New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert dies at 45

Chad Gilbert, one of the founding members of the pop-punk band New Found Glory, died on Sunday at the age of 45, according to a post on the band’s Instagram page.

Big picture view:

The band wrote that Gilbert died in his sleep with his wife and his mother by his side, surrounded by friends and family. While the post did not say how he died, TMZ reported in March that Gilbert had undergone brain surgery to remove three tumors and had previously been treated for a rare adrenal gland cancer. 

What they're saying:

In its statement, the band described Gilbert as a legendary musician and said his role as a husband and father was his favorite accomplishment.   

"Chad’s guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades. Through more than a dozen albums, endless tours around the world, and more accolades than we ever could have imagined, Chad challenged all of us to grow as musicians, performers, and human beings," the post continued. "While we are devastated to lose him, we are so grateful for the incredible life he lived, the memories we shared, and the brotherhood we had. His influence will always be part of New Found Glory and his spirit will be felt on every stage we stand on, with every note that we play."

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The backstory:

Gilbert rose to fame in the early 2000s as a member of New Found Glory. One of the defining pop-punk bands of the time, their third album "Sticks and Stones" climbed to number four on the Billboard 200 chart and helped secure them a headline slot on the 2002 Warped Tour. The band’s follow-up album, "Catalyst," peaked at number three.

 

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