Keith Levene, founding member of The Clash and Public Image Ltd, has died aged 65 after a battle with liver cancer.
“I am deeply saddened to report that my dear friend and legendary Public Image Limited guitarist Keith Levene passed away on Friday, November 11th,” said author Adam Hammond. tweeted. “Our thoughts and love go out to his life partner Kate, sister Jill, and all of Keith’s family and friends. The world is a darker place without his genius. Mine would be darker without my mate.
Pioneer guitarist has passed away at his home in Norfolk, UK His partner, Kate Ransford, speak he died a “peaceful” and “painless” death.
Born in London in 1957, Levene started playing guitar as a teenager. An avid fan of progressive rock band Yes, Levene hailed Steve Howe as “the world’s greatest damn guitarist.” When he was 15 years old, he took a job cleaning cymbals for the band.
He helped form The Clash in 1976, though he left the band just a few months later. Two years later, he founded Public Image Ltd. with John Lydon of the Sex Pistols. Levene remained with the punk band through their third album, but ultimately left behind creative differences when they produced their fourth album, This is what you want… This is what you get.
He went on to release several solo albums, as well as collaborate with artists like The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Several artists paid tribute following the news of Levene’s death, including former Public Image Ltd drummer Martin Atkins and Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Anton Newcombe.
