Chad Gilbert, the guitarist for the American rock band New Found Glory, has died at the age of 45 following a five-year battle with cancer. His wife, Lisa Cimorelli, shared the news in a heartfelt message on Instagram.
In her post, Cimorelli revealed that Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 20, surrounded by friends and family. He took his last breath with his wife and mother by his side, just as he had wished.
His bandmates—Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Cyrus Bolooki, and Dan O’Connor—expressed that Gilbert’s guitar playing, compositions, humor, and tireless determination significantly shaped the band throughout its nearly three-decade journey.
A post shared by Lisa Cimorelli (@lisacimorelli)
Gilbert was involved in the creation of approximately ten albums and participated in worldwide tours with the band, which is widely recognized for their hit song “My Friends Over You.”
The band noted that Gilbert challenged them all to grow as musicians, artists, and individuals. They expressed their devastation over his loss while also feeling immense gratitude for the incredible life he lived, the memories shared, and the brotherhood they formed. They affirmed that his influence will always remain part of New Found Glory, and his spirit will be felt on every stage and in every note they play.
Diagnosed with a rare form of adrenal cancer in 2021, Gilbert later faced three brain tumors. He openly discussed his health journey on social media, revealing in March that he had regained mobility in his left hand following brain surgery. However, in April, he announced that he had been diagnosed with stage four adrenocortical carcinoma.
