the time.
“I have my crying moments where, like everyone, I have to let it out,” he added. “But I like that we can turn it around into something positive… It’s always been just to inspire and grow a community of people that want to go to our shows and smile and have a good time.”
