Chad Gilbert, co-founder and lead guitarist of pop-punk band New Found Glory, has died aged 45 after a long battle with cancer.
His death was announced by the Florida-based band and his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, who said he had “passed away peacefully in his sleep” on September 20.
“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,” they said in a social media post.
The statement added: “We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went.”
Gilbert and New Found Glory became prominent figures in pop-punk after breaking into the mainstream with the 2002 single My Friends Over You. Their 2004 album Catalyst reached number three on the Billboard 200 and the band later supported Green Day on their American Idiot tour.
The band described Gilbert as a “legendary musician”, but said his favourite achievement was “being a husband and father”. He married Cimorelli in 2020, and the couple had a daughter, Lily, in 2021.
Gilbert was first diagnosed with liver cancer that year. A tumour was later found in his spine in 2022, and he underwent intensive chemotherapy to control tumours in his lungs and back.
He continued performing with New Found Glory during his illness and recovery. However, his condition worsened after a show in Nashville, Tennessee, on February 20, when he lost control of his left hand.
Over the following days, Gilbert also lost control of his left leg, causing him to stumble and “fall at times”. A subsequent CT scan found three new tumours in his brain.
New Found Glory drummer Cyrus Bolooki paid tribute to his bandmate, saying: “We lost one of the greats today.”
He added: “Thirty years of doing this together and a lifetime of memories made in that time. Thankful for everything that we experienced together and forever grateful to have Chad in my life.”
Gilbert is survived by his wife, daughter, mother and brother.
