New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert died “peacefully in his sleep” Sunday morning at the age of 45, his bandmates and wife said in a statement.
“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,” the band and Gilbert’s wife, Lisa Cimorelli, wrote on social media Sunday. “We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went.”
The post did not disclose Gilbert’s cause of death. But the musician had been vocal about his cancer diagnoses, telling People magazine in April that he had been receiving treatment for adrenal cancer since 2021 and had also been diagnosed with Stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma.
Cimorelli told the outlet at the time that the additional prognosis allowed for “a much shorter lifespan than he’s already lived.”
Gilbert continued to post updates for his fans on his personal Instagram page, including photos from hospital visits in recent months.
New Found Glory, which Gilbert was a founding member of, was formed in Florida in 1997. The pop punk band is behind hits such as “My Friends Over You,” “Vicious Love,” “Stay Awhile” and “Ready and Willing.”
Their most recent album, “Listen Up!” dropped in February.
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades,” the band wrote. “Through more than a dozen albums, endless tours around the world, and more accolades than we ever could have imagined, Chad challenged all of us to grow as musicians, performers, and human beings.”
The group, which includes Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka and Cyrus Bolooki, has been on tour in recent months, with two upcoming shows scheduled for October and November, including the Vans Warped Tour Orlando.
After news of Gilbert’s death was announced, the tributes began to pour in on social media, with comments from fans and fellow artists, including Benjamin Madden and Joel Madden (of the band Good Charlotte) and musician-songwriter-producer Matthew Koma.
“I’ve never seen anyone carry themselves through something like this with such positivity and strength,” the band Dashboard Confessional wrote. “What an example to us all. I’ll miss you so much Chad. RIP.”
Bands the Offspring, Taking Back Sunday and the Ataris also shared their condolences.
Gilbert is survived by his wife; his daughter, Lily; his mother, Jackie; and his brother, Brian, his bandmates said.
“He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father,” the band and Cimorelli’s social media statement said. “His biggest dreams came true.”
