Keith Levene's death was announced on Saturday. He died the day before peacefully at home, aged sixty five. He started in The Clash, was instrumental in spotting Strummer while he was with the 101ers and getting him into The Clash, and has a co- writing credit on What's My Name but parted company with them early on. Recruited by John Lydon following the Sex Pistols break up, Keith's guitar playing with Public Image Ltd, from 1978 to the early 80s, is the real deal, an extraordinary style and technique that sounded unique, not- punk but not rock either, shards of clear, sharp metal fired through the amp outwards. The debut single, Public Image, with Lydon, Jah Wobble and Jim Walker would on it's own be enough, with the thrilling rumble of Wobble's bass, Lydon's 'hello, hello' and then Levene's two chord slashing guitar part, wire shredded and tangled, the six string version of Lydon's voice.
On 1979's Metal Box Levene's metallic guitar is a sharp, otherworldly presence, the definition of post- punk dread. Levene's Prophet synth is all over the album too, on Careering especially to the fore. No Birds has Levene's guitar part split in two, one as played, the other duplicated and fed through a harmoniser. On Radio 4, the startling semi- ambient piece that closes the album, Leven plays bass as imagining he was Wobble and layered up synth strings from a Yamaha synth. The spooked, paranoid, dub influenced post punk dance of Metal Box is in no way just Lydon's work, it is an album written, improvised and recorded by Lydon, Leven and Wobble plus the several drummers, all pushing and pulling to create a stunning piece of work.
In December 1979 PiL appeared in session for John Peel, recording versions of Careering, Poptones and Chant. Careering is a thrilling, a breathtaking, intense seven minute cacophony.
R.I.P Keith Levene.
The day before it was reported that Hawkwind's Nik Turner, the man who put the space jazz sax and flute into psychedelic space rock, had died aged eighty four. This song, from 1971's In Search Of Space, is nearly sixteen minutes long and is as good a send off as anyone could wish for, the sax twisting, turning, warbling and freaking out into all eternity.
Yes Adam, Keith Levene's contribution to 'Metal Box' is immense. It always left me wanting more from him. He seemed to reduce the ego of the rock guitarist to a thrilling point of disintegration. No one had done it, and no one has done it better. RIP
ReplyDeleteVery apt that you post Hawkwind's 'You Shouldn't Do That'. Perhaps without that we would never have reached rock's terminal point, that is 'Metal Box'. Nik Turner always creative. RIP.
More from Keith in the vein of Metal Box never seemed to be forthcoming. He worked extensively with On U Sound to- Dr Rob at Ban Ban Ton Ton is putting together something together about that period I think.
ReplyDeleteGreat last words to Keith Levene that made PIL to the one we know/love. A musician I will miss and every time I listen to Metal Box shows me how much from him is in this music. Nik Turner's passing is also a sad moment and makes me listening to Hawkwind's music once again with great joy.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, Adam. You may have seen this already, but Jah Wobble posted a video today, a 13 minute monologue about Keith Levene. It’s heartwarming, hilarious and brutally honest, everything you’d expect from the Wob and a fitting tribute to Levene.
ReplyDeletehttps://t.co/670AFcr8my
Great song choice for the Nik Turner para too. I’m still largely ignorant of Hawkwind’s huge and daunting back catalogue, but this is a cracker.
ReplyDeleteRIP Keith and Nik
Thanks Khayem, saw the Wobble clip.earlier, lovely stuff.
ReplyDeleteI was in London when news of Keith Levene's death broke, passing a newspaper headline reading 'Clash Guitarist Dies' stopped me in my tracks, as you can probably imagine. I wish I'd been able to catch one of the Wobble/Levene Metal Box shows a few years back. What a unique, phenomenal piece of work it is.
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