Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and songwriter of New Found Glory, died Sept. 20, 2026, at age 45, after a cancer fight that lasted about five years. “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,” his family said.
New Found Glory confirmed the news in a statement from bandmates Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Cyrus Bolooki and Dan Lambert. “Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades,” the band wrote. “His influence will always be part of New Found Glory.”
His family added that he “was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father.”
Chad Gilbert and the sound of New Found Glory
Gilbert grew up in Coral Springs, Florida, where he formed New Found Glory in 1997 with Pundik, Grushka, Steve Klein and drummer Joe Marino, later replaced by Bolooki. He played on every New Found Glory album, from the 1999 debut Nothing Gold Can Stay through the band’s 2002 breakthrough Sticks and Stones, led by the single “My Friends Over You,” and on to Listen Up!, the band’s 11th studio album, released in 2026.
Outside the band, he fronted the Florida hardcore group Shai Hulud during two separate stretches, played in the New Found Glory side project International Superheroes of Hardcore, and produced records for A Day to Remember, H2O and State Champs.
His cancer diagnosis
Gilbert made his illness public in December 2021, after a medical emergency at home led doctors to a large malignant tumor on his adrenal gland. He had surgery that month and said in early 2022 that the cancer was gone. It returned. In early 2026, as New Found Glory was releasing Listen Up!, doctors found three tumors on his brain. Many of the album’s songs drew directly on his illness and recovery.
Survivors
Chad Gilbert is survived by his wife, Lisa Cimorelli; his daughter, Lily; his mother, Jackie; and his brother, Brian. For more coverage, see The 824 Journal’s music news.
Sources
- Variety: Chad Gilbert, New Found Glory Guitarist and Backing Vocalist, Dies at 45
- Kerrang!: Chad Gilbert, guitarist of New Found Glory, has died aged 45
- Metal Injection: New Found Glory Guitarist and Songwriter Chad Gilbert Dead at 45
- Forbes: New Found Glory Guitarist Chad Gilbert Discusses Surgery To Remove Malignant Tumor
- Rolling Stone: New Found Glory’s Chad Gilbert Details Cancer Update
