The music world is mourning the loss of Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and longtime member of pop-punk band New Found Glory, who has died at the age of 45.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a statement shared by his wife Lisa Cimorelli and his bandmates, Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 20, 2026, surrounded by the people who loved him most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His family said his final moments were filled with comfort, with his wife and mother Jackie by his side as he peacefully said goodbye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went,\u201d his loved ones shared in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For fans who followed his journey, Gilbert\u2019s passing marked the end of a remarkable life filled with music, creativity, resilience, and determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He leaves behind not only a legacy as a musician but also memories as a devoted husband, father, son, and friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gilbert had spent the final years of his life fighting a difficult battle with cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His health struggles began in 2021 when he was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor that develops in the adrenal glands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The diagnosis began a long medical journey involving surgeries, treatments, and countless moments of uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over time, the disease progressed and affected other parts of his body, including his spine and lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gilbert faced repeated medical procedures while continuing to focus on his family and his passion for music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the challenges, he remained determined to continue creating and performing whenever he was able.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier in 2026, Gilbert experienced another major health setback when he began having problems with his left hand and leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doctors discovered three tumors in his brain, leading to emergency surgery in February to remove them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the procedure, he underwent radiation treatment as doctors continued fighting the aggressive disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His diagnosis was later revised to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of adrenal cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the illness placed enormous physical demands on him, Gilbert continued showing strength and courage throughout his battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those close to him said his determination and positive spirit remained a defining part of who he was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even while facing serious health struggles, Gilbert never completely stepped away from music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Found Glory released its latest album \u201cListen Up!\u201d in February, continuing the band\u2019s decades-long connection with fans around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Gilbert, creating music remained a source of purpose and happiness during some of his most difficult moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most emotional moments of his final year came when he returned to the stage with New Found Glory in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The performance was especially meaningful because he was able to share that moment while his young daughter Lily watched him perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Gilbert, being able to play music again was not only about the fans but also about creating memories with his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chad Gilbert helped form New Found Glory in 1997 alongside his bandmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group quickly became one of the defining names of the pop-punk movement that dominated the early 2000s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through his guitar playing, songwriting, and backing vocals, Gilbert helped create the energetic sound that connected with millions of listeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Found Glory gained widespread recognition through albums such as \u201cSticks and Stones,\u201d which featured some of the band\u2019s most popular songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracks including \u201cMy Friends Over You\u201d and \u201cHead on Collision\u201d became anthems for a generation of fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The band\u2019s emotional lyrics, powerful melodies, and energetic performances helped establish their place in pop-punk history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gilbert\u2019s influence extended beyond New Found Glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout his career, he was involved in several other musical projects, including Shai Hulud, International Superheroes of Hardcore, and his solo project What\u2019s Eating Gilbert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also contributed his talents as a producer, helping other artists develop their own music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nearly three decades, Gilbert remained one of the central figures behind New Found Glory\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His guitar work became one of the recognizable elements of the band\u2019s sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His bandmates remembered him not only for his musical ability but also for his humor, passion, and dedication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In their tribute, New Found Glory described Gilbert as someone who helped shape the band from its earliest days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They remembered the countless hours of writing, recording, touring, and performing that built the group\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His impact on the band and the pop-punk community will continue through the songs he helped create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the stage and the spotlight, Gilbert\u2019s family said his greatest achievement was not his musical success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They said his most important roles were being a husband to Lisa and a father to his daughter Lily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The love he had for his family remained one of the strongest parts of his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fans around the world have shared memories of how Gilbert\u2019s music influenced them through different stages of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For many listeners, New Found Glory\u2019s songs were connected to friendships, relationships, heartbreaks, and important personal moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His music became part of the soundtrack of countless lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pop-punk community has lost many influential artists over the years, but Gilbert\u2019s contribution remains especially significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was part of a generation of musicians who brought emotional honesty and youthful energy into mainstream music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His work helped inspire countless younger artists who followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While his final years were marked by medical challenges, Gilbert continued showing the same determination that defined his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He faced illness with the same passion and resilience he brought to music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His story became one of perseverance, love, and refusing to give up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gilbert is survived by his wife Lisa, their daughter Lily, his mother Jackie, and his brother Brian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His family now faces the difficult process of grieving while celebrating a life that touched so many people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have asked fans to remember him through the music, memories, and love he left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chad Gilbert\u2019s journey began with a guitar, a dream, and a group of friends who wanted to create something meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly 30 years later, he left behind a legacy that reached far beyond the stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His voice may no longer be heard live, but the songs, memories, and emotions he created will continue to live on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The music world is mourning the loss of Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and longtime member of pop-punk band New Found Glory, who has died at the age of 45. According to a statement shared by his wife Lisa Cimorelli and his bandmates, Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 20, 2026, surrounded …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21088,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21086"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21089,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21086\/revisions\/21089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}