Last Updated on 8 hours ago by Vijay Kumar
Cheetah Chrome, the influential guitarist and co-founder of the American punk rock band Dead Boys, has died at the age of 71. Chrome, whose real name was Eugene Richard O’Connor, died on September 13, 2026.
The band paid tribute to Chrome, describing him as an important figure in the development of punk rock and praising his distinctive guitar playing and energetic performances. The group also asked fans and the public to respect the privacy of his family during this difficult time.
Born on February 18, 1955, in Cleveland, Ohio, Cheetah Chrome became an important figure in the early American punk scene.
He began his career with Rocket From the Tombs, a Cleveland proto-punk band that also included musicians David Thomas and Peter Laughner. Chrome later joined forces with Stiv Bators and Johnny Blitz, helping form what became the Dead Boys.
The Dead Boys moved to New York and became closely associated with the legendary CBGB club. Their 1977 debut album, Young, Loud and Snotty, became a landmark record in American punk rock. Their song “Sonic Reducer” went on to become one of the genre’s best-known punk anthems.
The band released two studio albums before breaking up in 1979, although the Dead Boys later reunited for performances. Chrome continued working in music after the band’s original breakup, including projects connected to Rocket From the Tombs and Batusis.
In 2010, Chrome published his autobiography, Cheetah Chrome: A Dead Boy’s Tale From the Front Lines of Punk Rock. He also became creative director of Nashville-based Plowboy Records, which released his first solo EP, Solo, in 2013.
Cheetah Chrome is survived by his wife, Anna O’Connor, and their 14-year-old son, Rogan, who live in Nashville.
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