RIP Keith Levene

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appleseed1
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RIP Keith Levene

Post by appleseed1 »

I just saw where Levene has passed. Obviously he was an original member of The Clash and co-writer of What's My Name. When I first discovered punk and The Clash in the mid-90s I recall seeing his name in the credits and trying to hear any similarity to the few early PiL numbers I had heard, so at that time he was a shadowy, influential figure in the new music I loved as I was trying to piece together a picture of this exciting era, and his name always retained a bit that magic for me. RIP Keith Levene.

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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by Low Down Low »

appleseed1 wrote:
12 Nov 2022, 12:15pm
I just saw where Levene has passed. Obviously he was an original member of The Clash and co-writer of What's My Name. When I first discovered punk and The Clash in the mid-90s I recall seeing his name in the credits and trying to hear any similarity to the few early PiL numbers I had heard, so at that time he was a shadowy, influential figure in the new music I loved as I was trying to piece together a picture of this exciting era, and his name always retained a bit that magic for me. RIP Keith Levene.
Aw, that's a shocker. Talented musician and intelligent guy, always loved listening or reading to what he had to say. RIP Keith.

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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by Flex »

A shock, for sure. A name that pops up throughout the history of punk and alternative music. Wrote some killer tunes. And, of course, a member of The Only Band That Mattered. Quite and underrated legacy.
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Re: RIP Keith Levene

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Horrible news. When he was on, he was mesmerizing, as vital a force as any who could manipulate a guitar. But someone compromised by very human weaknesses. Listen to those records he did with Wobble six or seven years back—he could still bring it. Very, very sad.
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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by motorsmell »

Ah shit another one gone, a really inventive guitarist. Shame indeed

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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by Stefano1972 »

Very sad news… R.I.P. Keith
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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by Sparky »

I hadn't heard too much about him outside of this forum for quite some time, very sad news.
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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by Kory »

One of the couple of post-punk guys who proved you could use instrumental virtuosity for good rather than evil. This is a major drag.
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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by Stefano1972 »

I remember i bought almost in the same time, Earthquake Weather, Megatop Phoenix and Violent Opposition…
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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by IkarisOne »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
12 Nov 2022, 12:48pm
Horrible news. When he was on, he was mesmerizing, as vital a force as any who could manipulate a guitar. But someone compromised by very human weaknesses. Listen to those records he did with Wobble six or seven years back—he could still bring it. Very, very sad.
I am forever grateful for having seen him at his playing peak with PiL in '82. I brought along a friend who was studying guitar at Berklee and he was mesmerized. He said his fingering style was straight out of Classical guitar. Shame drugs did in the two most gifted players from the Clash orbit.

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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by gkbill »

Hello,

https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-gu ... 1668293206

I'm surprised the Daily News gave this such attention.

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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by Wolter »

Ah man. I just learned this. RIP.
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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Within a couple years now, we've lost Andy Gill and Keith Levene, the two guys I most prominently associate with post-punk guitar. Of course there are others, but for me those two were 1a and 1b. We're blessed to retain what they left behind, but, damn, if only there was more.
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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by Red Angel »

R.I.P.
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Re: RIP Keith Levene

Post by gkbill »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
12 Nov 2022, 9:14pm
Within a couple years now, we've lost Andy Gill and Keith Levene, the two guys I most prominently associate with post-punk guitar. Of course there are others, but for me those two were 1a and 1b. We're blessed to retain what they left behind, but, damn, if only there was more.
Hello,

Agreed. I keeep searching but no one like them has popped up/developed.

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