New Found Glory’s founding guitarist died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family, with the band remembering the musician who helped shape the group for almost three decades.
by Paul Cashmere
Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and songwriter of New Found Glory, has died at the age of 45. Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 20, 2026, surrounded by friends and family, with his wife Lisa and mother Jackie by his side, according to a statement issued by New Found Glory and Gilbert’s family.
The statement described the circumstances of his death as peaceful, while acknowledging that those closest to him were shocked by how quickly he died. The family also revealed that a large number of friends and visitors gathered at the hospital after being alerted to his condition.
For the band, Gilbert’s death marks the loss of a musician whose guitar playing, songwriting and creative direction were central to New Found Glory from its beginnings in Florida in the late 1990s.
“He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father,” the statement said. “His biggest dreams came true.”
Gilbert is survived by his wife Lisa, daughter Lily, mother Jackie and brother Brian.
New Found Glory formed in 1997, with Gilbert becoming one of the principal musical figures in the band as it developed from the American punk and hardcore scene into one of the defining groups associated with the early 2000s pop-punk movement.
The band’s catalogue includes Nothing Gold Can Stay in 1999, New Found Glory in 2000, Sticks And Stones in 2002 and Catalyst in 2004. The group continued releasing albums across the following two decades, with Listen Up! issued in 2026. Noise11 previously reported on Listen Up! as the band’s first full-length album in almost six years, with Gilbert describing the record as one of the most meaningful of New Found Glory’s career.
Gilbert’s work extended well beyond New Found Glory. Before the band’s success, he was the vocalist for hardcore punk group Shai Hulud, initially from 1995 to 1998 and later returning in 2012 and 2013.
He also created International Superheroes of Hardcore, taking on lead vocals for the hardcore side project, and recorded music under the name What’s Eating Gilbert. That project allowed him to explore a different musical direction, producing a series of recordings that drew on his interest in older rock, punk and roots influences.
As a producer, Gilbert became an important figure for another generation of American punk and alternative bands. His production credits included H2O’s Nothing To Prove and several significant A Day To Remember albums, including Homesick, What Separates Me From You and Common Courtesy. His production work also extended to artists including State Champs, Shai Hulud, H2O, Candy Hearts and Lisa Loeb.
Gilbert had spoken publicly about serious health problems for several years. He underwent treatment for cancer and later faced further tumours and surgery, including emergency brain surgery in 2026. His health struggles became part of the public story around his final years, but his death was announced by his family and bandmates without a specific cause of death being given.
His musical activity continued during that period. Earlier in 2026, New Found Glory released Listen Up!, a record made during a period in which Gilbert was dealing with his illness. The album became the latest chapter in a catalogue that had already spanned more than a dozen releases.
For New Found Glory, however, the final statement focused as much on the person as the musician.
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades,” the band said. “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 statement continued: “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.”
The full statement from New Found Glory and Gilbert’s family reads:
“On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep. 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. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, his daughter, Lily, his mother, Jackie, and his brother, Brian.
“Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades. 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.
“Rest in peace, Chad. We love you forever.”
Lisa, Jordan, Ian, Cyrus, and Dan
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