Dead Boys Guitarist Cheetah Chrome Passes Away at 71
Eugene Richard O’Connor, known to fans as Cheetah Chrome, the influential guitarist for punk pioneers Dead Boys, passed away on Sunday at the age of 71. His bandmates confirmed the news on Instagram.
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Sep 13, 2026 3:33pm PT
Dead Boys Guitarist Cheetah Chrome Dies at 71
By Isabelle Farina
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Isabelle Farina
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Eugene Richard O’Connor, the punk rocker known as Cheetah Chrome and guitarist of the Dead Boys , died Sunday, his bandmates confirmed on Instagram . He was 71.
“We are incredibly sad to announce the news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Cheetah Chrome,” the band wrote in the post. “Cheetah was a true original, an architect of the punk rock movement. A one-man hurricane tearing up the musical landscape with his feral guitar riffs and manic energy. Beyond all that Cheetah was also just a really sweet guy that loved rock-roll. We extend our deepest condolences to Cheetah’s family, friends and fans around the world. His music lives on and will continue to inspire others for generations to come. We ask for privacy during this difficult time. Godspeed Cheetah. Tony, Chris, Mark and the entire Dead Boys family.”
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_Originally reported by [Variety Music](https://variety.com/2026/music/people-news/cheetah-chrome-dead-punk-guitarist-dead-boys-1236860807/)._
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