New Found Glory Guitarist Chad Gilbert Dies at 45 After Long Cancer Battle
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- Chad Gilbert, gitaris sekaligus pendiri New Found Glory, meninggal dunia pada usia 45 tahun setelah bertahun-tahun berjuang melawan kanker langka.
- Kabar duka disampaikan melalui pernyataan keluarga di media sosial, disusul penghormatan dari rekan satu band yang menyebut kontribusinya membentuk identitas band selama hampir tiga dekade.
- Kepergian Gilbert menandai berakhirnya salah satu era penting dalam musik pop-punk dan meninggalkan warisan besar bagi industri musik global, termasuk basis penggemar di Indonesia.
The pop-punk music industry is once again in mourning. Chad Gilbert, guitarist and co-founder of the band New Found Glory, has passed away at the age of 45 after a long battle with a rare cancer that affected multiple organs. The news was confirmed through an official family statement shared on his wife Lisa Morelli's Instagram account on Sunday (September 20).
In the statement, the family mentioned that Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his closest relatives. "We are heartbroken and shocked by his sudden departure, but we are grateful that he left peacefully," the family wrote. They also highlighted how many people came to the hospital in a short time as proof of how much Gilbert was loved.
Gilbert was first diagnosed with metastatic pheochromocytoma in his liver in 2021, a rare type of tumor that later developed into adrenocortical carcinoma and spread to other parts of his body. He was declared cancer-free in January 2022 after undergoing the removal of half his liver, his gallbladder, and one adrenal gland. However, his health deteriorated again when a new tumor was found in his brain in early 2026, forcing him to undergo surgery, radiation, and intensive hospital care.
His bandmates—Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Cyrus Bolooki, and Dan O’Connor—also paid tribute through a joint statement. They remembered Gilbert as the person who shaped New Found Glory for nearly three decades through his guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless encouragement. "Chad challenged all of us to grow as musicians, performers, and human beings," they said. "We are incredibly grateful for the brotherhood we shared. His spirit will be felt on every stage we step onto."
"He was a legendary musician, but his favorite achievement was being a husband and a father. His biggest dream came true." — Chad Gilbert's family statement.
Before joining New Found Glory, Gilbert had already made a name for himself as the vocalist for the hardcore band Shai Hulud in his teenage years, appearing on their influential 1997 debut album. With New Found Glory, he released over a dozen albums and toured worldwide, making the band one of the icons of the early 2000s pop-punk era. Outside the band, Gilbert was also active as a producer for groups like A Day To Remember, H2O, and Terror, and had a solo project called What's Eating Gilbert, as well as leading the hardcore side project International Superheroes Of Hardcore.
For music fans in Indonesia, Gilbert's passing is not just sad news from the international music industry. New Found Glory has a loyal fanbase in the country, especially among millennials who grew up with pop-punk songs from the 2000s era. Concerts by the Florida-based band often became nostalgic events, and Gilbert was often considered the driving force behind their stage energy. This loss also serves as a reminder of the challenges of early detection for rare cancers, which are often diagnosed late due to non-specific symptoms.
With Gilbert's passing, New Found Glory loses one of its creative pillars. However, his musical legacy is predicted to live on through works that have inspired many subsequent pop-punk and hardcore bands. The question now is, how will New Found Glory continue its journey without the figure who has been one of its main driving forces? And more broadly, will the pop-punk music industry ever find a figure with the spirit and dedication of Chad Gilbert again?
