Ananova:

John McGeoch, a veteran of the British punk movement, has died at the age of 48.

The guitarist, who co-founded Manchester band Magazine and later played with Souxsie and the Banshees and John Lydon's Public Image Limited, died in his sleep.

Banshees' bass player Steven Severin confirmed the news on his website and added: "Deepest sympathies to those close to him."

McGeoch's distinctive guitar sound featured on the Banshees' hits Happy House, Christine and Spellbound.

He played on three PiL albums, 1987's Happy?, 1989's Public Image Ltd, and 1992's That What Is Not. He also worked with former Bauhaus singer Pete Murphy, Generation X, Visage and Ultravox.

The guitarist, born in Greenock, Scotland, moved to Los Angeles in 1986, but returned to Britain in the 90s. In the early 90s he worked with Heaven 17's Glenn Gregory.

By 1995 he had become a qualified nurse and given up performing although he continued to work on music for TV.