The Shaping of Jaydee outlines how John Diggins became a guitar maker, the people he worked with and for along the way to create his unique instruments and sound.
The forward is written by Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and there are contributions from Mark King (Level 42), Dave Hill (Slade) and George Anderson (Shakatak).
The book is available to buy from www.jaydeeguitars.co.uk
Mark King and Level 42 have just announced 2025 tour dates and he talks to us here about …
… the value of what you learn in covers bands from being ignored.
… why being thrown out of home for being thrown out of school was the best thing that ever happened to him.
… Level 42’s first gig, kicked off after four songs.
… Chile, Turkey and other new markets on the “flatter world” tour circuit.
… supporting the Police, Tina Turner, Queen and Madonna in the ‘80s.
… how John McLaughlin (from Doncaster) and Allan Holdsworth (Bradford) inspired other people “from far-flung places like us”.
… Rockin’ Robin, Long-Haired Lover From Liverpool and playing three nights a week in an Isle of Wight novelty act, aged 11.
… the onstage dynamic between Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins.
… the complications of having to book big venues two years in advance.
… being the bassist in the Prince’s Trust house band backing Bowie and Mick Jagger.
… Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and “the genius” of Steve Winwood.
LEVEL 42 are delighted to announce that they will embark upon The ‘World Machine’ 40th Anniversary Tour in 2025, which will visit 28 UK venues. Tickets will go on sale on Friday 25th October 2024 at 10am from aegp.uk/L42_2025
All of the shows will feature Special Guests Roachford. The tour will celebrate this landmark – and indeed breakthrough – album for Level 42, and the band will also, of course, be breaking out many of their classic era-defining hits.
Released this October are three 2CD albums in deluxe gatefold packaging. The 1983 album ‘Standing In The Light’, the 1985 album ‘World Machine’ and the 1987 album ‘Running In The Family’ each contain the original album on Disc 1 while Disc 2 features selection of 7”edits, 12” extended versions, remixes and B-sides as well as a foreword written by Simon Carson and Paul Waller. Each set also includes a booklet containing album lyrics as well as photos of the singles released from the album. Available to pre-order now: https://demonedsel.lnk.to/level42
An exclusive interview with legendary singer and bassist Mark King of Level 42.
Courtesy of Kim Brouns/Tessa Frissen Media/RTV Parkstad
Release Date Friday 19th January 2024
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.
Pre-order link: https://level42.lnk.to/standinginthelight
Standing In The Light, the much loved third album by Level 42, is available again on LP as a strictly limited audiophile gold vinyl pressing.
Level 42 – bassist and vocalist Mark King, keyboard player/vocalist Mike Lindup, guitarist Boon Gould, drummer/lyricist Phil Gould and studio-only whizz kid Wally Badarou – were, by 1983, well-respected survivors of the early 80s Britfunk explosion, but had yet to really break big. An unmissable live draw, they had yet to enjoy proper commercial success. Polydor could sense this and sent the group to LA to work with Larry Dunn and Verdine White from Earth, Wind & Fire, to add an extra dimension to their sound.
However, it was not to be an EWF horn and mysticism fest; Standing In The Light tweaked and commercialised the group’s sound without losing their uniquely British take on jazz-funk. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind was the first single taken from the album and just missed the UK Top 40; however, the next release gave the group their first Top 10 hit and a taste of the success they would savour in the coming years. Living It Up (The Sun Goes Down) was their first Top 10 hit in the UK, and is a funk-based scorcher. As a result, Standing In The Light was Level 42’s first Top 10 album. It also contains the intense, political I Want Eyes, drummer Phil Gould’s favourite writing collaboration with Mark King, and five other examples of the group’s unique groove.
Standing In The Light is presented with scrupulous attention to the detail of the original UK first pressings and available in audiophile 180gm gold vinyl. Whether replacing much-loved originals, or adding to a collection afresh, these are a superior way to enjoy such enduring and influential music.
Out Now! Level 42 – The Later Years 1991-1998. A 7CD set featuring the albums from 1991 – 1994 in all their original glory. Discs 3 -7 contain all the B-Sides, 7” mixes, remixes and rare versions from those eras. 👉 cherryred.co/Level42
Their only London headline shows of 2024!
Tickets on sale Friday 10am: aegp.uk/L42_2024
