Eugene O’Connor, better known by his stage name Cheetah Chrome, the influential guitarist of the pioneering punk band Dead Boys, has died at the age of 71. The band announced his passing on Monday via Instagram, expressing deep sadness and highlighting his significant role in shaping the punk rock movement.

O’Connor grew up in Cleveland and first gained recognition as a member of the proto-punk group Rocket From the Tombs in 1974, alongside David Thomas, who later founded the experimental rock band Pere Ubu. O’Connor subsequently joined Frankenstein with singer Stiv Bators and drummer Johnny Blitz, a lineup that evolved into the Dead Boys with added members guitarist Jimmy Zero and bassist Jeff Magnum.

The Dead Boys relocated to New York City, where they became central figures in the burgeoning punk scene alongside bands like the Ramones and the New York Dolls. Their debut album, “Young, Loud and Snotty,” released in 1977, captured the raw, rebellious spirit of youth, featuring tracks such as “Ain’t Nothin’ to Do” and “Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth.” Known for his aggressive and energetic guitar work, Chrome’s playing combined punk’s immediacy with elements of traditional rock ’n’ roll, including memorable use of phaser effects on songs like “Sonic Reducer.” The band’s follow-up album, “We Have Come for Your Children,” was released in 1978 before the group disbanded.

Despite their breakup, the Dead Boys reunited intermittently in the years afterward. Stiv Bators passed away in 1990, but Chrome remained the band’s last original member and was preparing for a 50th-anniversary tour of “Young, Loud and Snotty” scheduled for 2027. The band’s cultural impact extended to appearances in films such as the punk documentary “D.O.A.: A Right of Passage” and the 2013 biopic “CBGB,” in which Chrome was portrayed by actor Rupert Grint.

O’Connor spent his later years living in Nashville. He is survived by his wife, Anna, and their son, Rogan.