Chad Gilbert, longtime New Found Glory guitarist and cofounder, died at age 45.
The "My Friends Over You" singer died peacefully in his sleep Sunday, Sept. 20, with his wife, Lisa Cimorelli, and mother, Jackie, by his side.
In a joint Instagram statement
, the Florida-born rocker's wife and bandmates said they were “devastated and shocked” by how quickly he died but grateful that his final moments were peaceful.“The amount of visitors that crowded the hospital lobby at a moment’s notice is a testament to how beloved and cherished Chad was, and always will be,” the statement read. “He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father. His biggest dreams came true.”
Chad Gilbert cause of death: How did Chad Gilbert die?
The joint statement announcing Gilbert's death
did not specify a cause.
Before his death, the rocker had been documenting his public battle with cancer since 2021.
It first began on Dec. 5, 2021, when his wife found him unresponsive at their home and performed CPR before paramedics took him to the hospital. Gilbert later said doctors determined that a rare, malignant adrenal-gland tumor called pheochromocytoma had caused life-threatening blood-sugar and blood-pressure changes.
Chad Gilbert cancer battle: Rocker's public struggles with rare cancer
The tumor had grown from his adrenal gland onto his liver, though an MRI showed it had not spread elsewhere at the time, the "Head on Collision" musician said.
After undergoing surgery on Dec. 13 to remove the tumor, he said his surgeon had removed all visible disease. From there, he spent days recovering in the ICU before returning home Dec. 19 to await details about whether further treatment would be necessary once pathology results were available.
After a brief, cancer-free period in 2022, the disease returned in his spine and later affected his lungs and brain. Amid ongoing treatment, the cancer affected more areas of his body, requiring intensive radiation in 2023 and more treatment in August 2025.
His symptoms worsened during a Feb. 20 show in Nashville when he lost control of his left hand. A CT scan later found three brain tumors, including one walnut-sized tumor.
By April 2026, his diagnosis had been revised from metastatic pheochromocytoma to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive adrenal gland cancer. He returned to the stage in June, using a mobility scooter, to perform with New Found Glory in Nashville.
Who is New Found Glory?
New Found Glory is a hardcore punk band that was founded in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1997. The group's original lineup consisted of Gilbert, Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka and Steve Klein. The group cultivated a massive underground fanbase before rising to mainstream stardom with hits like "All Downhill From Here," "Dressed to Kill" and "Hit or Miss," among others.
Gilbert is survived by his wife, Lisa; his daughter, Lily; his mother, Jackie; and his brother, Brian.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chad Gilbert, New Found Glory’s founding guitarist, dies at 45
