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. Shortly after their formation, the band were encouraged to add vocals to their music, with both King and Lindup taking on lead vocalist duties. The group's lineup remained constant throughout much of the 1980s, before the Gould brothers left in October 1987. 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. Early the next year, King and Lindup enlisted Steve Topping, soon replaced by Alan Murphy, and Gary Husband as their new permanent bandmates, after deciding against continuing with supporting musicians.

Topping left Level 42 due to musical differences after tour dates in early 1988. He was replaced later by Alan Murphy, who debuted on Staring at the Sun later in the year. On 19 October 1989, however, Murphy died of pneumonia resulting from AIDS. 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. Holdsworth also performed on tour dates in December 1990. Early the following year, before the album's release, Jakko Jakszyk joined as Murphy's permanent touring replacement. After more tour dates, Husband left Level 42 in March 1992. Phil Gould returned in his place the following year, although only for the recording of Forever Now. He was replaced for subsequent tour dates by Gavin Harrison.

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). 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". Lindup collaborated with the band again in 2005 to record some keyboard parts for their new studio album Retroglide, before returning on a full-time basis the next year. Billy Cobham substituted for Husband at a number of shows in 2008, before the regular drummer was replaced by Pete Ray Biggin in 2010.

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. The newly expanded horn section later joined the group on tour in 2014.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMark Kingall Level 42 releasesMike Lindupall Level 42 releases from Level 42 (1981) to Forever Now (1994), and from Level 42 at Rockpalast (2005) onwardsNathan King2001–presentall Level 42 releases from Live 2001 Reading UK (2002) to Live at the Apollo (2004), and from Retroglide (2006) onwardsSean "Skip" FreemanPete Ray Biggin2010–presentall Level 42 releases from 1980–2010: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2011) onwardsDan Carpenter2013–presentNichol Thomson

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsPhil GouldRowland "Boon" GouldGary Husbandall 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 Topping1988guitarnoneAlan Murphy1988–1989Lyndon Connah

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsNotesGary BarnaclesaxophoneBarnacle toured with Level 42 during the 1980s and 1990s, and featured on several studio albums.Krys Mach1984–1988Mach took over from Barnacle in 1984, and remained part of the touring band until Barnacle's return.Annie McCaig1985–1992backing vocalsGuaranteed (1991)McCaig joined the touring band after the release of World Machine, appearing on several albums and tours.Paul Gendler1987guitarnoneFollowing the Gould brothers' departures, Gendler and Conti filled in for remaining tour dates later that year.Neil ContidrumsJohn Thirkell1988–1994trumpetThirkell was added to the group's touring lineup as its first trumpeter in 1988, once Barnacle had returned.Allan Holdsworth1990 guitarGuaranteed (1991)After the death of Alan Murphy in 1989, Holdsworth recorded on Guaranteed and subsequent tour dates.Jakko Jakszyk1991–1994Jakszyk joined after Holdsworth's short stint in the group, remaining until the band broke up in 1994.Gavin Harrison1994drumsnoneFollowing Phil Gould's second departure, Harrison performed drums on the 1994 Forever Now tour.Billy Cobham2008Cobham substituted for Gary Husband during 2008, when the regular drummer was unavailable.

Session ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsWally Badarou all Level 42 releases from Level 42 (1981) to Forever Now (1994)Leroy Williams1981–1982Dave Chamberstenor saxophonePete Wingfield 1982clavinetThe Pursuit of Accidents (1982)Pete JacobsonsynthesizersPaulinho da Costa 1983percussionStanding in the Light (1983)Andrew Woolfolksoprano saxophoneSteve Sidwell1988trumpetStaring at the Sun (1988)Dominic Miller1988–1991guitarsDanny Blume 1993–1994Forever Now (1994)Miles BouldpercussionMiteyvoiceDerek WatkinstrumpetStuart BrooksRichard Edwardstrombone

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesLate 1979 – October 1987(Classic Lineup)Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Boon Gould – guitar, occasional saxophone Phil Gould – drums, percussion, backing vocalsLevel 42 (1981) The Early Tapes (1982) The Pursuit of Accidents (1982) Standing in the Light (1983) True Colours (1984) A Physical Presence (1985) World Machine (1986) Running in the Family (1987) Live at Wembley (1987) Level 42 at Rockpalast (2005) The River Sessions (2005)October 1987 – early 1988Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Paul Gendler – guitar Neil Conti – drums none Early 1988Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Steve Topping – guitar Gary Husband – drumsEarly 1988 – October 1989Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Alan Murphy – guitar Gary Husband – drumsStaring at the Sun (1988) Fait Accompli (1989) "Take Care of Yourself" (1989) Live at Wembley (1996)October 1989 – late 1990Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Gary Husband – drums, keyboards, backing vocalsGuaranteed (1991)December 1990Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Gary Husband – drums, backing vocals Allan Holdsworth – guitar none Early 1991 – March 1992Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Gary Husband – drums, backing vocals Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, backing vocals Guaranteed Live (1992)Early 1993 – mid-1994Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Phil Gould – drums, keyboards, backing vocals Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, backing vocals Forever Now (1994)Mid – late 1994Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, backing vocals Gavin Harrison – drums none Group inactive 1994–2001Late 2001 – May 2006Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Nathan King – guitar, backing vocals Lyndon Connah – keyboards, backing vocals Gary Husband – drums Sean Freeman – saxophone, backing vocalsLive 2001 Reading UK (2002) Greatest Hits Live (2003) Live at the Apollo (2004) Retroglide (2006)May 2006 – February 2010Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Nathan King – guitar, backing vocals Gary Husband – drums Sean Freeman – saxophone, backing vocalsRetroglide Tour (2007) Live in Holland 2009 (2009)February 2010 – late 2013Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals Nathan King – guitar, backing vocals Pete Ray Biggin – drums, percussion Sean Freeman – saxophone, backing vocals1980–2010: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2011) Live from Metropolis Studios (2013) Live in Switzerland (2023)Late 2013 – presentMark 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 vocalsSirens (2013) Sirens Tour Live (2015) Eternity (2019) Living It Up (2023)

References

External links Level 42 official website