Hayley Williams Breaks Silence on Ex-Husband Chad Gilbert's Death: "A Legend in the Scene"

The pop-punk and hardcore community is mourning one of its foundational figures. Chad Gilbert, the New Found Glory guitarist who helped define the sound of a generation, died Sunday, September 20, at 45 after a battle with brain cancer. On Wednesday, his ex-wife Hayley Williams broke her silence with a statement on Instagram Stories.

Williams, who dated Gilbert for a decade before their 2016 marriage and 2017 divorce, called him“a legend in the scene”and credited him with introducing her to people, music, and culture that enriched her life. She also said he deepened her reverence for hardcore’s community. Gilbert’s wife, Lisa Cimorelli, shared her own tribute Wednesday, writing that his love was“superhuman”and calling him her“super man.”Gilbert leaves behind the couple’s 5-year-old daughter, Lily, as well as his mother and brother.

Gilbert’s impact stretches across two massive fanbases. For New Found Glory fans, he was the engine behind some of the most iconic pop-punk riffs of the 2000s. For Paramore fans, he’s part of Hayley’s story in a way that makes this loss feel personal even to those who never met him. Which song from the scene shaped you the most? Drop it in the comments.