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.”Gilbert performing at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco last year.Miikka Skaffari / Getty Images fileThe 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 ...