Level 42’s Mark King joined Ken Bruce on Greatest Hits Radio to discuss Level 42’s loyal fanbase and his upcoming tour, World Machine 40th Anniversary Tour 2025.
Mark also took us back to his Golden Year of 1983, a time when Level 42’s success really when from strength to strength as a band. The tracks Mark chose included music by Tina Turner, The Police, and The Stranglers.
The Shaping of Jaydee outlines how John Diggins became a guitar maker, the people he worked with and for along the way to create his unique instruments and sound.
The forward is written by Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and there are contributions from Mark King (Level 42), Dave Hill (Slade) and George Anderson (Shakatak).
The book is available to buy from www.jaydeeguitars.co.uk
Mark King and Level 42 have just announced 2025 tour dates and he talks to us here about …
… the value of what you learn in covers bands from being ignored.
… why being thrown out of home for being thrown out of school was the best thing that ever happened to him.
… Level 42’s first gig, kicked off after four songs.
… Chile, Turkey and other new markets on the “flatter world” tour circuit.
… supporting the Police, Tina Turner, Queen and Madonna in the ‘80s.
… how John McLaughlin (from Doncaster) and Allan Holdsworth (Bradford) inspired other people “from far-flung places like us”.
… Rockin’ Robin, Long-Haired Lover From Liverpool and playing three nights a week in an Isle of Wight novelty act, aged 11.
… the onstage dynamic between Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins.
… the complications of having to book big venues two years in advance.
… being the bassist in the Prince’s Trust house band backing Bowie and Mick Jagger.
… Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and “the genius” of Steve Winwood.
Live performance by Level 42 with ‘Hot Water’ on Dutch popshow “Countdown”.
Recorded at Veronica’s Rocknight, September 21, 1984, Ahoy Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
An exclusive interview with legendary singer and bassist Mark King of Level 42.
Courtesy of Kim Brouns/Tessa Frissen Media/RTV Parkstad
Mark King of Level 42 interviewed by Music-News.com Editor – Marco Gandolfi – at the O2 Silver Clef Awards, Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane on June 30th 2023.
Interview with Mark King, before the show on the Night of the Proms Summer Edition 2023 in Koksijde. (BEL) About the Night of the Proms crew family, looking back tot he 80’s and what about his first bass guitar? Mark’s favourite Level 42 album cover? And how did the song ‘Hot Water’ come about?
