Keith Levene, a co-founding member of The Clash and later co-founder and guitarist with Public Image Ltd., has died. He was 65.
Levene’s demise was confirmed by writer/author Adam Hammond, who revealed the modern rock musician died on November 11 at his dwelling in Norfolk, United Kingdom, following a battle with liver most cancers.
”It is with great sadness I report that my close friend and legendary Public Image Limited guitarist Keith Levene passed away on Friday 11th November,” Hammond wrote, per Deadline.
“There is no doubt that Keith was one of the most innovative, audacious and influential guitarists of all time.”
“Keith sought to create a new paradigm in music and with willing collaborators John Lydon and Jah Wobble succeeded in doing just that,” Hammond added.
“His guitar work over the nine minutes of Theme, the first track on the first PiL album, defined what alternative music should be. As well as helping to make PiL the most important band of the age, Keith also founded The Clash with Mick Jones and had a major influence on their early sound. So much of what we listen to today owes much to Keith’s work, some of it acknowledged, most of it not.
“Our ideas and love exit to his companion Kate, sister Jill and all of Keith’s household and buddies. The world is a darker place with out his genius. Mine shall be darker with out my mate,” Hammond concluded.
In 1976, Levene fashioned The Clash with Mick Jones, and the duo persuaded Joe Strummer to hitch them.
Levene appeared in The Clash’s early reveals and contributed to their 1977 debut What’s My Name, however left The Clash earlier than they started recording music.
He then went on to kind Public Image Ltd. with John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) after the Sex Pistols broke up.
Levene is survived by Kate Ransford and his sister Jill Bennett, who have been each with him in his remaining hours, as was Bennett’s husband.
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