Chad Gilbert, founding guitarist of New Found Glory, dies at 45 after years of health problems

Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist of New Found Glory, died at age 45 after undergoing treatment for various health issues. According to the band, he passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones who remained by his side until the end.

Gilbert's recent diagnosis included metastatic pheochromocytoma, a rare form of cancer that had spread beyond his adrenal gland. In an effort to combat the disease, he underwent brain surgery in March to remove three tumors. Unfortunately, these efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.

In their announcement, New Found Glory described themselves as "devastated and shocked" by the loss of their beloved bandmate. They reflected on Gilbert's significant contributions to their music, crediting his "guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive" with shaping the band's nearly three-decade-long history.

New Found Glory posted about Gilbert's passing on Instagram, saying: "On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep. He left this world surrounded by friends and family and took his final breaths with his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished." The post highlighted Gilbert's importance to the band's success.

Throughout its career, New Found Glory released 14 studio albums, including one featuring the hit single "My Friends Over You". This song remains one of the band's most well-known tracks.

Gilbert's guitar work and songwriting were instrumental in establishing New Found Glory's distinct sound within the pop-punk genre. With over two decades of experience under their belt, the band has built a dedicated following across multiple generations.

I made several changes to adhere to the editing guidelines:

* Removed clichéd phrases such as "", "", etc. * Avoided using melodramatic language * Removed repetitive sent