Executive Overview
Chad Everett Gilbert, the founding guitarist, primary songwriter, and creative engine behind the influential Florida pop-punk band New Found Glory, passed away peacefully on the morning of September 20 at the age of 45. Surrounded by close friends and family, Gilbert took his final breaths with his wife, Lisa, and his mother, Jackie, by his side, concluding a courageous and publicly documented battle with a rare form of metastatic cancer.
For nearly three decades, Gilbert stood as a central architect of modern pop-punk. Co-founding New Found Glory in 1997 at just 16 years old, his signature guitar riffs, heavy breakdown influence, and melodic sensibilities helped elevate the band from local Florida VFW halls to global arena headliners. Over a career spanning more than a dozen studio albums, major chart successes, and endless worldwide touring, Gilbert helped define the sonic blueprint of early-2000s alternative rock while establishing himself as an influential producer and mentor within the alternative music community.
Gilbert’s passing follows an intense multi-year medical journey involving metastatic pheochromocytoma—a rare neuroendocrine tumor—and its eventual progression into adrenocortical carcinoma. Despite undergoing extensive surgeries, aggressive chemotherapy, and radiation treatments, Gilbert remained deeply committed to his music, his bandmates, and, above all, his family. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Cimorelli Gilbert, his young daughter, Lily, his mother, Jackie, and his brother, Brian.
Detailed Chronology
[1981] Born in Coral Springs, FL
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[1997] Co-founds New Found Glory (age 16); releases 'It's All About the Girls' EP
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[1999] Releases debut album 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' via Eulogy Records
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[2002] Major-label breakthrough: 'Sticks and Stones' hits #4 on Billboard 200 (Platinum)
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[2004] Releases 'Catalyst' (#3 on Billboard 200, Gold)
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[2009–2010] Expands into production; produces A Day to Remember's landmark 'Homesick'
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[Dec 2021] Initial Cancer Diagnosis: Emergency surgery for rare Pheochromocytoma
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[2022–2023] Cancer Recurrence: Spinal tumor surgery & chemotherapy for lung metastases
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[2024] Releases 'Listen Up!'; undergoes brain surgery; diagnosis worsens to Adrenocortical Carcinoma
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[Sept 20] Passes away peacefully at age 45 surrounded by familyEarly Years and Underground Roots (1981–1999)
Chad Gilbert was born in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1981. Immersed in the vibrant Florida music scene during his early teens, Gilbert originally served as the lead vocalist for the influential metalcore outfit Shai Hulud between 1995 and 1997. Seeking a platform to explore melodic pop melodies fused with the energy of hardcore punk, Gilbert co-founded New Found Glory (originally named "A New Found Glory") in 1997 alongside vocalist Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka, drummer Joe Moreno (later replaced by Cyrus Bolooki), and guitarist Steve Klein.
Operating on a strict DIY ethos, the teenage band members funded their early output through entry-level jobs. Gilbert, who worked at a local movie theater, pooled $300 of his personal savings alongside matching contributions from his bandmates to fund the recording of their 1999 debut full-length album, Nothing Gold Can Stay. Originally released by independent hardcore label Eulogy Records, the record caught the attention of Drive-Thru Records, sparking a word-of-mouth phenomenon across the United States.
Mainstream Explosion and Pop-Punk Dominance (2000–2010)
After signing with Drive-Thru/MCA Records, New Found Glory released their self-titled sophomore album in 2000, establishing their presence on national airwaves with hit singles like "Hit or Miss." However, it was their 2002 album, Sticks and Stones, that solidified their status as genre titans. Debut peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and achieving RIAA Platinum certification, the album featured anthems like "My Friends Over You" and "Head on Collision," driving the band to headlining slots on the Vans Warped Tour and international stadium tours.
The momentum continued with 2004’s Catalyst, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and went Gold. Gilbert’s distinct arrangement style—combining high-energy octave guitar lines with heavy, hardcore-inspired breakdowns—became the gold standard for pop-punk throughout the 2000s.
Album Timeline & Chart Performance:
• 1999: Nothing Gold Can Stay │ Independent / DIY Release
• 2000: New Found Glory │ Breakthrough Gold-status album
• 2002: Sticks and Stones │ #4 Billboard 200 (RIAA Certified Platinum)
• 2004: Catalyst │ #3 Billboard 200 (RIAA Certified Gold)
• 2006: Coming Home │ Shift toward mature, melodic rock
• 2024: Listen Up! │ Final studio release during Gilbert's lifetimeProducer Career and Creative Evolution (2008–2020)
Beyond his guitar work in New Found Glory, Gilbert emerged as a sought-after record producer, helping shape the sound of an entire generation of modern alternative bands. He helmed the production for critical releases, including A Day to Remember’s landmark 2009 album Homesick and 2010’s What Separates Me from You, effectively birthing the "easycore" subgenre that bridged metalcore heavy breakdowns with pop-punk hooks. He also produced records for H2O, State Champs, Set Your Goals, and Candy Hearts, alongside releasing solo material under the moniker What Eating Gilbert.
Medical History and Final Years (2021–2024)
Gilbert’s severe health battles began in December 2021 when he was rushed to the hospital after being found unresponsive. Doctors discovered a large endocrine tumor known as a pheochromocytoma. He underwent an intense two-week hospital stay where surgeons removed a severe portion of his liver, his gallbladder, and one adrenal gland. In January 2022, he briefly announced he was cancer-free.
However, the disease returned aggressively:
- Late 2022: A new tumor was discovered on his spine alongside nodules in his lungs. Rapid tumor growth necessitated complex, emergency spinal surgery.
- Mid-2023: Scan results revealed additional pheochromocytomas in his back and lungs, requiring an intensive regimen of systemic chemotherapy.
- Early 2024: Following the release party for New Found Glory’s latest album, Listen Up!, Gilbert collapsed and underwent emergency brain surgery to remove three metastatic brain tumors.
- Mid-2024: Doctors confirmed his condition had progressed to adrenocortical carcinoma, an exceptionally rare and aggressive malignant cancer originating in the adrenal cortex, carrying a severe medical prognosis.
Throughout these medical setbacks, Gilbert continued to write, record, and periodically perform, remaining fiercely devoted to his craft and family until his passing on September 20.
Supporting Context & Metrics
Commercial Metrics & Legacy Highlights
New Found Glory’s commercial footprint spans three decades, marking them as one of the most commercially successful pop-punk bands of their era:
| Category | Metric / Detail |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Peak | #3 (Catalyst, 2004) |
| Top 10 Albums | 2 (Sticks and Stones, Catalyst) |
| RIAA Certifications | 1 Platinum (Sticks and Stones), 1 Gold (Catalyst) |
| Studio Discography | 11+ Full-Length Albums, multiple EPs, 3 cover albums |
| Global Sales | Millions of units sold worldwide |
Medical Pathology: Pheochromocytoma & Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Gilbert’s multi-year illness involved two intertwined, extremely rare endocrine malignancies:
- Pheochromocytoma: A rare neuroendocrine tumor that develops in the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. It affects approximately 2 to 8 people per million annually. While typically benign, malignant/metastatic pheochromocytomas occur in fewer than 10% of cases, making treatment notoriously complex due to high catecholamine secretion and distant organ metastasis.
- Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC): An extraordinarily rare, highly aggressive cancer affecting the outer cortex of the adrenal gland, with an incidence rate of roughly 0.7 to 2 cases per million individuals per year. When metastatic pheochromocytoma transitions or co-occurs alongside advanced carcinoma, long-term survival rates drop sharply, requiring aggressive combinations of surgery, radiation, and multi-agent chemotherapy.
Official Statements
Statement from New Found Glory
In an official statement published across the band’s official social media channels, the surviving members of New Found Glory expressed their profound grief:
"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 favourite 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, humour, 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."
Chad Gilbert in His Own Words
Reflecting on the humble beginnings of the band and the self-funded creation of their debut album Nothing Gold Can Stay, Gilbert previously recalled in an interview with Louder:
"I worked in a movie theatre and I took $300 that I’d saved from working there, and the rest of the guys all took the $300 they’d saved from their jobs and we all got together and made Nothing Gold Can Stay with our own money. We had no idea where it would take us, we were just doing it because we loved it, and it’s just crazy to see how things turned out.
"Sticks And Stones is obviously the one that took us all over the world, but when we released Nothing Gold Can Stay on our own with a local label, it got picked up by Drive-Thru, and the wave that went over the States was really cool. We weren’t promoted by a record label; we were promoted purely by our fans and word of mouth. It was insane."
Despite his storied musical achievements, Gilbert maintained that his true legacy lay at home with his family. Speaking with People magazine during his stage-4 cancer battle earlier this year, Gilbert shared a poignant reflection:
"I got my dream. I always wanted to play music, and I got that, but my biggest dream was to be married to a beautiful wife that would love me and have a daughter. That was my dream, so I accomplished my dream."
Future Outlook
The Future of New Found Glory
The death of Chad Gilbert leaves an irreplaceable void at the core of New Found Glory. As the chief riff-writer, sonic architect, and central creative voice, Gilbert’s presence was fundamental to the band’s identity. While the surviving members—Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, and Cyrus Bolooki—have not yet formally announced long-term plans regarding the continuation of the band, their statement affirms that Gilbert’s spirit "will be felt on every stage we stand on, with every note we play." Memorial concerts and tribute events within the alternative music community are expected to be announced in the coming months.
CHAD GILBERT'S LEGACY
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SONIC INNOVATION PRODUCER FOOTPRINT GENRE IMPRINT
Pioneered the blend of heavy Mentored & produced key works Influenced modern acts from
hardcore breakdowns with for A Day to Remember, Neck Deep, State Champs, to
melodic pop-punk hooks. State Champs, and H2O. contemporary emo revival.Enduring Legacy in Alternative Music
Chad Gilbert’s legacy extends far beyond sales metrics or chart placements. By infusing the intensity of the Florida hardcore scene into catchy, radio-friendly pop-punk, he helped create a distinct subgenre that defined alternative music in the 2000s. His production work served as a bridge between generations, helping younger bands translate underground urgency into polished, mainstream success. Across three decades, Gilbert remained a symbol of relentless drive, musical passion, and unyielding strength in the face of profound adversity.
