Skip to main content

Mark King Archives

Level 42: Lovegames/Bass Solo (2023)
Bass Videos

Level 42: Lovegames/Bass Solo (2023)

When I was 14, my dad gave me a long list of bass players to listen and learn from. Mark King was one of the first names on the list. Still as funky as ever, King gives us an incredibly melodic slap solo on the classic tune “Love Games.”

Jeff Berlin Honors Jack Bruce on “Jack Songs”
New Albums

Jeff Berlin Honors Jack Bruce on “Jack Songs”

In 2014, the world lost a musical giant with the passing of Jack Bruce. Jeff Berlin began working on a tribute album shortly after his passing, and now that album is available as “Jack Songs,” with an unreal cast of musicians.

Level 42: “Children Say,” “The Spirit Is Free” and “Leaving Me Now” (Live)
Bass Videos

Level 42: “Children Say,” “The Spirit Is Free” and “Leaving Me Now” (Live)

At a studio session a few days ago, I had a conversation about bassists who double on vocals. That got me thinking about Mark King. Here’s Level 42 performing “Children Say, The Spirit Is Free” and “Leaving Me Now” live - showcasing King’s mastery.

“The Mark King Bass Book” Gets Re-Release
Sheet Music & Instruction

“The Mark King Bass Book” Gets Re-Release

Initially released in 2010, “The Mark King Bass Book” by Stuart Clayton has been re-licensed and re-released. The 192-page book features transcriptions of 10 of King’s bass lines from Level 42’s catalog as well as four live bass solos.

Level 42: 43
Bass Videos

Level 42: 43

Level 42 celebrated their 30th anniversary back in 2010 with a world tour. In this clip from London’s Indigo2, slap monster Mark King leads the group on “43” with an active bass line before switching to fingers for the middle section.

Taylor Hawkins Releases “Get The Money” with Chris Chaney, Duff McKagan, and Mark King
New Albums

Taylor Hawkins Releases “Get The Money” with Chris Chaney, Duff McKagan, and Mark King

Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has released a new album called “Get The Money.” The star-studded album is anchored primarily by a band called The Coattail Riders, which includes Chris Chaney. Duff McKagan and Mark King also contributed.

Level 42: “Something About You” – Live (2016)
Bass Videos

Level 42: “Something About You” – Live (2016)

Level 42’s Mark King is a master of slap bass. His complex rhythmic and melodic bass lines are tough enough to tackle alone, but he manages to sing at the same time. The folks at Java Jazz Festival just shared this performance of “Something About You,” which took place in 2016. The band is in top form, and King’s performance...

Beneath The Bassline Documentary Coming Soon
News

Beneath The Bassline Documentary Coming Soon

Bassists will be getting their due in a new documentary called Beneath The Bassline. Directed by Nick Wells, the film features loads of interview time with some of the greatest bass players in the world. Wells traveled to Fodera Guitars, Sadowsky Guitars, and Aguilar Amplification in New York to get the scoop on gear and meet up with bassists Will...

Copeland, Cosma, King, and Belew Team Up for Gizmodrome
New Albums

Copeland, Cosma, King, and Belew Team Up for Gizmodrome

Earlier this year, we found out about a new project started up by The Police’s Stewart Copeland and keyboardist Vittorio Cosma. As if that duo wasn’t cool enough, they brought in Level 42 bassist Mark King and guitar legend Adrian Belew. Now the quartet has released an album that came together in a burst of inspiration under the name Gizmodrome....

Gizmodrome: Man In The Mountain
Bass Videos

Gizmodrome: Man In The Mountain

Gizmodrome – the new project from Stewart Copeland, Mark King, Adrian Belew and Vittorio Cosma – is getting ready to release their new album. We’ve just gotten a better idea of the group’s sound with this new performance video for the song “Man in the Mountain”. King doesn’t shred his distinct slapping lines for the tune, rather delivering a chilled...

Mark King Joins Stewart Copeland’s Gizmodrome
News

Mark King Joins Stewart Copeland’s Gizmodrome

Former Police drummer Stewart Copeland has put together a new group called Gizmodrome, and he picked some heavy hitters to join him. The band is rounded out by Italian keyboardist Vittorio Cosma, guitarist Adrian Belew, and Level 42 bassist Mark King. The project will release their self-titled debut album on September 15th, 2017. Gizmodrome started with Copeland and Cosma, expanding...

Stuart Clayton: Giants of Bass – Mark King
Bass Videos

Stuart Clayton: Giants of Bass – Mark King

Stuart Clayton released Giants of Bass – Volume 2 back in March, and the videos keep coming. In this one, Stuart takes on the Level 42 bassist Mark King in this track he wrote for the book. “This complex, slap-driven piece was written in the style of Mark’s early work with Level 42, and features all of his trademarks: sixteenth...