Wikipedia

List of Level 42 members

Level 42 are an English jazz-funk band from the Isle of Wight. Formed in late 1979, the group were originally an instrumental outfit consisting of bassist Mark King, keyboardist Mike Lindup, guitarist Rowland "Boon" Gould and drummer Phil Gould.[1] Shortly after their formation, the band were encouraged to add vocals to their music, with both King and Lindup taking on lead vocalist duties.[2] The group's lineup remained constant throughout much of the 1980s, before the Gould brothers left in October 1987.[3] After suffering exhaustion on tour, Boon and Phil were replaced for shows at the end of the year by Paul Gendler and Neil Conti, respectively.[4] Early the next year, King and Lindup enlisted Steve Topping, soon replaced by Alan Murphy, and Gary Husband as their new permanent bandmates,[5] after deciding against continuing with supporting musicians.[6]

Members of Level 42 onstage in 2009 (top) and 2018 (bottom).

Topping left Level 42 due to musical differences after tour dates in early 1988.[7] He was replaced later by Alan Murphy, who debuted on Staring at the Sun later in the year.[8] On 19 October 1989, however, Murphy died of pneumonia resulting from AIDS.[9] The group took a year off before returning to record Guaranteed, on which the three official members worked with guitarists Allan Holdsworth and Dominic Miller.[10] Holdsworth also performed on tour dates in December 1990.[11] Early the following year, before the album's release, Jakko Jakszyk joined as Murphy's permanent touring replacement.[12] After more tour dates, Husband left Level 42 in March 1992.[11] Phil Gould returned in his place the following year, although only for the recording of Forever Now.[13] He was replaced for subsequent tour dates by Gavin Harrison.[14]

After breaking up at the end of their 1994 tour, Level 42 reformed in late 2001 after King secured the rights to use the band name. Joining the frontman were his brother Nathan on guitar, Sean Freeman on saxophone, and returning members Husband (drums) and Lyndon Connah (keyboards).[15][16] In 2003, an original lineup reunion was attempted by King, Lindup and the Gould brothers (along with frequent contributor Wally Badarou), however after "about four days" of writing new material it "just fell apart".[13] Lindup collaborated with the band again in 2005 to record some keyboard parts for their new studio album Retroglide,[17] before returning on a full-time basis the next year.[18] Billy Cobham substituted for Husband at a number of shows in 2008,[19][20] before the regular drummer was replaced by Pete Ray Biggin in 2010.[2]

In October 2013, Level 42 released their first new studio material since 2006, the Sirens EP, which introduced new band members Dan Carpenter on trumpet and Nichol Thomson on trombone.[21] The newly expanded horn section later joined the group on tour in 2014.[22]

Members

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Current

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Mark King
  • 1979–1994
  • 2001–present
  • bass
  • lead and backing vocals
  • occasional percussion, keyboards, synthesisers and guitar
 all Level 42 releases
Mike Lindup
  • 1979–1994
  • 2006–present
  • keyboards
  • synthesisers
  • piano
  • backing and lead vocals
  • percussion
 all Level 42 releases from Level 42 (1981) to Forever Now (1994), and from Level 42 at Rockpalast (2005) onwards
Nathan King 2001–present
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
 all Level 42 releases from Live 2001 Reading UK (2002) to Live at the Apollo (2004), and from Retroglide (2006) onwards
Sean "Skip" Freeman
  • saxophone
  • backing vocals
 Pete Ray Biggin 2010–present
  • drums
  • percussion
 all Level 42 releases from 1980–2010: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2011) onwards
Dan Carpenter 2013–present
  • trumpet
  • backing vocals
  • occasional percussion
  • Sirens (2013)
  • Sirens Tour Live (2016)
  • Eternity (2019)
 Nichol Thomson
  • trombone
  • backing vocals
  • occasional percussion

Former

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Phil Gould
  • 1979–1987
  • 1993–1994
  • 2004
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
  • piano
  • organ
  • all Level 42 releases from Level 42 (1981) to Live at Wembley (1987)
  • Forever Now (1994)
  • Level 42 at Rockpalast (2005)
  • The River Sessions (2005)
Rowland "Boon" Gould
  • 1979–1987
  • 2012
(died 2019)
  • guitar
  • saxophone (early)
  • all Level 42 releases from Level 42 (1981) to Live at Wembley (1987)
  • Level 42 at Rockpalast (2005)
  • The River Sessions (2005)
  • Retroglide (2006) – guest appearance on one track only
 Gary Husband
  • 1988–1993
  • 2001–2010
  • drums
  • backing vocals
  • occasional keyboards
 all Level 42 releases from Staring at the Sun (1988) to Guaranteed Live (1992), from Live at Wembley (1996) to Live at the Apollo (2004), and from Retroglide (2006) to Live in Holland 2009 (2009)
Steve Topping 1988 guitar none
Alan Murphy 1988–1989
(until his death)
Lyndon Connah
  • 1990 (touring)
  • 2001–2006
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
  • Live 2001 Reading UK (2002)
  • Greatest Hits Live (2003)
  • Live at the Apollo (2004)
  • Retroglide (2006)

Touring

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions Notes
Gary Barnacle
  • 1981

  • 1988–1994
 saxophone
Barnacle toured with Level 42 during the 1980s and 1990s, and featured on several studio albums.[23]
Krys Mach 1984–1988
Mach took over from Barnacle in 1984, and remained part of the touring band until Barnacle's return.[23]
Annie McCaig 1985–1992 backing vocals Guaranteed (1991) McCaig joined the touring band after the release of World Machine, appearing on several albums and tours.[23]
Paul Gendler 1987 guitar none Following the Gould brothers' departures, Gendler and Conti filled in for remaining tour dates later that year.[4]
Neil Conti drums
John Thirkell 1988–1994 trumpet
  • Guaranteed (1991)
  • Forever Now (1994)
 Thirkell was added to the group's touring lineup as its first trumpeter in 1988, once Barnacle had returned.[23]
Allan Holdsworth 1990 (died 2017) guitar Guaranteed (1991) After the death of Alan Murphy in 1989, Holdsworth recorded on Guaranteed and subsequent tour dates.[11]
Jakko Jakszyk 1991–1994
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
 Jakszyk joined after Holdsworth's short stint in the group, remaining until the band broke up in 1994.[12]
Gavin Harrison 1994 drums none Following Phil Gould's second departure, Harrison performed drums on the 1994 Forever Now tour.[14]
Billy Cobham 2008 Cobham substituted for Gary Husband during 2008, when the regular drummer was unavailable.[19][20]

Session

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Wally Badarou
  • 1979–1994
  • 2001–present
  • synthesizers
  • backing vocals
  • keyboards
  • organ
  • piano
  • guitar
 all Level 42 releases from Level 42 (1981) to Forever Now (1994)
Leroy Williams 1981–1982
  • congas
  • bongos
  • percussion
Dave Chambers tenor saxophone
Pete Wingfield 1982 clavinet The Pursuit of Accidents (1982)
Pete Jacobson synthesizers
Paulinho da Costa 1983 percussion Standing in the Light (1983)
Andrew Woolfolk soprano saxophone
Steve Sidwell 1988 trumpet Staring at the Sun (1988)
Dominic Miller 1988–1991 guitars
Danny Blume 1993–1994 Forever Now (1994)
Miles Bould percussion
Mitey voice
Derek Watkins trumpet
Stuart Brooks
Richard Edwards trombone

Timeline

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Lineups

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Period Members Releases
Late 1979 – October 1987
(Classic Lineup)
October 1987 – early 1988
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Paul Gendler – guitar (touring)
  • Neil Conti – drums (touring)
 none – live performances only
Early 1988
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Steve Topping – guitar
  • Gary Husband – drums, backing vocals
Early 1988 – October 1989
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Alan Murphy – guitar
  • Gary Husband – drums, backing vocals
October 1989 – late 1990
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Gary Husband – drums, backing vocals
December 1990
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Gary Husband – drums, backing vocals
  • Allan Holdsworth – guitar (touring)
 none – live performances only
Early 1991 – March 1992
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Gary Husband – drums, backing vocals
  • Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, backing vocals (touring)
  • Guaranteed Live (1992)
Early 1993 – mid-1994
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Phil Gould – drums, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, backing vocals (touring)
Mid – late 1994
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, backing vocals (touring)
  • Gavin Harrison – drums (touring)
 none – live performances only
Group inactive 1994–2001
Late 2001 – May 2006
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Nathan King – guitar, backing vocals
  • Lyndon Connah – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Gary Husband – drums
  • Sean Freeman – saxophone, backing vocals
  • Live 2001 Reading UK (2002)
  • Greatest Hits Live (2003)
  • Live at the Apollo (2004)
  • Retroglide (2006)
May 2006 – February 2010
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Nathan King – guitar, backing vocals
  • Gary Husband – drums
  • Sean Freeman – saxophone, backing vocals
  • Retroglide Tour (2007)
  • Live in Holland 2009 (2009)
February 2010 – late 2013
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Nathan King – guitar, backing vocals
  • Pete Ray Biggin – drums, percussion
  • Sean Freeman – saxophone, backing vocals
  • 1980–2010: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2011)
  • Live from Metropolis Studios (2013)
Late 2013 – present
  • Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion
  • Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
  • Nathan King – guitar, backing vocals
  • Pete Ray Biggin – drums, percussion
  • Sean Freeman – saxophone, backing vocals
  • Dan Carpenter – trumpet, backing vocals
  • Nichol Thomson – trombone, backing vocals
  • Sirens (2013)
  • Sirens Tour Live (2015)
  • Eternity (2019)
  • Living It Up (2023)

References

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  1. ^ Willistein, Paul (3 May 1986). "The Smooth Soul Of Level 42". The Morning Call. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Level 42: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Music News!" (PDF). The Hard Report. No. 52. Medford Lakes, New Jersey: The Hard Report, Inc. 30 October 1987. p. 41. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Rock Over London" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 44. London, England: Billboard Publications, Inc. 7 November 1987. p. 6. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Timeline: 1980s". Gary Husband. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  6. ^ Rotsteeg, Marjolein (24 September 1988). "Level 42 – Something New Under The Sun" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 39. London, England: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 13. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Steve Topping Biography". Overdown. 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  8. ^ Cooper, William. "Staring at the Sun - Level 42: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  9. ^ Sexton, Paul (19 October 2014). "Remembering Alan Murphy". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  10. ^ "See: Level 42" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 846. Los Angeles, California: Radio & Records, Inc. 29 June 1990. p. 39. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "Timeline: 1990s". Gary Husband. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Level 42 Guaranteed" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 886. Los Angeles, California: Radio & Records, Inc. 19 April 1991. p. 35. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Next-Level Thinking: Level 42 interview". Classic Pop. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Gavin Harrison Biography". DrumLessons.com. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Music: Level 42, Opera House, Saturday". Manchester Evening News. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Band History". Forevernow.com. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  17. ^ Thorburn, Stephanie (19 September 2005). "A Force Majeure: Gary Husband Interview (#79)". Abstract Logix. Archived from the original on 6 December 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Level 42". Classique Entertainment. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Billy Cobham meets Level 42 at Ronnie Scott's – and Mark King talks to Jazzwise". Jazzwise. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  20. ^ a b Darach, Kate (20 June 2018). "Next Level: Interview with Mark King of Level 42". Brighton & Hove News. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  21. ^ "Woohoo!!! Level 42 – Sirens EP Now Available!". Level 42. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Level 42 Sirens Tour 2014". Mike Lindup. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  23. ^ a b c d "Gary Barnacle, John Thirkell, Krys Mach & Annie McCaig". Forevernow.com. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
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