New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert dies aged 45 after cancer battle as tributes paid to ‘legendary musician’

POP-punk legend Chad Gilbert, founding member and lead guitarist of New Found Glory, has died aged 45. The rock star had been battling a rare adrenal cancer and underwent surgery to remove three brain tumours in March. New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert has died aged 45 Credit: Getty Chad was a founding member of New Found Glory, often labelled the ‘godfathers of post punk’ Credit: Getty Chad’s New Found Glory bandmates and wife Lisa Cimorelli announced his death alongside a touching tribute on social media. The statement read: “On the morning of September 20, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! “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. “We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went. “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. “He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father. His biggest dreams came true.” Chad formed New Found Glory with Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Steve Klein and Cyrus Bolooki in Coral Springs, Florida in 1997. They released their debut album in 1999, but it was with their third record, Sticks and Stones, that they achieved stardom. Most read in Entertainment He was previously married to Paramore’s Hayley Williams Credit: Alamy The guitarist was diagnosed with a rare adrenal cancer in 2021 My Friends Over You became a huge hit and the band’s lyrics inspired the names of more recent groups like All Time Low and The Story So Far. Chad’s bandmates credited his “guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive” for shaping the band over the course of their three decades. The band’s statement continued: “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. “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.” Chad was rushed to A&E on February 20 after experiencing weakness in his leg that caused him to fall. It came three days after he struggled to control his left hand during a show in Nashville. Taking to Instagram, Chad revealed how a CT scan showed three tumours in his brain, leading to emergency surgery to remove them. Chad performing with the band in 2021 Credit: Getty Chad underwent a successful operation to remove three brain tumours in February Chad, who was previously had a short marriage to Paramore’s Hayley Williams, was first diagnosed with cancer in December 2021 after wife Lisa found him unconscious in bed. He was rushed to hospital and doctors found a large adrenal gland tumor that had spread to his liver. The tumour was surgically removed along with half of his liver and gallbladder. Though he was declared cancer-free the following month, it returned in his spine in August, leading him to have a six-hour surgery to remove the affected vertebrate and replace it with an artificial disc. There was more disheartening news the following year after nodules were discovered in his lungs. He went through intense rounds of chemotherapy while continuing to perform and release music with New Found Glory. Comment now