Chad Gilbert

Here’s a detailed biography / profile of Chad Gilbert:

Chad Gilbert – Life, Career, and Influence

Chad Gilbert (born March 9, 1981) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer best known as a founding member and lead guitarist of the seminal pop-punk band New Found Glory. Explore his life, musical journey, challenges, and impact.

Introduction

Chad Everett Gilbert (born March 9, 1981) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. New Found Glory, in which he plays lead guitar, contributes backing vocals, and writes music.

Over more than two decades, Gilbert has been active not only as a performer but also as a producer, collaborator, and solo artist. His career has had highs and lows—including health challenges—and he remains a significant figure in the pop-punk and punk/hardcore scenes.

Early Life & Background

Chad Gilbert was born on March 9, 1981, in Coral Springs, Florida. J. P. Taravella High School, but dropped out after 11th grade when New Found Glory was signed to a record deal.

His early musical tastes gravitated toward punk, hardcore, and related underground genres. Before fully committing to New Found Glory, he was involved in the hardcore punk band Shai Hulud, in which he served as vocalist between 1995 and 1998.

These early experiences helped shape his musical sensibilities, rooted in aggressive energy, urgency, and melodic sensibility.

Musical Career & Milestones

Shai Hulud Era

From 1995 to 1998, Gilbert was the lead vocalist for the hardcore punk band Shai Hulud. A Profound Hatred of Man and Hearts Once Nourished with Hope and Compassion.

He later returned to the band briefly around 2012–2013.

Founding & Work with New Found Glory

In 1997, Gilbert co-founded New Found Glory. lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and key songwriter.

Some of the landmark albums with New Found Glory include:

• Nothing Gold Can Stay (1999)

• Sticks and Stones (2002)

• Catalyst (2004)

• Coming Home (2006)

• Not Without a Fight (2009)

• Radiosurgery (2011)

• Resurrection (2014)

• Makes Me Sick (2017)

• Forever + Ever x Infinity (2020)

Through these albums, New Found Glory cemented their reputation in the pop-punk canon—combining punk speed and energy with melodic hooks.

Side Projects & Solo Work

Gilbert has also taken on side or solo projects. One notable one is International Superheroes of Hardcore, in which he sang lead.

He also created a solo project under the name What’s Eating Gilbert, releasing demos, EPs, and records.

Beyond performing, Gilbert has produced and co-produced many albums for other artists. For example:

• H₂O’s Nothing to Prove

• A Day to Remember’s Homesick, What Separates Me from You, Common Courtesy

• Fireworks, Candy Hearts, and others

Thus, his role in the music world spans performer, songwriter, collaborator, and producer.

Style, Themes & Influence

• Melodic yet aggressive: Gilbert’s guitar work often balances punk energy with strong melodies and hooks.

• Bridging hardcore roots & pop focus: His background in hardcore (Shai Hulud) gives him cred among the punk/hardcore scene, while his poppunk output gives him reach among broader audiences.

• Songwriting & collaboration: His production and writing work for other bands demonstrates a versatility beyond his own band.

• Resilience & transparency: In recent years, his public battle with cancer has brought another dimension to how fans see him—that of a survivor, fortifying his influence and connection with his audience.

Personal Life & Challenges

Gilbert’s personal life has included multiple marriages and public health challenges:

• He was briefly married in 2007 to Sherri DuPree (of the band Eisley).

• He later married Hayley Williams (lead vocalist of Paramore) in 2016; they divorced in 2017.

• In 2020, he married Lisa Cimorelli (member of the Cimorelli sisters group). Lily, was born July 17, 2021.

Health challenges:

• In January 2010, Gilbert announced that suspicious cells had been detected in his thyroid; he had half his thyroid removed.

• More recently, he was found to have pheochromocytoma, a rare adrenal gland tumor.

• In August 2025, it was reported he resumed radiation treatment after a new spot was found on his back related to metastatic cancer.

Despite these struggles, Gilbert has remained active musically and publicly, drawing support from fans and colleagues.

Famous Lines & Quotes

While Gilbert is more known for his music than for quotable lines, a few public remarks capture his mindset:

• In relation to his health battle, he has posted on social media: “I save all energy for the sets … after treatment … it’s scary, it sucks … through the hardships come new outlooks, gratitude, positivity.”

• He has often expressed commitment to pushing forward in music even in the face of adversity.

Lessons from Chad Gilbert

1. Adaptability pays off. Moving from hardcore to pop-punk, and from performer to producer, Gilbert diversified to stay relevant.

2. Transparency builds connection. Publicly discussing his health challenges has deepened his bond with fans.

3. Collaboration extends impact. His work producing others’ records expands his legacy beyond his own band.

4. Artistic authenticity matters. His roots in hardcore inform a credibility that many pop-punk musicians lack.

5. Persistence in adversity. Despite health issues, Gilbert continues to make music and perform, showing a kind of artistic tenacity.

Conclusion

Chad Gilbert is more than just the guitarist of New Found Glory. He is a multi-faceted musician, songwriter, and producer whose influence threads through the pop-punk and hardcore scenes. While his journey includes personal and health challenges, his resilience, creativity, and continued musical output underline his lasting place in modern rock.

If you’d like, I can also create a timeline of his major musical works, or a deeper analysis of one of his albums (New Found Glory or his solo project) and its cultural impact. Would you like me to prepare that?