Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist and backing vocalist of pop-punk band New Found Glory, has died at age 45.

The Florida band and Gilbert's wife, Lisa Cimorelli, confirmed his death in a joint statement on Instagram, writing that he "passed away peacefully in his sleep" with "his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished."

A six-month battle

Gilbert revealed six months ago that he was battling brain cancer, after having initially been diagnosed with liver cancer back in 2021. He had lost sensation on the left side of his body as three tumors pressed against his brain, which had left him unable to perform live in recent months.

"PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY IN HIS SLEEP"

Gilbert played on every New Found Glory album since the band's 1999 debut, "Nothing Gold Can Stay," through its most recent release, "Listen Up!", which came out earlier this year. The band became one of the defining acts of early-2000s pop-punk, helping shape the genre's sound for a generation of fans.

Tributes poured in from across the punk and pop-punk scene following the announcement, with musicians and fans alike remembering Gilbert's influence on the genre and his resilience throughout his illness.