New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert has died following a battle with brain cancer. He was 45.
“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,” Gilbert’s wife, Lisa Cimorelli, wrote in an Instagram statement shared on Sunday, September 20, announcing her husband died earlier that day in his sleep. “We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went.”
Cimorelli, 32, was particularly grateful that her loved ones were present at the time of Gilbert’s death.
“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,” she wrote. “He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father. His biggest dreams came true.”
She concluded, “Rest in peace, Chad. We love you forever ❤️.”
Gilbert, who is survived by his wife and 5-year-old daughter Lily, was a founding member of the beloved rock band, which currently features lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Cyrus Bolooki. (Former member Steve Klein left the band in 2013.)
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades,” the band wrote in a separate statement on Sunday. “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 obituary concluded, “While we are devastated to lose him, we are so grateful for the incredible life he lived, the memories we shared, and the brotherhood we had. His influence will always be part of New Found Glory and his spirit will be felt on every stage we stand on, with every note we play.”
Just seven months earlier, Gilbert announced that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer.
“On February 20th, I played a show in Nashville and was struggling to control the movements of my left hand,” Gilbert, who previously battled liver cancer in 2021, wrote via Instagram in March. “My left leg was getting weaker by the day and I started stumbling and falling at times. On the 23rd, I was taken to the ER where a CT scan showed three new tumors had appeared in my brain.”
Gilbert revealed that he underwent “successful brain surgery” to remove the located tumors later that month.
“My recovery has been bumpy at times but I’m feeling much better now and getting stronger by the day,” he wrote. “Thankful to everyone who’s checked in on me and helped my family during this lengthy and challenging journey.”
