Keith Levene
Encyclopedia
Keith Levene is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
. He was an early member of The Clash
, but is best known as being a founding member of Public Image Limited, along with John Lydon
.
and The Flowers of Romance
(most notable for also featuring a pre-Sex Pistols
Sid Vicious
). Although he never recorded with The Clash, he co-wrote "What's My Name", featured on their first album
. Levene has often claimed that he co-wrote several songs on The Clash's first album.
According to Simon Reynolds in his book Rip It Up and Start Again, Levene was an avid progressive rock
fan who'd served at age fifteen as a roadie for Yes
on their Close to the Edge tour.
After the Sex Pistols
disintegrated, Levene co-founded Public Image Ltd (PiL) with John Lydon. His guitar work was much imitated by several punk rock
ers and others, including The Edge
of U2
. On later PiL recordings, Levene would often forgo his guitar for synthesizer
. He left PiL acrimoniously in 1983 just before shows which would later form the Live In Tokyo album. He released the original versions of the songs on his own label under the title Commercial Zone
. In 1985 he moved to Los Angeles where he formed a company with his second wife, journalist Shelly da Cunha. In mid-1986, Levene tried to produce demos for the album The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
at Master Control in Burbank
with engineers Steve Catania and Dan Nebenzal, but the band split up over drug money. Also in 1986, Levene worked together with DJ Matt Dike
, experimenting with sampling techniques and hip-hop for Ice T
and Tone Loc
on their early recordings for Delicious.
In 2003, Levene contributed to industrial rock
supergroup Pigface
's album Easy Listening...
He has released several solo records, most recently the Killer in the Crowd EP
in 2004.
In 2011 Levene renewed his association with former PiL bassist Jah Wobble
. Levene contributed to three tracks on the album "Psychic Life", a collaboration between Wobble and Julie Campbell.
Levene and Wobble have done additional recording, with material slated to be released in 2012.
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
. He was an early member of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, but is best known as being a founding member of Public Image Limited, along with John Lydon
John Lydon
John Joseph Lydon , also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s...
.
Biography
Keith Levene was an early member of The ClashThe Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
and The Flowers of Romance
The Flowers of Romance (band)
The Flowers of Romance were an early punk band, formed in mid-1976 by Jo Faull and Sarah Hall. The band never played live or released any recordings, and, like London SS and Masters of the Backside, are more famed for the number of band members that later became well known, including: Sid Vicious...
(most notable for also featuring a pre-Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
). Although he never recorded with The Clash, he co-wrote "What's My Name", featured on their first album
The Clash (album)
The album received positive reviews from critics and peaked at number 12 in the UK charts. In December 1979, critic Robert Christgau named it his favorite album of the 1970s....
. Levene has often claimed that he co-wrote several songs on The Clash's first album.
According to Simon Reynolds in his book Rip It Up and Start Again, Levene was an avid progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
fan who'd served at age fifteen as a roadie for Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
on their Close to the Edge tour.
After the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
disintegrated, Levene co-founded Public Image Ltd (PiL) with John Lydon. His guitar work was much imitated by several punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
ers and others, including The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
. On later PiL recordings, Levene would often forgo his guitar for synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
. He left PiL acrimoniously in 1983 just before shows which would later form the Live In Tokyo album. He released the original versions of the songs on his own label under the title Commercial Zone
Commercial Zone
Commercial Zone is an album of studio recordings by Public Image Ltd., recorded in 1982-1983 and released in 1984 by PiL founding guitarist Keith Levene. Following his departure from the band, Levene fled with the master tapes to America, where he sold the rights for the material and had several...
. In 1985 he moved to Los Angeles where he formed a company with his second wife, journalist Shelly da Cunha. In mid-1986, Levene tried to produce demos for the album The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
The Uplift Mofo Party Plan is the third studio album by American funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 29, 1987 on EMI America Records...
by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
at Master Control in Burbank
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
with engineers Steve Catania and Dan Nebenzal, but the band split up over drug money. Also in 1986, Levene worked together with DJ Matt Dike
Delicious Vinyl
Delicious Vinyl is an American independent record label founded by Matt Dike and Michael Ross in 1987 and based in Los Angeles. Throughout its history, the label has had distribution deals with [Island Records/[PolyGram]], Warner Music Group, EMI, Red Ant, Rhino and Universal Music Group.-Early...
, experimenting with sampling techniques and hip-hop for Ice T
Ice T
Tracy Marrow , better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American musician and actor.He was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved to the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles when he was in the 7th grade. After graduating from high school he served in the United States Army for four years...
and Tone Loc
Tone Loc
Anthony Terrell Smith , better known by his stage name Tone Lōc, is an American rapper and actor.-Early life and career:...
on their early recordings for Delicious.
In 2003, Levene contributed to industrial rock
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
supergroup Pigface
Pigface
Pigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
's album Easy Listening...
Easy Listening...
Easy Listening... is Pigface's 2003 album, their first since 1997's A New High in Low. The album includes contributions from Chris Vrenna, Fallon Bowman, Keith Levene, Edsel Dope, Jared Louche, Jason Miller, Penn Jillette, En Esch, Chris Connelly, Steven Seibold, Michelle Walters and more.-Track...
He has released several solo records, most recently the Killer in the Crowd EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in 2004.
In 2011 Levene renewed his association with former PiL bassist Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble is an English bass guitarist, singer, poet and composer. He became known to a wider audience as the original bass player in Public Image Ltd in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but left the band after two albums...
. Levene contributed to three tracks on the album "Psychic Life", a collaboration between Wobble and Julie Campbell.
Levene and Wobble have done additional recording, with material slated to be released in 2012.
External links
- Murder Global - Keith Levene's website
- Interview with 3:AM Magazine
- Fodderstompf - fan-based Public Image Ltd. website