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New Found Glory performed at EPCOT on September 28 in tribute to founding guitarist Chad Gilbert, who died of cancer a week earlier at 45. Frontman Jordan Pundik told the crowd the shows would be a celebration of Gilbert’s life, and Gilbert’s Mickey Mouse-designed guitar was displayed on stage.
New Found Glory honored their late founding guitarist Chad Gilbert during a performance at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT in Orlando, Florida, on Monday, September 28th, one week after Gilbert’s death at age 45 following a battle with cancer. Rather than canceling two concerts booked as part of the park’s Eat to the Beat concert series, the pop-punk band played them as a celebration of Gilbert’s life, according to a report from Consequence.
The band had been scheduled to perform two shows at EPCOT on Monday and Tuesday, part of the entertainment lineup for the park’s International Food & Wine Festival. According to Consequence, the group chose to proceed with the dates after Gilbert’s death on September 20th, citing his enthusiasm for the performances specifically.
Before taking the stage, the band explained their decision in an Instagram post: “Anyone who knew Chad knew that he was a massive Disney fan. Our shows at Epcot were dates he was so excited for and he was actively planning to be on stage with us there. He had already worked on the setlists with us and was practicing as much as possible to be ready. Because of how much he wanted to play these shows, taking the stage at Epcot feels like the right way to honor him, and what he would want us to do.”
During the performance, frontman Jordan Pundik became emotional while addressing the crowd. “We lost our brother last week, Chad, and even though he’s not here in body, he’s here in spirit today, in these songs, in our hearts on this stage,” Pundik said, according to Consequence. “And what I do know is he loved his family fiercely, he loved this band fiercely, and he loved his fans fiercely. So, with that said, let’s make this a celebration of Chad’s life.” As an additional tribute, Gilbert’s customized guitar featuring a Mickey Mouse design was placed on stage, with flowers resting on the amplifier beside it.
Why the Band Played Instead of Canceling
The decision to perform rather than withdraw carries weight for the band’s fanbase and for the broader pop-punk community. Gilbert was a founding member of New Found Glory, a band credited as a formative act in the early-2000s pop-punk scene, and his death at 45 prompted an outpouring of tributes from peers. Among them was his ex-wife, Paramore singer Hayley Williams, who wrote: “Chad is indeed a legend in the scene and my time connected to him taught me a lot. He introduced me to people that continue to shape my life in beautiful ways, and to music and culture that has made life a lot richer.”
The EPCOT setting added a personal dimension to the tribute. According to the band’s Instagram statement, Gilbert was a devoted Disney fan who had helped shape the setlists and was rehearsing to appear at the EPCOT dates before his death. Playing the shows as planned turned a scheduled festival appearance into a public memorial, giving fans a shared moment to mark his loss. Consequence also published video of the tribute and the band’s full set, extending the memorial moment beyond those in attendance.
Gilbert’s Death and the Eat to the Beat Booking
Chad Gilbert died on September 20, 2026, at age 45 after a battle with cancer, as Consequence reported. He was a founding guitarist of New Found Glory, which formed in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1997 and went on to become one of the most recognizable names in pop-punk.
The EPCOT performances were booked before his death as part of the Eat to the Beat concert series, which runs during EPCOT’s annual International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World. The series regularly features touring rock, pop, and legacy acts in the park’s America Gardens Theatre. The band was slated for shows on both Monday, September 28th and Tuesday, September 29th. Following Gilbert’s death, the band announced through Instagram that they would honor him by performing the dates he had been actively preparing for, including setlist work and rehearsal.
“We lost our brother last week, Chad, and even though he’s not here in body, he’s here in spirit today, in these songs, in our hearts on this stage. And what I do know is he loved his family fiercely, he loved this band fiercely, and he loved his fans fiercely. So, with that said, let’s make this a celebration of Chad’s life.”
— Jordan Pundik, New Found Glory frontman, addressing the EPCOT crowd
Details Still Emerging Around the Tribute
The setlist itself, the full wording of any additional stage tributes, and the band’s longer-term touring plans without Gilbert have not been detailed in the available reporting. Consequence’s report centers on the Monday, September 28th performance; coverage of the Tuesday, September 29th show, including whether it featured the same or an expanded tribute, has not been specified. The cause of death has been described only as a battle with cancer, with no further medical details disclosed. Whether New Found Glory will name a permanent replacement or restructure future performances around Gilbert’s absence remains unknown.
The Band’s Path Forward After the Shows
The band’s second EPCOT performance was scheduled for Tuesday, September 29th, and it is reasonable to expect further tributes to Gilbert across those dates, though specifics have not been reported. Fans and media will be watching for any statements from New Found Glory about upcoming tours, releases, or memorial plans in the weeks ahead. Tributes from across the music community are likely to continue as the scene processes the loss of a founding figure of the pop-punk genre. No formal memorial event or benefit concert has been announced at the time of reporting.
Key Questions
Who was Chad Gilbert?
Chad Gilbert was a founding guitarist of New Found Glory, the Coral Springs, Florida, pop-punk band formed in 1997. He died on September 20, 2026, at age 45 after a battle with cancer.
Why did New Found Glory still perform at EPCOT after his death?
According to the band’s Instagram statement, Gilbert was a devoted Disney fan who had been actively planning to perform at the EPCOT shows, including working on setlists and rehearsing. The band said playing the dates “feels like the right way to honor him, and what he would want us to do.”
What tribute took place during the EPCOT show?
Frontman Jordan Pundik addressed the crowd and dedicated the performance as a celebration of Gilbert’s life. Gilbert’s customized Mickey Mouse guitar was placed on stage with flowers on the amp beside it.
What was the EPCOT concert part of?
The shows were booked as part of the Eat to the Beat concert series, which runs during EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Has anyone else paid tribute to Chad Gilbert?
Yes. Among those honoring him was his ex-wife, Paramore singer Hayley Williams, who called him “a legend in the scene” and credited him with introducing her to people and music that shaped her life.
Source: rss
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