Cheetah Chrome has breathed his last.
The Dead Boys guitarist – who died at the age of 71 in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, September 13, 2026 – was confirmed dead by his fellow punk rock band stars on Instagram.
On their official social media handle, the band members released a somber statement, mourning Chrome’s death.
They wrote, “We are incredibly sad to announce the news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Cheetah Chrome.”
Fondly speaking about Chrome, the bandmates added, “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.”
The statement concluded, “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.”
Fans’ reactions
Cheetah Chrome’s passing made fans extremely sad as they expressed their grief and mourned his death in the comments.
“What a loss… last of the real rockers. Never another CHEETAH CHROME,” penned one.
Another wrote, “Oh no.. RIP Cheetah , say hello to Stiv for us.”
A third added, ‘This broke our hearts. He was the real deal. The world is way less cool today.”
About Cheetah Chrome
Cheetah Chrome, whose real name was Eugene Richard O’Connor, was an American musician, well-known as a guitarist for Rocket from the Tombs and Dead Boys.
About Dead Boys
Formed in 1975, the Dead Boys were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio
It included vocalist Stiv Bators, rhythm guitarist Jimmy Zero, bassist Jeff Magnum, lead guitarist Cheetah Chrome, and drummer Johnny Blitz.
The band emerged during the early days of punk and was widely considered one of the most notorious and violent groups of the time.
