Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and backing vocalist of the pop-punk band New Found Glory, dies at 45. The band and Gilbert’s wife, Lisa Cimorelli, confirm the death in a joint statement, saying he passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 20, surrounded by friends and family.
Several outlets report that Gilbert had been battling cancer for years, including brain cancer. Billboard and other coverage links his death to an announcement made about six months earlier, when he revealed he was facing cancer. Additional details vary by outlet, with some describing his cancer as brain cancer and others noting the presence of multiple tumors and emergency surgery in recent years.
Across the reports, coverage also reiterates Gilbert’s personal connection to Paramore’s Hayley Williams, whom he previously married. Outlets primarily differ in how they frame the medical timeline—whether focusing on the original cancer discovery and later treatment, or emphasizing his more recent public disclosure. All accounts agree on his role in New Found Glory and the circumstances of his passing.
