DER BRITISCHE GITARRIST KEITH LEVENE (THE CLASH, PUBLIC IMAGE LTD.) IST GESTORBEN

13.11.2022 Keith Levene (Bild), der am 18. Juli 1957 in London geborene britische Multiinstrumentalist (er spielte hauptsächlich Gitarre, Synthesizer und Bass) ist am 11. November 2022 in Norfolk gestorben. Er war sowohl Gründungsmitglied der britischen Punkband The Clash als auch der britischen Post-Punk-Band Public Image Ltd.. Levene schrieb den Filmsoundtrack zu "Hollywood Vice Squad" (USA 1986) und veröffentlichte unter seinem Namen einige Soloplatten (1987–89). Er hat als Gast an verschiedenen Projekten des britischen On-U-Sound-Labelchefs Adrian Sherwood mitgewirkt (1981–92). Der ehemalige Sex-Pistols-Bassist Glen Matlock gründete mit ihm 1992 die Band The Mavericks (1994 in The Philistines umbenannt). (*)

Bild: Keith Levene, 2012 - Foto: Michael Johnson, http://www.nemesis.to/wobblelevenepix.htm (Ausschnitt) - Lizenz: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en - Datei: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keith_Levene_Metal_Box_in_Dub.jpg

Keith Levene, founding member of the Clash, dies at 65

His influence on the post-punk music scene was hailed by musicians as news of his death broke. Among his fans is Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, who once described his style as “spectacular”, saying “he explored the possibilities of what you can do with the guitar”.

Forming the Clash with guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Paul Simonon when he was only 18, it was Levene, alongside the band’s manager, Bernard Rhodes, who asked Joe Strummer, frontman with the 101ers at the time, to join them. Luckily for the Clash, Strummer had just seen the Sex Pistols play at the Nashville Rooms in London and had become convinced that punk was the way forward.

Vanessa Thorpe and Dave Simpson

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/12/keith-levene-founding-member-of-the-clash-dies-at-65-public-image-ltd

"There is no doubt that Keith was one of the most innovative, audacious and influential guitarists of all time"

The news was broken by author and writer Adam Hammond, who revealed that Levene died on Friday (November 11).

The tribute continued: “Keith sought to create a new paradigm in music and with willing collaborators John Lydon and Jah Wobble succeeded in doing just that. His guitar work over the nine minutes of ‘Theme’, the first track on the first PiL album, defined what alternative music should be.

Will Richards

https://www.nme.com/news/music/public-image-ltd-and-the-clash-guitarist-keith-levene-has-died-aged-65-3347976

Keith Levene, Co-Founder of the Clash and Public Image Ltd, Dies at 65

"We had our ups and downs that had mellowed over time," former bandmate Martin Atkins said after Levene's passing. "My respect for his unique talent never will."

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/keith-levene-dead-clash-1235170395/

Inventive guitarist left the Clash before their first album dropped and formed PiL with John Lydon and Jah Wobble

Althea Legaspi

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/keith-levene-the-clash-public-image-ltd-guitarist-dead-obit-1234630011/

Following the split of the Sex Pistols, Levene joined forces with John Lydon, Jah Wobble, and Jim Walker to form Public Image LTD (PiL) - helping to define the phoenix that would rise from the ashes of the punk era. Levene was one of the architects of this exciting new sound, mixing raw punk energy with opulent prog rock theatrics, paving the way for countless disciples: Red Hot Chili Peppers, LCD Soundsystem, Franz Ferdinand.

https://post-punk.com/guitarist-keith-levene-founding-member-of-the-clash-and-pil-has-passed-away/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guitarist-keith-levene-founding-member-of-the-clash-and-pil-has-passed-away

Sturm und Drang

Keith Levene ist gestorben, der Gitarrist, der das Klangbild jener Musik geprägt hat, die als Post-Punk nur als Zwischenkapitel des Rock in die Geschichte einging. Die Meinungen gehen auseinander, warum er als Gründungsmitglied der britischen Punk-Titanen The Clash 1976 nur einen Sommer lang dabei war, warum er auf dem ersten Album dann nur noch einen Credit als Mitautor eines einzigen Songs hatte und Mick Jones die Lead-Gitarre spielte. Politik? Drogen? Kreative Meinungsverschiedenheiten? Alles das? Der Mann war ja erst 19, allerbestes Sturm-und-Drang-Alter, da spielen diese Dinge allgewaltige Rollen, zumal, wenn man zur Speerspitze einer neuen Bewegung gehört.

Andrian Kreye

https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/keith-levene-nachruf-punk-the-clash-1.5695085

Levene hatte The Clash (»Should I Stay Or Should I Go?«) 1976 im Alter von 18 Jahren mitgegründet, hatte seinem langjährigen Freund Hammond zufolge einen großen Einfluss auf deren frühen Sound. Der Gitarrist verließ die Band jedoch schon bald wegen Unstimmigkeiten über die politische Einstellung. Zwar trug er zu einigen Liedern auf der ersten Platte »What’s My Name« bei. Als die Band berühmt wurde, war Levene aber schon nicht mehr dabei.

sak / dpa

https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/keith-levene-clash-mitgruender-im-alter-von-65-jahren-gestorben-a-88f385c0-8e99-4840-8f2b-8c2e9db32a7a

Audios / Videos:

PIL - Public Image

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylOCIP54PIQ

KEITH LEVENE RADIO SESSION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuV_kCLeXWw

Public Image Limited interview with Keith Levene & John Lydon on The Tom Snyder Show 1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0q98NlzvCQ

PROJECTION POWDER_ GUITAR_ KEITH LEVENE_ 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ppCq6NWmXo

Jah Wobble & Keith Levene play Public Image Ltd & low Life