Chad Gilbert, a founding guitarist of the pop-punk band New Found Glory and a producer who worked across the punk and hardcore scenes, died on September 20, 2026, at the age of 45. His wife, Lisa, announced his death on Instagram, writing that he died in his sleep at the couple’s home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife and mother at his side. He had disclosed a brain cancer diagnosis about six months earlier.
Gilbert helped shape New Found Glory’s sound as its lead guitarist and a backing vocalist, and the band became one of the defining acts of the pop-punk movement that came out of Florida. Over nearly three decades he also played in the hardcore group Shai Hulud and the side project International Superheroes of Hardcore, and he released solo material under the name What’s Eating Gilbert beginning in 2010.
Beyond his own bands, Gilbert built a second career as a producer and songwriter. He produced records for A Day to Remember, among them Homesick, What Separates Me from You, and Common Courtesy, as well as work for the hardcore band H2O. He also contributed guest vocals to songs by other artists, including Fall Out Boy and Say Anything, and his production credits made him a recurring presence on releases across the genre.
His death followed a long period of illness. Gilbert had been treated for cancer several times in recent years, beginning with a tumor removed in 2021 and further growths found in the years that followed, and in April 2026 he was diagnosed with stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive disease. Earlier in the year he underwent emergency surgery for three tumors following a brain cancer diagnosis, and he shared updates on his treatment with fans in the months that followed.
Gilbert was previously married to Hayley Williams, the Paramore singer, and later married Lisa Cimorelli, with whom he had a daughter. Williams was among the musicians who paid tribute after his death, describing what she had learned from him about the hardcore community and its culture. He is survived by his wife and their daughter.
