The Clash founding member Keith Levene has passed away aged 65.
The devastating news was confirmed by his friend, author Adam Hammond, who wrote on Twitter : ‘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.
‘There is no doubt that Keith was one of the most innovative, audacious and influential guitarists of all time.
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‘Keith sought to create a new paradigm in music and with willing collaborators John Lydon and Jah Wobble succeeded in doing just that.
(Image: Graham Harries/REX/Shutterstock)
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.
(Image: WireImage)
‘Our thoughts and love go out to his partner Kate, sister Jill and all of Keith’s family and friends.
‘The world is a darker place without his genius. Mine will be darker without my mate.’
A cause of death was not confirmed by Adam.
Fans also paid their respects to the late guitarist, with one posting: “Keith was a true visionary and created sounds that nobody has ever come close to matching. Really gutted.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Another fan added: “Rest in peace Keith Levene. The sounds he created on P.I.L.’s first two albums were (and still are) astonishing.”
Keith’s bandmate Martin Atkins, shared his own tribute, writing: “A sad time to learn of the passing of guitar giant Keith Levene. We had our ups and downs that had mellowed over time. My respect for his unique talent never will.”
Levene founded The Clash with Mick Jones in the 1970s but left before they became successful.
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He then joined Public Image Ltd (PiL), the post-punk band set up by John Lydon after he left the Sex Pistols.
During his time with The Clash, Levene played a central role in persuading frontman Joe Strummer to leave his then band, The 101ers, and join them.
While with Public Image Ltd, Levene is credited with helping to pioneer an angular post-punk sound that is still regularly cited.
Levene left Public Image Ltd in 1983 – before the band’s wave of success in the mid-1980s that saw them return twice to the top 10, but he continued co-writing with the band.
He then moved to Los Angeles and in his later career worked with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and a number of hip hop acts.
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