Keith Levene, iconic guitarist for the bands The Clash and Public Image Limited (PiL), has died on Friday at the age of 65, his friend, author Adam Hammond, announced on Saturday.
“It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my dear friend Keith Levene on Friday, November 11. He was without a doubt the most innovative, daring and influential guitarist of all time,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
“As well as helping make PiL (Public Image Limited) the biggest band of its time, Keith also founded The Clash with Mick Jones and was a huge influence on their early sounds,” continues Adam Hammond.
“I still had so many projects”
The Clash was founded in 1976 by Keith Levene and Mick Jones, along with Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, and Terry Chimes. However, Keith Levene left the punk rock group before it achieved success. The guitarist then formed Public Image Limited with former Sex Pistols member Johnny “Rotten” Lydon.
For two years, Keith Levene suffered from liver cancer. His death is no less unexpected, underlines Adam Hammond quoted by the BBC: “he still had so many projects”. The guitarist had just finished a book on Public Image Limited, co-written with his friend Adam Hammond, and had worked on the music to accompany it.
Source: BFM TV
