List of Level 42 members

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

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]

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]

  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. ^ "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 "Timeline: 1990s". Gary Husband. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  12. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ 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.