chad gilbert

Updated

Chad Gilbert (March 9, 1981 – September 20, 2026) was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a founding member and lead guitarist of the pop-punk band New Found Glory.

Musical Career

  • New Found Glory: A founding member of the band in 1997, Gilbert played a pivotal role in shaping their sound and success for nearly three decades through his guitar work and songwriting.
  • Other Projects: He was the lead vocalist for the hardcore punk band Shai Hulud (1995–1998, 2012–2013) and fronted the side-project International Superheroes of Hardcore.
  • Production: As a producer, he worked on notable albums for bands such as A Day to Remember (Homesick, What Separates Me from You, Common Courtesy) and H2O (Nothing to Prove).
  • Solo Work: In 2010, he began releasing solo music under the name What's Eating Gilbert.

Personal Life

  • Family: Gilbert was married to musician Sherri Dupree (2007) and later to Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams (2016–2017). In 2020, he married Lisa Cimorelli, with whom he had a daughter, Lily, born in 2021.
  • Health and Death: Gilbert battled cancer starting in 2021, initially diagnosed with a rare pheochromocytoma. In April 2026, his diagnosis was updated to stage 4 adrenocortical carcinoma. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 20, 2026, at the age of 45.