Chad Gilbert, New Found Glory Co-Founder, Dies at 45 After Prolonged Cancer Battle
Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and backing vocalist of pop-punk band New Found Glory, has died at age 45. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 20, 2026, surrounded by family. Gilbert had been battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer for several years, which recently metastasized to his brain. His death was confirmed by a joint statement from the band and his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, who noted that he was survived by their daughter, Lily, his mother, and his brother. Gilbert was a pivotal figure in the late 1990s and early 2000s pop-punk scene, having played on all of New Found Glory’s albums from their 1999 debut through their 2026 release, 'Listen Up!'.
