Keith Levene was a founding member and guitarist in Public Image Ltd. and the Clash.
- Died: November 11, 2022 (Who else died on November 11?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Norfolk, England of liver cancer at the age of 65.
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Musical career
Levene co-founded the Clash in 1976, helping recruit singer and guitarist Joe Strummer (1952–2002) to join. He co-wrote their song “What’s My Name” before leaving the band prior to their first recordings. In 1978, he co-founded Public Image Ltd. (PiL) alongside John Lydon. Levene remained with the band for their first three albums, playing guitar as well as writing and producing. Their notable songs during this period included “Public Image,” “Death Disco,” and “Flowers of Romance.” Levene’s guitar work for PiL became influential in the development of the post-punk sound. After leaving PiL in 1983, Levene produced music for bands including the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Notable quote
“What happened to me was once I got good enough to know the rules, I didn’t want to be like any other guitarist. I didn’t go out of my way to be different. I just had an ear for what was wrong. So if I did something that was wrong, i.e. made a mistake or did something that wasn’t in key, I was open-minded enough to listen to it again.” —from a 2001 interview for Perfect Sound Forever
Tributes to Keith Levene
Full obituary: BBC
