Punk musician Eugene Richard O’Connor, known as Cheetah Chrome and a guitarist for the Dead Boys, dies at 71. His bandmates confirm his death in an Instagram post, writing that they are “incredibly sad” to announce the passing of their friend and bandmate.
Cheetah Chrome is credited with helping shape the sound of early American punk through his work with the Dead Boys. While outlets focus on his role in the band, they differ slightly in emphasis: one source highlights the confirmation of his death through the band’s social media statement, while another foregrounds his status as a co-founder and the influence of his guitar work on the band’s early punk output. No additional details about the cause of death are provided in the excerpts.
