KEITH LEVENE
Born: July 18th 1957. London, England
Bio: (Julian Keith Levene) Always a music-mad kid, Levene's first experience of the music business came when he worked as a roadie for prog-rockers Yes in 1974; while he was still supposed to be at school! In April 1976 long before the "punk explosion" exploded he was introduced to Mick Jones by Bernie Rhodes and (unfortunately) became a founder member of The Clash. However, conflicts with Mick Jones and general disillusionment with the bands approach led to his early departure in September that year.
After leaving The Clash Levene went through two rehearsal-only bands during autumn and winter of 1976/77. First came The Quickspurts with Barry Jones and Steve Dior (The Idols, London Cowboys); next the almost mythical Flowers of Romance. December 1977 also saw him playing with Rat Scabies in the short lived Drunk 'n' Disorderly. Joined Flowers of Romance, founder member along with Sid Vicious and Viv Albertine. Around this time he also encouraged The Slitsto form and helped them learn guitar.
Levene met John Lydon when The Clash supported the Sex Pistols at the Black Swan in Sheffield, July 1976. They found each other like-minds, both feeling alienated from their own bands. After chatting Levene suggested that "if" the Pistols ever split they should get a band together. Two years, and a hundred headlines later, Lydon hadn't forgot the offer and drafted Levene into co-found what would become Public Image Ltd in spring 1978.Widely regarded by many, somewhat unfairly, to be the sole brain behind PiL's sound. Levene would be an extremely important partner in the PiL 'company', helping to pave out musical and ethical direction for the band; along with John Lydon and Wobble. Over the next five years Lydonand Levene would release some of the greatest records ever made. Levene's unique 'metallic' guitar sound is still imitated to this day without due credit most notably by The Edge from U2; not to mention a million indie bands. Levene eventually left PiL in summer 1983 just prior to the Japanese tour; The 1983 single This is Not a Love Song would be Levene's last work with the band.
On his departure Levene issued what had been recorded of the 'Commercial Zone' album. In 1984 Levene moved to the West Coast of America, contributing to the score of 'Hollywood Vice Squad' a 1986 film by Penelope Spheeris. Various tracks from the film later appeared on his '2011
Back to Black ' EP. Throughout the 80s (and early 90s) Levene worked on small projects with On-U-Sound Records, including collaborating with Jah Wobble on the track 'Beef' for Gary Clail's 'Endof the Century Party' album.
Levene released his first post PiL solo work in 1987, the instrumental and mostly electronically based: '2011 Back to Black' EP. Followed in 1989 by the 'Violent Opposition' album. A collection of his post PiL work including guest appearances by the likes of Flea, Hillel Slovak & Jack Irons (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Bob Forrest (Thelonious Monster) & Norwood Fisher (Fishbone).
After that, with the exception of a couple of low-key guest appearances, he remained relatively underground. After returning to London in the early 90s he briefly worked with Glen Matlock in The Role Models (aka The Mavericks) (who also briefly featured original PiL drummer Jim Walker). After that Levene disappeared until 2000, when he resurfaced in London with his MissingChannel project and website. 2002 saw the release of Levene's first solo material in almost a decade, a self financed five track EP, with his new multimediaproject MurderGlobal (later re-released by Martin Atkins Invisible Records in 2004). After helping out the London based Plakka who at one point he had planned to record and produce Levene found new inspiration and began to play bass as his main instrument.
In the last few years Levene has been offered various production and session work with other artists; the majority of which he has turned down in favour of concentrating on his own work. Although a proposed studio project with Martin Atkins entitled 'Titanium Box' was shelved; a full length MurderGlobal album is still in the can. It is unknown if Levene will ever release the album; or simply decide to move onto new material. He has stated in past interviews that he would rather work on film and video projects; and has been making short films; again which remain unreleased.
2005 saw him work with Mark Stewart & The Mafia (The Pop Group); however the material did not appear on the 2008 Stewart album 'Edit'. In 2006 he recorded with Ted Parsons (Teledubgnosis) on an album for Parson's side-project N.I.C; which was released in 2007 via Malicious Damage Records.
Discography
COWBOYS INTERNATIONAL
LP: ORIGINAL SIN VIRGIN V2316 (10/79)
Levene plays guitar on 'Wish'.
Notes: This was Ken Lockie's band, who later briefly
joined PiL in 1982. Although Levene only appears on
'Wish' Lockie does say that he and Levene also cut a
version of the track 'Pointy shoes' but in the end it wasn't
used on the album. Also, the track 'Many Times' featured
on the 'Nothing Doing' 7" flexei single does sound
suspiciously like Levene on guitar, but doesn't feature a
credit.
Lockie on 'Wish': "During recording Keith Levene came in
an 'guested' several great tracks that left Dennis Mackay
wondering. To his credit Dennis did manage to weld
Keith's parts right into the heart of the track, even if he did
reverse the tape for the middle section".
The album was reissued on CD by Lockie's Pnuma
Records in 2003, along with bonus tracks.
THE CLASH
LP: THE CLASH CBS 32232 (4/77)
Levene is credited with co-writing 'What's My Name' but
doesn't actually appear on the album. He also claims to
have contributed songwriting to the majority of the other
tracks unaccredited. But he does say he "hates" all the
tracks on the album: including 'What's My Name'! Man of
good taste...
Notes: Although he does not appear on any studio
recordings a couple of live recordings with Levene exist.
Including the bootleg CD's: 'Five Go Mad in the
Roundhouse' - London, 5.9.76 (HUNA 012, 1996) &
'Midnight Special at the Screen on the Green' - London,
29.8.76 (PUNK VAULT PVCD 82976, 2001)
THE STEEL LEG V'S THE ELECTRIC DREAD
7"/12": THE STEEL LEG V'S THE ELECTRIC DREAD
EP
VIRGIN VS239 (12/78)
STEEL LEG / STRATETIME AND THE WIDE MAN /
HAILE UNLIKELY BY THE ELECTRIC DREAD /
UNLIKELY PUB
Notes: EP featuring Jah Wobble and Keith Levene (as
"Stratetime Keith"), along with Don Letts and Wobbles
mate Vince Bracken. One of the first PiL "umbrella"
releases.
All instruments played by Levene and Jah Wobble.
Vocals on 1: Vince Bracken and Jah Wobble. Vocals on
3: Don Letts. The 7" version of 'Unlikely Pub' is slightly
edited down from the 12" version.
The EP was released on both 7" & 12" but has since
largely disappeared, it has never received a full CD
release. However 'Haile Unlikely' did appear on the
'Death Disco: Songs From Under the Dancefloor'
compilation CD (EMI, 7243593786 26, 2/04).
Also see Steel Leg Discography for full info.
VIVIEN GOLDMAN
7": LAUNDRETTE / PRIVATE ARMIES (p/s) WINDOW WIN1 (7/81)
(Limited edition gatefold picture sleeve)
Levene plays guitar on both tracks, along with additional
bass parts on track 2. He also co-produces 'Laundrette'
along with John Lydon & Vivien Goldman
Notes: Apparently this single by music journalist Vivien
Goldman was recorded when "PiL snuck her into the
Manor (studios)" during the 'Flowers Of Romance'
sessions in late 1980, with PiL also reportedly paying for
most of the recording costs.
Steve New (aka Shooz) plays drums on the tracks, and
was presumably recorded at the same time as PiL's 'Pied
Piper' which featured New on guitar.
12": DIRTY WASHING EP 99 RECORDS 9905EP (9/81)
LAUNDRETTE / PRIVATE ARMIES / PA DUB (p/s)
(Unique US only 12" release)
US 3 track 12", including an instrumental of 'Private
Armies' entitled 'P.A. Dub'.
POSITIVE NOISE
LP: HEART OF DARKNESS STATIK STAT LP-1 (5/81)
Levene plays guitar on 'Darkness Visible'.
Notes: This album was produced by Nick Launay in
December 1980 at the Townhouse the same time as
the 'Flowers of Romance' sessions which most likely
explains Levene's contribution.
Gary Barnacle, who later played on PiL's 'This is What
You Want...' album also plays Sax on the album.
The album has never received a CD release.
SINGERS AND PLAYERS feat. BIM SHERMAN
LP/CD: WAR OF WORDS ON-U-SOUND ON-U
LP 5
(2/82)
Levene is credited for guitar on 'Devious Woman'. BUT
he also plays on 'Quante Jubila', 'Sit and Wonder', 'Fit
To Survive' & 'Reaching the Bad Man', but is not
credited.
Notes: A dub version of 'Reaching the Bad Man' entitled
'Nuclear Zulu' appeared on the New Age Steppers LP
'Action Battlefield' (Statik Records, STAT LP 1, 7/81)
The album was originally issued in November 1981 in the
USA before being released in the UK (99 Records, 99-
02). And was later re-issued on CD (ON-U-SOUND
OUCD 5, 7/94). 'Devious Woman' also appeared on the
compilation CD 'Singers and Players: 'Golden Greats
Volume One' (ON-U CD 4, 1989).
CREATION
CD: ANTI NY GOMMA RECORDS
015
(9/01)
Features the original version of 'Launderette' along with a
specially commissioned 2001 remix - 'Launderette' (Munk
version)
German compilation CD featuring seven songs that were
licensed to 99 Records in New York in the eighties.
Several new remixes have also been added.
POSITIVE
DEADLY HEADLEY
LP/CD: 35 YEARS FROM ALPHA ON-U-SOUND ONULP14
(11/81)
Levene plays guitar unaccredited on 'Without a Love
Like Yours'.
Notes: The track is a third version of 'Devious Woman'
(from the Singers and Players album 'War of Words'), this
time with Levene's guitar part mixed down and replaced
by Headley Bennet's alto saxophone. However, if you
listen closely, you can just hear Keith's guitar in the
background. Keith is not credited on the record.
The CD reissue of the album was issued as Headley
Bennet feat. Bim Sherman, instead of Deadly Headley.
SINGERS
CREATION REBEL, NEW AGE STEPPERS
LP/CD: THREAT TO CREATION ON-USOUND/
CHERRY RED
BRED21
(1/82)
Levene plays guitar on 'Last Sane Dream'. He also plays
guitar unaccredited on 'Threat To Creation'.
Notes:'Last Sane Dream' is a dub version of 'Devious
Woman' from the Singers and Players album 'War of
Words' with Levene's contribution more prominent.
'Threat to Creation' was later reissued on CD (CHERRY
RED, CDBRED 21, 8/91).
'Last Sane Dream' also appears on various compilations:
Creation Rebel - 'Historic Moments Volume Two' (ON-USOUND
,ON-U CD 74, 1995). Various Artists - 'A Party of
Dubbers and Toasters' (Cleopatra Records, CLP-9919,
1/97) & Various Artists - 'On-U Sound Box' (Cleopatra,
BO0000J5XI, 6/99).
DUB SYNDICATE
LP/CD: TUNES FROM THE MISSING CHANNEL ON-U-SOUND ONULP38
(6/85)
Levene plays guitar on 'Wellie'.
Notes: The album was later re-issued on CD (ON-USOUND
OUCD38, 7/94).
Jah Wobble also appears on the album playing on and
writing 'Overboard'.
The track also appeared on the compilation CD, Dub
Syndicate - 'Classic Selection Volume 3' (ON-U-SOUND
OUCD 69, 7/94).
LP/CD: STRIKE THE BALANCE ON-U-SOUND ONULP47
(2/90)
Levene is credited with "sound sampling/pre-production".
OUCD 47, ?/94)
Various tracks from the album also appeared on the
compilation CD, Dub Syndicate - 'Classic Selection
Volume 2', ON-U-SOUND OUCD 6, 11/90
LP/CD: STONED IMMACULATE ON-U-SOUND ONULP56
(2/92)
Levene plays keyboards on the track 'Wadada (Means
Love)'.
Notes: The CD release of the album also features the
bonus track 'Wadada (Means Love) Part 2'
'Wadada' was originally issued as a Japanese promo 12"
single (Spin-Alfa Records, H30-10, 1/90)
The album was later re-issued on CD (ON-U-SOUND
OUCD 15, ?/94). 'Wadada' later appeared on various
compilations including: Various Artists - '15 Years In An
Open Boat' (ON-U CDV 2833) & Various Artists - 'Future
Dub 1' (NOVAPRESS France CD 13564-2)
12": LOOKING FOR SOMETHING EP TAANG TING T-19 (5/88)
I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING / COPS TOO / TAANG!
TING / IF SIX WAS 9
Notes: A four track EP with tracks which would later
appear on the 'Violent Opposition' album. Recorded with
the likes of Flea & Hillel Slovak (Red Hot Chili Peppers),
Bob Forrest (Thelonious Monster), Norwood Fisher
(Fishbone), and saxophonist Spyder Mittleman. Tracks 1
& 4 are co-produced by Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion).
Robert Williams who later took John Lydon to court on
Judge Judy plays drums on 'I'm Looking For
Something'. Williams later commented that Levene never
paid him for the recording. Seems Mr Williams doesn't
have much luck with PiL members.
The EP was originally released in 1988 by Taang Ting
Records, before being re-released and licensed in the UK
on FUNDAMENTAL HOLY 9.
Three of the tracks also later appeared on compilations:
'Cops Too' ('Steal This Disc Vol.2', Rykodisc RCD 00076,
1988). 'I'm Looking For Something' ('Songs from the
Sacred Napkin', Rykodisc CD, 1990). 'Taang! Ting'
('Ranking and Skanking: The Best of Punky Reggae',
Rhino Records R2-71818, 1995).
KEITH LEVENE SOLO
12": 2011 - BACK TOO BLACK EP IRIDESCENCE 154 (11/87)
BACK TOO BLACK / 2011 / COPS I / CEDD MOSES
(NOT WALSH) / COPS II / HEAVY 4 HIRE / COPS III /
JOHN WILLIAMS
Notes: Levene's first post-PiL solo release. Six
instrumental tracks, written, performed and produced by
Levene; along with guests including Larry Taylor (ex-
Canned Heat) & Adrian Sherwood (On-U-Sound).
In 1986 Levene contributed to the score of the Penelope
Spheeris movie 'Hollywood Vice Squad'. Although he
does not appear on the soundtrack album he is given a
credit in the movie. One half of the score is by Chris
Spedding (his songs are on the soundtrack album), the
other half is by Michael Convertino, and Keith Levene.
Follow this link for additional info on the recording by Jim
Lang.
Various tracks from '2011' along with material which
was later released appear in the movie. Including the
likes of 'Cops', 'Heavy 4 Hire', 'John Williams' & 'Cedd
Moses (Not Walsh)'. "Walsh" is the evil character in the
film...
'2011' is in effect a companion record to the soundtrack
album. There are several other unknown tracks in the
film, however, those could also be the contributions of
Michael Convertino.
The majority of the '2011' EP later appeared on the
'Violent Opposition' album.
Murder Global
CD Single: IF SIX WAS 9 RYKODISC RCD3-
1004
(9/88)
IF SIX WAS 9 / BACK TOO BLACK / FAST BRASS
SLAM (Version II)
Notes: 3" CD single released in the US. Tracks 1 & 2
appear on the 'Violent Opposition' album. However, the
disc also features the unique track 'Fast Brass Slam
(Version 2)', which never appeared elsewhere.
The single is "Dedicated to the memory of Hillel Slovak"
of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who overdosed in June
1988.
LP/CD: VIOLENT OPPOSITION TAANG TING T-33 (11/89)
I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING / TAANG! TING
(version 1) / IF SIX WAS 9 / COPS TOO / DOUBLE
BARREL / FAST BRASS SLAM (Version 1) /
LIQUIDATOR / VERY FAST CARS / BACK TOO BLACK
/ 2011 / HEAVY 4 HIRE / COLD TURKEY
Notes: This was Levene's first proper release. 12 tracks
mostly made up of instrumentals or covers versions. The
majority of tracks come from his two previous EP
The album is credited to "Keith Levene G-Force & Multi
Image". Multi Image Corporation (MIC) was a multimedia
side company PiL had set up shortly before Levene's
departure.
The album includes guest appearances from the likes of
Flea & Hillel Slovak (Red Hot Chili Peppers) & Norwood
Fisher (Fishbone), and also includes Levene contributing
lead vocals on a cover of John Lennon's 'Cold Turkey'
and the reggae classic 'Double Barrel'.
The album was originally released on vinyl by Taang Ting
Records, and licensed to Emergo outside the States
(EMERGO EM9455). In a separate deal it was also
issued on CD by RYKODISC, (RCD 10049).
An Adrian Sherwood remix of 'Liquidator' later turned up
as a bonus track on 'The English Disease' football
compilation CD (ON-U-SOUND ON-U CD 8, 1/90) Note:
the track does not appear on the original vinyl release.
Levene also receives a co-producer credit for the album.
KEITH LEVENE & HILLEL SLOVAK
7" - CLOTHESLINE OVERZEALOUS
EDITIONS JENNY 02
(US, Ltd edition translucent mint green 7" ). Issued in
plain orange sleeve.
Notes: Semi-official split 7" with Kendra Smith on the Aside
('Stille Im Meine Hamburg') & Levene/Slovak on Bside.
'Clothesline' is a brief instrumental snippet (1:43 min)
from the 1986 'Hollywood Vice Squad' movie. The track is
a previously unreleased outtake from the '2011' sessions
featuring Levene and the late Hillel Slovak (Red Hot Chili
Peppers).
GARY CLAIL
JKL
GARY CLAIL / ON-SOUND-SYSTEM
LP/CD - END OF THE CENTURY PARTY ON-U-SOUND ONULP9
(11/89)
Levene plays bass on 'Peace Perfect Peace', and also
plays keyboards on 'Beef', and 'A Mans Place On Earth'.
Keith Levene is credited on 'Beef', (along with Jah
Wobble and Clail). An extended remix of 'A Mans Place
On Earth' later appeared on the CD release (ON-USOUND
ON-UCD9, 1/90).
Notes: 'Beef' was the first time since leaving PiL that
Levene and Wobble had worked together. They also
played live with On-U-Sound at gigs in London and
Brighton in Autumn 1990.
CD Single - BEEF RCA PD43844 (7/90)
BEEF - THE FUTURE 7" MIX / THE FUTURE 12" MIX /
ORIGINAL VERSION
The 7" version (PB43843) and 12" (PT43844) only
feature the 'Original Version' and 'Future Mix'.
12" - BEEF (ADRIAN SHERWOOD REMIX) RCA PT43846 (7/90)
BEEF - WOULD YOU KILL IT YOURSELF / LOW LOW
LOW
(Special ON-U-SOUND SYSTEM remix 12")
LP/CD - EMOTIONAL HOOLIGAN RCA / PERFECTO
PL74965
(4/91)
Features 'Beef - The Future Mix'.
Apparently this was a new mix of the track, which does
not feature either Levene or Wobble.
THE PHILISTINES
