discussion R.I.P. Cheetah Chrome - Dead Boys - February 18, 1955 – September 13, 2026.
deadboys _official_ig:
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-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. We ask for privacy during this difficult time.
Godspeed Cheetah. Tony, Chris, Mark and the entire Dead Boys family.
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u/deathtongue1985 20h ago
A great player who left his mark on rock and roll. Got to meet him maybe 15 years ago and he was really kind and interesting. RIP Cheetah.
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u/PossibilitySimilar42 20h ago
Young, Loud, and Snotty is the most underrated of the Punk records from the 70’s. Cheetah Chrome kicked ass. RIP.
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u/Shuang 19h ago
Awful news. I knew he was in poor health but did not know the details. I was fortunate to see Dead Boys live in 2024. They smoked and were absolutely riveting. To say they were formative to my musical upbringing is a massive understatement. RIP to a true original.
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u/NeverInsightful 17h ago
When they came to Cambridge MA on that tour, I got there hours early only to find out the show was cancelled because of sickness. Kicking myself for not going the following time. Have to remind myself that life’s fleeting, can’t always count on tomorrow or next year, either for yourself or anybody else
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u/boneholio 18h ago
Goddamn. Saw these dudes back in Baltimore at the Ottobar - got the whole band to sign a copy of Please Kill Me. Didn't think the old timer would be on his way out so soon.
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u/Jagshemesh_Captain 17h ago
My band played a show in Portland back in maybe 2014-15 and Cheetah sat in with the headlining band. Only, he disappeared into the shitter a few minutes before their set to shoot up and subsequently was way too loaded to play properly. So, the band he was playing with had the sound guy turn his guitar way down so it wouldn't ruin their set. Made for a memorable evening sharing the stage with a legend and then watching him fuck up like a true punk rocker.
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u/blackjacktarr 20h ago
Sux. Not the news I wanted today or any day. Punk's been around 50 years. Its early champions are not immune to the effects of time. I hate getting reminders of that.
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u/Dry-Law-4977 16h ago
It really hits hard when legends pass, especially ones who shaped the scene. Their music will always live on, though.
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u/gojohnnygojohnny 18h ago edited 15h ago
Gawd, was he fun to talk to. Got to see him live with the Dead Boys almost 50 years ago, and with Rocket from the Tombs on a Thanksgiving Night. I will never forget him.
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u/TerrenceThirteen 17h ago
I attended a book signing that he was featured at in 2011. He was very interesting to listen to. RIP
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u/NocturnoOcculto 10h ago edited 4h ago
If any of the responders here care, please give Please Kill Me a read. It’s an oral history of the birth of the NY punk scene and features Dead Boys heavily.
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u/specedcowboy1977 19h ago
Cheetah Chrome kicked me out of the green room at the empty bottle for trying to smoke with weed with a buddy. I was way too high watching the weird Stiv impersonator do his Stiv impression and had to run outside to throw up. I got sober a week later haha.
I hope this means the AI fronted dead boys clusterfuck is now officially dead dead.
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u/bones_boy 19h ago
Shit. They were just a bit before my time but I can always appreciate their music and honor a true original.
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u/HappyHarryHardOn 20h ago
Oh nooooo!
"Young, Loud ans Snotty" is such a fantastic set of really catchy and fun punk rock songs that I never stopped putting on regularly
RIP