Image: Kevin Tighe / FilmMagic — rollingstone.com
Chad Everett Gilbert, founding member and lead guitarist of Florida pop-punk band New Found Glory, has died at 45.
The band announced on Sunday, September 20, 2026, that Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep that morning, with his wife and mother at his side. Bandmates said they were devastated by how quickly he left, and grateful that the end was calm. Visitors filled the hospital lobby on short notice, they wrote, a sign of how widely he was loved.
Gilbert revealed in March that he was battling brain cancer. He had previously fought cancer in 2021. In their statement, his bandmates stressed that while he was a legendary musician, his proudest roles were husband and father.
Across nearly three decades, Gilbert’s playing, songwriting, humor, and drive helped shape New Found Glory through more than a dozen albums and constant worldwide touring. The band said his influence will remain part of every stage they stand on and every note they play.