Founding member and guitarist of American pop-punk band New Found Glory, Chad Gilbert has died at the age of 45 after years of battling a rare form of cancer. This was stated in a joint statement by the band and the musician’s wife Lisa Cimorelli on Instagram.
The statement said the guitarist died in his sleep on September 20. In his last minutes, his wife and mother were next to him.
“We are stunned and shocked by how quickly he left us, but also immensely grateful that his passing was so peaceful and calm. The number of visitors who filled the hospital lobby in an instant was a testament to how much Chad was and always will be loved and appreciated,” the statement said.
The cause of death is not known, but the musician struggled with cancer for several years. In December 2021, he was diagnosed with a rare adrenal tumor, pheochromocytoma, which had spread to his liver. As Gilbert himself later said, during the operation doctors removed the tumor, and along with it one adrenal gland, gall bladder and part of the liver. After the operation, the musician reported that he was free of cancer.
However, the following year the disease returned: Gilbert was diagnosed with a tumor on his spine and small nodules in his lungs. The spinal tumor began to grow rapidly, which is why the musician needed another operation. New tumors were later discovered in his lungs and back, after which Gilbert underwent intensive treatment.
In 2026, the musician’s condition deteriorated sharply again. After Gilbert lost consciousness, an examination revealed three brain tumors, one of which he said was the size of a walnut. He underwent emergency surgery, during which the tumors were successfully removed and smaller lesions were subsequently treated with radiotherapy.
Doctors later concluded that what had been thought for years to be metastatic pheochromocytoma was actually adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer of the adrenal cortex. Gilbert told People earlier this year that the disease had reached stage four.
Gilbert was one of the founders of New Found Glory, founded in Florida in 1997. The group achieved widespread fame in the early 2000s and became one of the notable representatives of the new wave of American pop-punk. 2002's Sticks and Stones peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and was subsequently certified platinum. The success continued with the next album, 2004's Catalyst.
“His influence will forever be a part of New Found Glory, and his spirit will be felt on every stage we take and in every note we play,” the band said.
