Chad Gilbert, the founding lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter for the influential pop-punk band New Found Glory, died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 20, 2026, at the age of 45. Rolling Stone reported that Gilbert passed away surrounded by close friends and family, with his wife Lisa Cimorelli and his mother Jackie at his side, following an extensive health battle against cancer that metastasized to his brain.
In an official joint statement released by his bandmates and family, the group expressed heartbreak over the rapid escalation of his condition while honoring his legacy as a performer, songwriter, husband, and father. Gilbert had spent nearly three decades at the creative helm of New Found Glory, helping shape the sound of modern alternative rock and American pop-punk since the late 1990s.
A Founding Legacy in Pop-Punk
Formed in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1997, New Found Glory emerged when Gilbert joined forces with vocalist Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka, guitarist Stephen Klein, and drummer Joe Marino (later replaced by Cyrus Bolooki). According to reporting by Variety, Gilbert dropped out of high school after 11th grade when the band signed its first major deal with Drive-Thru Records, a move that catalyzed their rise to national prominence.
As the band’s chief composer, Gilbert authored defining genre anthems including “My Friends Over You” and “Head on Collision.” Across more than a dozen studio releases, his melodic guitar riffs and energetic stage presence helped define the early 2000s pop-punk boom alongside contemporaries such as Blink-182 and Fall Out Boy. Beyond his main group, Gilbert contributed backing vocals and guitar tracks to Fall Out Boy’s seminal mid-2000s records, fronted the hardcore outfit Shai Hulud in his early career, and formed the side project International Superheroes of Hardcore.
Medical Timeline and Final Battle
Gilbert’s health struggles began publicly in late 2021 when doctors diagnosed him with a rare form of cancer, adrenocortical carcinoma, which initially manifested in his liver and adrenal gland. As detailed by Clash Music, he underwent intense surgical procedures and chemotherapy in 2022 and 2023, briefly entering periods of recovery while continuing to write music and perform whenever possible.
However, earlier in 2026, Gilbert’s condition deteriorated sharply. Speaking with Vice regarding an interview from April 2026, Cimorelli recalled that Gilbert noticed severe physical symptoms during an album release event for their project Listen Up!, when the left side of his body lost sensation. Emergency scans revealed three brain tumors pressing against his central nervous system. Despite undergoing emergency brain surgery and pursuing targeted immunotherapies, his diagnosis was upgraded to Stage 4 carcinoma, preventing him from joining the band on stage during their appearance at the 2026 Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C.
Industry Tributes and Broader Cultural Impact
Tributes from across the music industry poured in following Sunday’s announcement. Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus commended Gilbert’s resilience, noting on social media that Gilbert confronted his illness with remarkable courage and unwavering optimism. Fellow musicians, fans, and festival organizers emphasized how Gilbert’s songwriting provided a soundtrack for an entire generation of alternative music listeners.
Gilbert is survived by his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, their young daughter Lily, his mother Jackie, and his brother Brian. While New Found Glory has not announced immediate operational plans regarding upcoming tours or archival releases, the band affirmed that Gilbert’s artistic vision and musical spirit will permanently remain central to their ongoing work.