Dead Boys announce his demise of their guitarist Cheetah Chrome

Cheetah Chrome, founding guitarist of the influential Cleveland punk band Dead Boys, has died at age 71. 

The band confirmed his passing in a social media post, remembering him as a true original and one of punk rock's early architects.

"We are incredibly sad to announce the news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Cheetah Chrome,” the band wrote. 

In their tribute, the band described Chrome as "a one-man hurricane tearing up the musical landscape with his feral guitar riffs and manic energy," while also remembering him as a kind person who deeply loved rock and roll. 

They continued, "Beyond all that, Cheetah was also just a really sweet guy who loved rock'n'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."

Born Eugene Richard O'Connor in 1955, Chrome first made his mark with the cult Cleveland proto-punk group Rocket From the Tombs in 1974. 

The following year, he teamed up with vocalist Stiv Bators, guitarist Jimmy Zero, bassist Jeff Magnum, and drummer Johnny Blitz to form the Dead Boys. Encouraged by Joey Ramone, the band relocated to New York in 1976 and quickly became part of the emerging punk scene centered around CBGB.

The Dead Boys broke up in 1979 but reunited several times over the years for reunion shows, even as Chrome struggled with drug addiction during that period.