The Clash co-founder dead: Keith Levene was 65

August 09, 2024

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Keith Levene, the trailblazing British guitarist who co-founded The Clash and Public Image Ltd., died of liver cancer Friday. He was 65.

Author Adam Hammond confirmed the punk pioneer’s passing in a Saturday statement 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,” he wrote.

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

Born in 1957 in London, Levene got his start as a roadie for Yes as a teenager in the early 1970s. He achieved fame after forming The Clash with guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Paul Simonon at just 18 years old. It was Levene and manager Bernard Rhodes who convinced vocalist Joe Strummer, then the frontman for the 101ers, to join the band.

While he saw early success with The Clash, Levene grew tired of their political songs and exited before they started recording. He memorably contributed to “What’s My Name” on the band’s 1977 debut album.

He would go on to co-form Public Image with Sex Pistols singer John Lydon (previously known as Johnny Rotten) and bass player John Wardle (known as Jah Wobble). Jim Walker was recruited on drums.

With them, he enjoyed greater fame, including the hit single “Public Image,” off their popular 1978 debut album “Public Image: First Issue.” The band’s second album, 1979’s “Metal Box,” is regarded as a classic example of the post-punk genre. He left the group in 1983.

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“What happened to me was once I got good enough to know the rules, I didn’t want to be like any other guitarist,” Levene said in a Furious.com interview in 2001. “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.”

Levene is survived by his sister, Jill Bennett, and his partner, Kate Ransford.

Ransford wrote on Twitter, “RIP keith levene My beloved partner who passed away at our home on 11/11/22 peacefully, painfree, cosy n well loved. He was an iconic guitarist and composer, my best friend, my love, my everything, I love you to the moon.”

Others took to the social media platform Saturday to mourn.

“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,” tweeted Martin Atkins, who drummed for Public Image on and off between 1979 and 1985.

“We’re sad to hear of the death of Keith Levene. We were fortunate enough to work with Keith on an album he recorded with Jah Wobble. A post-punk legend who changed the sound of guitar music,” Cherry Red Records said on Twitter.

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