Cheetah Chrome (of Dead Boys) has passed away

Co-founder of Dead Boys and punk icon Cheetah Chrome passed away on Sunday, September 13, at the age of 71, as per Blabbermouth. Cheetah, whose full name was Eugene Richard O’Connor, is survived by his 14-year-old son Rogan and his wife, Anna O’Connor. Our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and loved ones.

Before starting a new project with Rocket drummer Johnny Blitz and frontman Stiv Bators, Chrome contributed to the development of the punk sound with the groundbreaking rock group Rocket From The Tombs (together with David Thomas and Peter Laughner, who would go on to join Pere Ubu). The band’s 1977 debut album “Young, Loud And Snotty” became an immediate classic, and their smash song “Sonic Reducer” became a punk anthem. Dead Boys also became a mainstay at New York City’s CBGB. By 1979, the group had broken up, even though they had signed a major label deal with Sire.

After publishing his critically acclaimed autobiography “Cheetah Chrome: A Dead Boy’s Tale From The Front Lines Of Punk Rock” in 2010, Cheetah joined Nashville-based Plowboy Records as creative director. In 2013, the group released “Solo,” his debut solo EP.

Dead Boys posted a statement on social media:

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. 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.