EUGENE Richard O’Connor, better known as Cheetah Chrome, died on September 13 2026 at the age of 71.
The American guitarist, a co-founder of the punk rock band Dead Boys, died in Nashville, Tennessee, where he had lived in later years.
No cause of death has been disclosed by his family or bandmates.
The Dead Boys announced the news via their official Instagram account, describing him as an original figure in the punk rock movement and tributes flowed from across rock and punk.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 18 1955, Chrome first gained attention as a guitarist with the short-lived proto-punk group Rocket from the Tombs in 1974.
He went on to co-found the Dead Boys in 1975 alongside vocalist Stiv Bators, relocating to New York and becoming regulars at the CBGB club.
The band released two studio albums in the late 1970s before splitting, though Chrome participated in later reunions.
In recent years the group had planned a tour to mark the 50th anniversary of their debut album.
Chrome is survived by his wife, Anna O’Connor, and their son. His bandmates requested privacy for the family during this period.
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