Death confirmed by band and wife
Chad Gilbert, who helped found the punk rock group New Found Glory and served as its guitarist and backing vocalist, passed away on Sunday at the age of 45. A joint Instagram post from the band and Gilbert's wife, Lisa Cimorelli, announced that he died quietly while sleeping, with his wife and mother beside him, exactly as he had wanted. The message conveyed their shock and heartbreak at how suddenly he was gone, alongside thankfulness that his passing was calm and gentle. It also observed that the crowd of visitors who filled the hospital lobby on short notice showed how deeply loved and treasured Chad was and remains. Though they described him as a legendary musician, they said his greatest pride was his roles as husband and father, and that his largest dreams were fulfilled.[S1]
No cause of death was released right away, though Gilbert had spoken in the past with People about his extended fight with stage 4 adrenal cancer.[S1]
A pop-punk pioneer
Gilbert was born in Coral Springs, Florida, on March 9, 1981, and in 1997 he started New Found Glory alongside Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Steve Klein and Joe Moreno, with Cyrus Bolooki soon taking Moreno's place. The band went on to rank among pop-punk's most influential acts, playing a key role in defining its early-2000s sound. Gilbert appeared on every one of their records, from the 1999 debut Nothing Gold Can Stay through this year's Listen Up!. He also contributed to the band's broader mainstream breakthrough via 2002's Sticks And Stones and 2004's Catalyst, each of which reached the Billboard 200's top 10.[S1]
Beyond New Found Glory, Gilbert performed with other acts, among them Shai Hulud and International Superheroes of Hardcore, a side project of the original band. His earlier marriages were to Paramore's Hayley Williams and to singer Sherri DuPrey. Gilbert leaves behind his wife, Cimorelli, along with his daughter Lily, his mother Jackie, and his brother Brian.[S1]
