Band Reveals Punk Rock Pioneer Has Died at 71

Cheetah Chrome, guitarist of the bands Dead Boys and Rocket from the Tombs, who’s credited with shaping the punk rock movement, has died at the age of 71. His cause of death is unknown. The Dead Boys announced Chrome’s death via Instagram on Sunday, writing, “We are incredibly sad to announce the news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Cheetah Chrome. Cheetah was a true original, an architect of the punk rock movement,” the band wrote. “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.” The Cleveland musician, born Eugene Richard O’Connor, opened for Television and Patti Smith with Rocket from the Tombs. Rock critic Lester Bangs called the Dead Boys “the original legendary underground rock band”. In an online tribute to Chrome, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan wrote: “Your guitar playing and attack taught me so much about ‘edge’ and precision in punk and beyond. Getting to know you in later years was a complete honor. Forever Dead Boys. Forever Cheetah Chrome!!”