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»Strived to create a new paradigm in music«: Keith Levene
Photo: Mirrorpix / Mirrorpix via Getty Images
The co-founder of the legendary British post-punk band The Clash, Keith Levene, is dead. This is reported by the British newspaper The Guardian, citing his partner.
Levene died on Friday at the age of 65 "peaceful, calm, comfortable and loved," Kate Ransford told the newspaper on Saturday night.
The guitarist was suffering from liver cancer.
Other British media refer to a message from Levene's close friend Adam Hammond.
"There is no doubt that Keith was one of the most innovative, daring and influential guitarists in history," Hammond wrote on Twitter.
Levene had co-founded The Clash (Should I Stay Or Should I Go?) in 1976 at the age of 18 and, according to his longtime friend Hammond, was a big influence on their early sound.
However, the guitarist soon left the band due to disagreements over political views.
Although he contributed to some songs on the first record "What's My Name".
When the band became famous, however, Levene was no longer there.
He later formed Public Image Ltd with Sex Pistols singer John Lydon and Jah Wobble.
"Keith strove to create a new paradigm in music," Hammond wrote of his longtime friend.
With his comrades-in-arms Lydon and Wobble he managed to do just that.
Levene's guitar playing over the nine minutes of 'Theme', the first track on the first PiL album, defined what Alternative should sound like: "A lot of what we hear today we owe to Keith's work, some of it acknowledged, most of it Not."
sak/dpa