Return of the Last Gang in Town
Marcus Gray
Henry Holt & Co
Reprint edition (September 1997)
review by Karsten
Roekens, November 2001
© 2001 Fodderstompf.com / Karsten Roekens
I've just finished reading
a book about The Clash. Good read, worth checking out, brought me back
to listen to The Clash again after a long time... (ED: I'll make a
point of not reading it then!). It features some good info about Keith
Levene's time in the band that Fodderstompf readers may be interested
in…
KEITH
AND LONDON SS
Keith was not a member of London SS. London SS was basically the working
relationship between Mick Jones and Tony James during 1975. They folded
around Christmas 1975 when Tony quit.
KEITH AND THE CLASH
Keith was introduced to Mick Jones by manager Bernie Rhodes around April
1976. Towards the end
of his time with the band Keith was already very depressed and hands-off.
He was ousted from the rest of the band the weekend after his last gig
which apparently wasn't very successful. Terry Chimes says he DID get
a vote, and claims Keith offered to return if he'd been asked. However,
they didn't.
KEITH AND THE FLOWERS OF ROMANCE
They began to rehearse at their squat the very same month, and broke up
in February 1977 when Sid Vicious left. At the same time Howard Devoto
left the Buzzcocks and Bernie Rhodes made several phone calls to Pete
Shelley to get him down to London to start a band with Keith, but Shelley
decided to continue with the Buzzcocks.
KEITH AND THE SLITS
The book claims that it was Mick Jones rather than Levene who taught Viv
Albertine to play guitar. They made their live debut in March 1977 and
did the White Riot tour with The Clash. It was Don Letts and Leo Williams
who were looking after the band on the road, Keith isn't mentioned at
all.
A young Keith with members of the Ramones, and Paul Simonon, 1976
Keith on stage with the Clash, 1976 © unknown
Keith with The Ramones, 1976 © unknown