Chad Gilbert, the guitarist and songwriter who helped found New Found Glory, has died at 45, according to a statement from his family and bandmates. They said he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 20, with his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, and mother, Jackie, beside him.
His loved ones described friends and relatives gathering at the hospital on short notice, filling the lobby to be near him. They expressed shock at how quickly he died and gratitude that his final moments were peaceful. Their tribute placed his family at the center of his life, describing being a husband and father as his favorite accomplishment.
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades,” his bandmates said. They remembered a musician who pushed them to improve, both in their work and in their lives, and the friendship they built through years of recording and touring together.
New Found Glory formed in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1997. Gilbert’s guitar work became a defining part of a catalog that included the band’s 2000 self titled album, Sticks and Stones in 2002 and Catalyst in 2004. Songs such as “My Friends Over You” and “All Downhill From Here” put his riffs alongside Jordan Pundik’s vocal melodies, making the guitar parts as recognizable as the choruses.
That approach remained central to Listen Up! Bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Cyrus Bolooki visited Gilbert’s home near Nashville to develop the songs he had been writing. Working together with their instruments, they returned to building arrangements around guitar riffs. Gilbert continued recording between cancer treatments, with the sessions adjusted around his medical needs.
In an April 2026 interview with People, Gilbert discussed undergoing brain surgery and continuing to write music during recovery. He had been receiving cancer treatment since 2021. Speaking about his wife and daughter, he said, “I got my dream.”
The family’s announcement returned to that same part of his life. Alongside the musician his fans knew, they remembered someone whose greatest ambitions had been fulfilled at home. His bandmates said the music they continued to play would carry his influence, expressing gratitude for their shared memories and the brotherhood they had built.
Gilbert is survived by his wife, Lisa, daughter, Lily, mother, Jackie, and brother, Brian.
