Keith Levene, the ingenious guitarist who was a co-founding member of the Conflict and Public Picture Ltd, has died. His former bandmates Jah Wobble and Martin Atkins confirmed the information on social media. Levine, who had liver most cancers, died at his residence in Norfolk, U.Okay. He was 65 years outdated.
Born Julian Levene on July 18, 1957 in London, England, Levene was drawn to prog rock at an early age, working as roadie for Sure on their Near the Edge tour when he was fifteen. At 18, he fashioned the band that might turn out to be the Conflict alongside Mick Jones and Paul Simonon. He and the band’s supervisor, Bernard Rhodes, famously persuaded Joe Strummer to depart his band on the time, The 101ers, and be part of the group. Levene appeared on the Conflict’s 1977 debut album, co-writing the track ‘What’s My Identify’, earlier than parting methods with the band.
Levene fashioned Public Picture Ltd with former Intercourse Pistols member John Lydon and Jah Wobble in 1978. They launched their debut album, Public Picture: First Situation, that very same 12 months, following it with 1979’s Metallic Field and 1981’s The Flowers of Romance. After leaving P.I.L. in 1983, Levene moved to Los Angeles and produced demos for Pink Sizzling Chili Peppers’ The Uplift Mofo Occasion Plan with engineers Steve Catania and Dan Nebenzal. He additionally collaborated with DJ Matt Dike, creating samples for Ice T and Tone Loc. His first solo launch, Violent Opposition, got here out in 1989 and featured members of Pink Sizzling Chili Peppers and Fishbone. He went on to launch a number of LPs, his last one being Business Zone 2014.
Based on The Guardian, Levene had been engaged on a e-book about P.I.L. with author Adam Hammond, who wrote in tribute to his pal:
It’s with nice unhappiness I report that my shut pal and legendary Public Picture Restricted guitarist Keith Levene handed away on Friday eleventh November.
There isn’t a doubt that Keith was one of the revolutionary, audacious and influential guitarists of all time.
Keith sought to create a brand new paradigm in music and with prepared collaborators John Lydon and Jah Wobble succeeded in doing simply that. His guitar work over the 9 minutes of ‘Theme’, the primary monitor on the primary PiL album, outlined what different music ought to be.
In addition to serving to to make PiL a very powerful band of the age, Keith additionally based The Conflict with Mick Jones and had a serious affect on their early sound. A lot of what we hearken to immediately owes a lot to Keith’s work, a few 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 can be darker with out my mate.
RIP KEITH LEVENE
— Jah Wobble (@realjahwobble) November 12, 2022
A tragic time to be taught of the passing of guitar large Keith Levene. We had our ups and downs that had mellowed over time. My respect for his distinctive expertise by no means will. @pilofficial https://t.co/IW3PTa1TOa
— Martin Atkins (@marteeeen) November 12, 2022
It’s with nice unhappiness I report that my shut pal and legendary Public Picture Restricted guitarist Keith Levene handed away on Friday eleventh November.
There isn’t a doubt that Keith was one of the revolutionary, audacious and influential guitarists of all time.
1/4 pic.twitter.com/zpCIAhOoA9
— Adam Hammond (@adthedoor) November 12, 2022