Departures of note

Eugene Richard O'Connor, known professionally as Cheetah Chrome, was an American guitarist best remembered as a founding member of Rocket From the Tombs and the punk rock band the Dead Boys. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he helped shape the raw, aggressive sound of mid-1970s punk, and his work with the Dead Boys on songs such as "Sonic Reducer" became touchstones of the genre. He was widely cited as an architect of the punk rock movement. After the Dead Boys disbanded, Chrome remained an active and prolific musician, collaborating with artists such as Syl Sylvain and Ronnie Spector and continuing to record and perform for decades. His influence extended across generations of punk and alternative guitarists. Chrome died at 71 on September 13, 2026.