Punk Rock Legend Cheetah Chrome, Co-Founder of Dead Boys, Dies at 71

The punk rock world is mourning the loss of Cheetah Chrome, co-founder and guitarist of the influential American punk band Dead Boys. He was 71.

The band announced his death on social media, calling Chrome “a true original” and “an architect of the punk rock movement.”

“Cheetah was a one-man hurricane tearing up the musical landscape with his feral guitar riffs and manic energy,” the band wrote, while also remembering him as a kind man who loved rock ’n’ roll.

Born Eugene Richard O’Connor in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 18, 1955, Chrome joined Rocket From The Tombs in 1974. A year later, he teamed up with Stiv Bators, Jimmy Zero, Jeff Magnum, and Johnny Blitz to form Dead Boys.

In 1976, encouraged by Joey Ramone, the band moved to New York and became part of the city’s legendary punk scene, performing at CBGB.

Although their debut album, Young, Loud and Snotty, was not a major commercial success, Dead Boys became hugely influential in punk music.

Chrome also co-wrote “Ain’t It Fun,” later famously covered by Guns N’ Roses, introducing his work to a new generation of rock fans.

Dead Boys broke up in 1979 but reunited several times over the years. A planned new album in 2024 never came to fruition.

No cause of death has been announced.

Rest in peace, Cheetah Chrome.