Mark King Archives
Slap Like Mark King? Stuart Clayton Nails the Slap Bass Line on “Almost There”
Mark King's "Almost There" bass line is no easy feat—Stuart Clayton dissects its complex slap grooves and fretting-hand tricks in this must-watch cover.
Stuart Clayton Publishes “The 80s Bass Book”
Bassist and educator Stuart Clayton is at it again with a new transcription book. “The 80s Bass Book” compiles 18 songs from the biggest artists of the decade.
The 10 Greatest Bass Lines of 1984
1984 was a special year for music. In this episode, Paul Thompson dives into his top 10 favorite bass lines from that year, including the works of Abraham Laboriel, Tony Levin, Geddy Lee, Darryl Jones, Paul Denman, Cliff Burton, Benny Rietveld, Mark King, Nathan East, and Marcus Miller.
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”
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)
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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....