Chad Gilbert, New Found Glory Guitarist, Dies at 45
Chad Gilbert, one of the founding members of pop-punk rock act New Found Glory has died at the age of 45 after a years-long battle with cancer. The band posted on social media this morning that Gilbert passed in his sleep this morning, September 20th, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, his daughter, Lily, his mother, Jackie, and his brother, Brian.
Gilbert was one of the founding members of the band in 1997, and he performed on every single album in the band’s catalog beginning with 1999’s Nothing Gold Can Stay, all the way to 2026’s Listen Up! He attended J.P. Taravella High School, but ended dropping out in the 11th grade when New Found Glory was signed to Drive-Thru Records. He was also the vocalist of hardcore punk act Shai Hulud from 1995-1998 and again from 2012-2013. He was the lead vocalist for the New Found Glory side project International Superheroes of Hardcore, and he produced his own solo music under the stage name What’s Eating Gilbert.
Gilbert also produced several noteworthy albums in the scene, including H2O’s Nothing To Prove and A Day To Remember’s Homesick, What Separates Me From You, and Common Courtesy.
In December 2021, Gilbert announced that he had undergone emergency surgery to remove a rare cancerous tumor called a pheochromocytoma. A second tumor was found less than a year later in his spine. Months later, additional ones were discovered in his lungs and back. Gilbert chronicled his chemotherapy treatments and recovery on his social media pages over the next few years.
Earlier this year, Gilbert announced that he had to undergo emergency brain surgery when three new tumors were discovered on his brain, changing his diagnosis from metastatic pheochromocytoma to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare form of adrenal cancer.
Our thoughts are with Gilbert’s family, friends, and bandmates at this time. A full statement from New Found Glory can be found below.
“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. 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. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, his daughter, Lily, his mother, Jackie, and his brother, Brian.
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades. 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.”
Rest in peace, Chad. We love you forever ❤️
Lisa, Jordan, Ian, Cyrus, and Dan”
