From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V99 #31 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 99 : Issue 31 986 subscribers Today's topics: The King GREAT BRITAIN SUPPORTERS>> It's time for that dissenting voice in the wild>> Nightfly83 Re: Level42 Digest V99 #30 RPERSAUD12 Forever Now tour pics Graham Brand Oh.. by the way.. clare.reeves Shepherd's Bush GJWillett What's Mark saying/singing? Byron Wong A message from Charl Mocke Andy Smith Re: Mark in Vienna igotan Re: Mark in Vienna igotan Empire and Foundation Paul Jones fun Bill Burnett Re: Sheppards Bush RHS42 Wolverhampton RHS42 Mark King Live At Manchester & Shepherd's Bush Richard Maybury Shepherds Bush Lisa Devlin Shepherds Bush Empire Bill Miller Tour stuff Nigel Collier Is it safe to look????? Chris Dickman Track List for Shepherds Bush gig ? igotan Wolverhampton Gig Fiona Klimczak I'm back... morgan42 Mr P-Funk Lars-Ove Larsson MK in The Times - TODAY Tom Brown Shepherd's Bush reflections. Balfour, Chris Everything and anything Laurence F. GREEN The Empire Gig Vicki Marchant Leicester Gig Richard Lowe The Times Shepherds Bush Review Bill Leslie-Miller ------------------------------ Subject: The King From: "GREAT BRITAIN SUPPORTERS CLUB" Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 10:59:37 -0000 Had to write this morning to say that last nights concert at Shepherds Bush was out of this world!! Mark was on top form, the band (all members) were superb including King jnr, nice guitar work and the crowd were superb. Unfortunately due to work I was unable to get to the gig until just gone 7.00 and eneded up five rows from the front but saw a lot of the digesters having a great time really getting into it. I was leading my row into the groove and the Level 42 guy with the 42 tattoo deserves muchos respect (like the signed t-shirt!) Mark got the track mix just right and really enjoyed the evening. Good support band by the way (can anyone remember who they were?) Well Mark do we want to do it all again in April you asked at the end?? You bet your bass we do!!! ROLL ON APRIL!!!! ps Thanks Lisa for the vid!! Watched it when I got in! Superb! Hope all our American and Dutch friends had a good time. Hope to catch up with you next time round. The King is Alive. Long live the King! Allan ------------------------------ Subject: It's time for that dissenting voice in the wilderness From: Nightfly83 @ aol.com Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 07:15:06 EST Things that bugged me about the Shepherd's Bush gig: 1) The most boring man in the world, standing behind me, whose 10 minute soliloquy on the merits of his home cinema system I had to endure between support and main act. 2) The most irritating concert-goer in the world, standing alongside me. This bozo insisted on shouting out the title of every song as it started to his friend (who prsumably had never even heard of Level 42, otherwise he would have known, and in which case why would the titles mean anything to him anyway?); proceeded to sing every lyric as loudly and as off key as he could, but not the way normal people sing along - he kept singing them in the direction of his friend, as if to impress him; and, just for good measure, kept shouting out "You're a legend!" at Mark King (like he could hear him), which surely ranks as amongst the most idiotic pieces of approbation ever hurled at a performer. If you're reading this my good man, I was the chap immediately to your right raising his eyes to the heavens. 3) The fact that all these years on, I still have to put up with people shouting "Wey-oh, wey-oh, wey-oh wey-oh wey-oh". I've been in football crowds that were more sophisticated. 4) The guy about five feet in front of me who took off his shirt about three songs in, proudly displaying his Level 42 tattoo on his left shoulder. I have less of a problem with the tattoo than the public dispersal of sweat that must have ensued for those in the immediate environs. 5) The fact the keyboard player kept reminding me of the moronic character played by Bill Pullman in Ruthless People. 6) That due to a pressing engagement at a ramshackle football ground, I arrived at the Fringe & Firkin too late to meet and greet my fellow digesters. I'd really been looking forward to that bit. I stood at the Cluedo machine in my giveaway Oxford United hat, but not a soul approached to challenge me as to my identity. Bother. Although I did brush shoulders with Winston, as he retreated to the bar with a burly colleague about half way through. I assume it was Winston - he was wearing a One Man baseball cap, looked like the photos of Winston that have been on websites, and his friend said "Hey Winston - smell something familiar?" as they passed me. Those were my clues. 7) That the gig was such a trawl through the hits. I can't have been the only one to notice that the biggest reaction was for the solitary track taken from each of the first two albums. Did most of the people there really want to hear, for example, Lessons In Love? Mark King's announcement mid-segway that "It's a string of knackered old hits!" seemed like an even proportion of self- deprecating humour and genuine pathos. I suddenly felt like I was trapped inside an 80s revival radio broadcast. Maybe I was thinking about it too hard. Mr "You're a legend!" had turned me irrevocably melancholy for the night. AG ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Level42 Digest V99 #30 From: RPERSAUD12 @ aol.com Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 08:58:17 EST Hello to everyone! I have now made the journey to six of the 7 shows and the last one is in Wolverhampton on Monday. All the time spent travelling and queuing up to the shows were worth it. What a brilliant set and it is great to see Mark and his new band performing so well. It's ashame that I have not really met the majority of the Americans from the digest. I would have liked to have helped them out with their stay in London and the other areas around the Country. We need to give Mark and his band all the support we can. The people who I have met at the shows have been kind and friendly. Best Wishes to everyone who I have met through out the tour! Raymond ------------------------------ Subject: Forever Now tour pics From: Graham Brand Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 06:06:53 -0800 (PST) Just to let you all know that I've put some pics from the 1994 Forever Now tour up on my webpage. It's still under constructiuon and a bit rough. http://x-stream.fortunecity.com/abbeyrd/4 Now I'm just trying to get rid of the heavy cold I caught waiting outside the Croydon gig waiting for Mark. Still it was worth it. Cheers Graham _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Subject: Oh.. by the way.. From: clare.reeves @ bbc.co.uk Organization: bbc Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 14:33:42 -0000 Hello.. By the way.. did anyone else see Jakko at the Shepherds Bush Gig? I seem to remember that I just went up to him and gave him a kiss!! ( I really must grow up and stop kissing "pop stars") Two guys on the tube afterwards told us they also met Boon and Gary Husband who were both propping up the bar while everyone was leaving. I wonder what they made of it all??? Slightly sad to have missed out on the tour? No sign of Mike though.. I miss his silly little dances. Lots of love Clare xx Clare Reeves Africa and Middle East Studio Manager BBC World Service, Bush House, Strand, London WC2B 4PH Internal: (08) 72482 Ext: +44 (0) 171 557 2482 ------------------------------ Subject: Shepherd's Bush From: GJWillett @ aol.com Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 10:51:42 EST Hi folks, Wow what can I say about last night?? I just don't know where to start so it's probably best to start at the beginning! When I walked round the corner at about 6pm to get to the Empire, there was already a sizeable crowd standing outside in the freezing cold waiting for the minutes to tick by and 7pm to come round so that the doors would, finally, be opened. It was really great seeing so many of you again - you really made it a night to remember (yet again!!!). I want to say a BIG thankyou to: Winston (personalised MK tour cap) Walker - thanks for the CD, Lolita, Bilal, Morgan, Don, Tony (don't stand next to this guy at a gig!! - only kidding!!!!) Bassette. Eric, Bill Miller, Bill Wilson, Andre (look forward to receiving that CD), Simon (thanks for the 10 quid to get me home), Adam (you're still a tart), Chris ('oh yeah') Mrs Pink (yet again!) and everybody else who made it such a great evening. The gig was the absolute dog's twitcher!! The support band were the best I've seen on MK's tour. They really got the crowd going, especially when the lead singer embarrassed the hell out of the bassist, who was plucking away on an upright bass. He wanted the bassist to entertain the crowd and the crowd wanted him to slap the bass. He went off stage embarrassed as hell and then came back to say "I'm no Mark King you know!". Then Mark came on to rapturous applause and was quite taken aback for the rest of the evening. He was really giving it everything and was really enjoying himself. There were a couple of occasions where Mark thought that he had to change bass but Lyndon kept saying no not yet!! The whole of the crowd were really up for it and you could really tell that Mark was reeping the good vibes that the audience were sending him. He even asked that if he was going to do another tour in April, whether we'll all want to see him play at the Empire again. I think you know what our reply was!!!! At the end of the gig all the digesters got together but it wasn't the end 'cos Adam shouted "digesters over here" and he was standing above a tall bloke with shaggy hair. I asked people "who's he?" and they said "it's Boon!!". It took me a few moments to realise "oh my god it is!!!".He was simply inundated with fans wanting their photo's with him and autographs. He looked quite bemused!! Not only was Boon there but also Jakko and Gary (shorty!!) Husband were there as well. All too much!!! We all got out of the venue and headed off for some 'tucker' (or food for those not used to the English slang!!) in Chinatown - excellently lead by your's truly I might add!!! And then it was back home. Lolita, Adam, Winston,Chris, Simon, and others headed off to their hotel while I managed to get on a night bus back to my car to go back home. Didn't get back home till gone 4am!!!! Thanks again everyone for an excellent evening. Roll on the next tour!!! Glyn ("oh yeah") Willett. P.S. Hope you all got some good buys and bargains at the record fair... ------------------------------ Subject: What's Mark saying/singing? From: "Byron Wong" Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 07:57:10 PST Hi all, Need some help here... Is Mark singing "swimming with THE sky" or "swimming WI...TH sky" (stretching out the WITH). Just wondering. Thanks. >>Byron ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Subject: A message from Charl Mocke From: "Andy Smith" Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 16:44:20 -0000 Hi there me levelhedz! How the devil are we all? I've just received Charl's 6 midi files - they are bleedin' awesome let me tell you! These midi files are as follows: Bitter Moon, Children Say, Guaranteed (African remix), Guaranteed, Love In A Peaceful World, To Be With You Again. There's also an interesting Word97 document that he's included! At the moment Charl doesn't have access to the digest and therefore asks that if anybody wishes to contact him for these files or anything else for that matter, please contact him on his temp. email address fajm @ land.sun.ac.za . That's all for now folks - BTW, if any of you are undecided about attending Mark's European gigs, don't be - he's absolutely fantastic!! TCOY, Andy (mad L43 trumpet bloke) ICQ number : 6907957 Visit Caduceus Brass On The Web : http://homepage.virgin.net/caduceus.brass ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Mark in Vienna From: igotan @ ombomb.demon.co.uk Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 17:03:56 +0000 >From: "Major Mihly" >Dear Friends! > >I write from Hungary, and i have a big question. I want to go to the >Mark King concert in Austria, Vienna, but i have not a tickets. Where >can i get a tickets? Try http://www.mark-king.co.uk/ which list the ticket office for the vienna gig as ; Tickets from: Rock Produktion Jeumuhlgasse 11 3.0G 1040 Vienna Telephone 00.43.1.589.530 Dave Crowson http://www.ombomb.demon.co.uk/ ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Mark in Vienna From: igotan @ ombomb.demon.co.uk Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 17:11:33 +0000 oops that should be www.mark-king.com not .co.uk, sorry :) ------------------------------ Subject: Empire and Foundation From: "Paul Jones" Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 18:33:52 -0000 Okay so I got my fix, level 1 (balcony) right at the front (right of the stage as Mark looked out). Any guesses what was in the Tesco's carrier back that Mark carried off at the end ?. As for Lindon hmmmmmm. Unfortunately due to comments made on the digest I spent too much time watching Lindon. Thank god for the backing track. Lost it in Kansas City Milkman. Mark asked him if he missed a beat at the end of the song. Also lost it in The Chines Way and decided to just shake the Keyboard instead of playing it. Nathan was absolutely fantastic as was the drummer. If I go back in April I would like to see Lindon replaced but then thats just splitting hairs because the other three were just purring on all cylinders. Having said all that my overall impression was that I had gone to heaven at 9.00pm Glen Scott (jury is still out) Paul Jones Paul Jones ------------------------------ Subject: fun From: Bill Burnett Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 19:47:22 +0000 In message <199901311100.GAA32331 @ worldmachine.com>, Level42 Digest writes >The support act went on too long. They were clearly having too much fun.. too much fun, how can this be!!! for the benefit of Nightfly83: The gig was easy on the day they came to play on this quiet island in the atlantic i remember a line of digesters all in white the laughter and the stealing set lists at night now the Americans are gone except for joe the tour's been hard to reach there's been talk and lately a bit of action on the net behind the big monitor on the desk the band are changed its not the same its all new players on a whole new lovegames. love to all -- Bill Burnett ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Sheppards Bush From: RHS42 @ aol.com Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 15:03:21 EST Just got back from the Sheppards Bush gig - yet again FANTASTIC !!!! I won't go into details, because so many do on this digest - and describe it better than I can.........but the one of the best bit's for me was MK asking "If we came back in April..would you all come??!!" - wow is this a possibility! GREAT!!! I knew all you digesters would be in there there and I'd done my homework on what some of you look like..... Adam it was me who said 'hello'! - yes I'd drunk the bar dry - it was so funny - you looked like "who the ***** is this trying to talk to me?!!" I guess me just starting a conversation with "Hey, I'm RHS42" didn't help! Anyway......maybe see some of you digesters at the Wolverhampton gig. Howard. ------------------------------ Subject: Wolverhampton From: RHS42 @ aol.com Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 15:10:42 EST any arrangements for meeting up in Wolverhampton? Howard. ------------------------------ Subject: Mark King Live At Manchester & Shepherd's Bush From: "Richard Maybury" Date: Sun, 31 Jan 99 20:33:09 PST Eric, I have sent this message to the Digest a few times and it has not been published. My email isa working fine so I'm baffled why it has not been published.....unless you don't want me to reveal the songs Mark is playing. Please can you reply and let me know why this has not been published. (I have included the message below) Cheers, Kansas City Milkman Hi there Bassheads, > > Twas on the night of 24th January that thee attended the Academy of Greater > Manchester in Englandshire. Crowds flocked to see if the master was still able > to strtt his stuff. He certainly did not disappoint. Here is the track listing > that the Master played : > > Hot Water > Pamela > Love Wars > World Machine > Bitter Moon > Kansas City Milkman (Damn fine choice, even if I do say myself) > Changing The Guard > Love Games > Half Written Songs > To Be With You Again > Take My Hand > Mr Pink (One for Mrs Pink) > It's Over > Running In The Family > Lessons In Love > Something About You > > (Encore) > > Brief riff of 88 > The Chinese Way > > Good points of the gig : > > 1. A good collection of old and new songs played. > 2. A very damn , fine performance - far,far,far better than the VH1 > performances. > 3. A small venue, but a good atmosphere. > 4. You could almost touch your heroes. > 5. Mark's band sounded just like Level 42 - there were times that when I > closed my eyes, it just sounded like the old days. > 6. Mark had cool blue lights on his bass which glowed in the dark. > > Bad points : > > 1. Manchester Academy - what a dump > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > 2. What happened to the merchandise ?- Where were the tour programmes, > t-shirts and posters (Can anyone confirm if any are going to be sold in the > other gigs ?) > 3. It all ended too soon. > > I had to dash off back to Kansas - did Mark come out after the gig to sign > autographs and pose for picies ? > > What did everybody else think who attended the gig, eh ? > > After the encore Mark played a brief riff of 88. Throughout most of the show, > one fan kept chanting for them to play 88. Unfortunately as Mark said, the > band had not reheased this song. However Mark did play a riff for the fan, who > loved it. What a jolly nice bloke he is too, when it comes to looking after > the fans. > > My next gig is at Shepherd's Bush Empire - I do hope they have some > merchsandise there - my old level 42 t-shirts are well past their sell by > date. Does anyone know if any of the gigs are being recorded for audio or > video. Paul Crockford if you are reading, get it sorted man. How about just > offering such a tape to the devoted fans - speaking of which - is a Mark King > fan clkub going to be set up ? > > Tell me something (what ?), music is the key to set me free..... Update - Shepherd's Bush ........ Excellent stuff again. I thought the London gig was a more "professional" gig than Manchester as the lighting was far better and they started with the customary Thunderbirds intro. At Manchester, they just walked on and started playing - real casual stuff...... Although Mark did seem to have one or two problems with his bass at London. How many of you noticed that half way through "To Be With You Again" that the bass went rather quiet before swapping it ? Also, what happened to the cool blue lights on his guitar ? These lights were working at Manchester. Still no merchandise at London, which was disappointing. The impression I have is that Mark was not so sure of the reaction of the turn out for the gigs. Maybe this was why there was no merchandise. What was exciting was Mark saying at the end of the night, "Will you come and see me if I play in April ?" Lets hope this is a prelude to another mini tour in April ???? It took me 4.5 hours to reach London...I thought I had travelled quite far, until I got talking to two girls next to me who were from the USA - wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Final questions ..... 1. Does anyone know what number "Bitter Moon" reached in the top 100 ? 2. When is the next single likely to be released ? 3. Did anyone record the concert on audio or video, that would be willing to make a copy ????? (Cheque book is waiting) Bye for now, Kansas City Milkman Email : maybury @ nildram.co.uk ------------------------------ Subject: Shepherds Bush From: "Lisa Devlin" Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 20:46:37 -0000 hi all ..... Well I'm knackered, hoarse and completely awestruck as usual! What a brilliant bloody gig the Empire was - but then you wouldnt really expect anything less from Mark, and for once I actually enjoyed a support band!! The mix between old and new was just about perfect, and I actually thought Linden did pretty well, after all that has been posted over recent days I was expecting Les Dawson or something! The only song which didnt really work for me was Take My Hand, I don't know why, it just doesnt grab me as a strong enough song to gig. Finally got home at 4am on Sunday after a 4 hour drive....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz so i'm off to recover now - and then we'll do it all over again in April :) TCOY Lisa ICQ# 14616790...chat me ------------------------------ Subject: Shepherds Bush Empire From: "Bill Miller" Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 22:32:45 -0000 Damnit And there was me thinking that the Croydon performance was good.....I'm completely speechless about Shepherds Bush, once again a tight performance from the guys, Mark was undeniably overjoyed at the fantastic crowd who were unbelievable, and great to see all the digesters there.......Eric, Don, Lisa, Marcus, Lolita, Bill, Win, Andre, Chris, and the other Chris that I was chatting to... Adam, Mikey etc etc.....i've forgotten all the other names there were so many.......and what a turn up for the books the fact that Jackko, Gary Husband, Boon, Gary Barnacle, Paul Crockford turned up.......quite amazing......really a complete night.....to say that the fans (a large proportion of whom seemed to be digesters) were giving Mark and the band immense vocal support really is an understatement...............what made it special was to hear Mark say "it's great to be back".....i'm sure we all agree......... 3 more UK gigs in March / April.........I can't wait Bill Miller ------------------------------ Subject: Tour stuff From: Nigel Collier Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 23:32:53 +0000 Adam - great pics from the gigs - there are one or two which would make superb posters/t-shirts - I love the contrast/lighting effects, I love the coloured lights...hey, I love everything...you're all beautiful...blimey, I'm still awash with goodwill and warmth following Manchester and Lye-chester... Bilal, you're right to stick up for Lyndon. Wasn't he drafted in at short notice? How would you lot fare trying to learn Mike's parts (oo-er) in a few weeks? He made a few mistakes here and there, but he also has a style of his own, for better or for worse, I actually quite liked the different sound his vocals gave the music. He obviously has a real mental block with some lyrics and this seems to have turned into a bit of an in-joke with the band. At Leicester during The Chinese Way encore when it was time for a Mike Lindup solo, Mark said the old, "Mike Lindup..." intro, then Lyndon proceeded to do a Mike Lindup impersonation, one hand on heart, the other outstretched to crowd and head shaking, and the rest of the band watched in amusement and anticipation as Lyndon got the lyrics wrong...again. They all thought it was hilarious, though I think the crowd largely missed the joke. I swear I've never heard Mr Pink played so fast than at Leicester - the rest of the band struggled to keep up with Mark but, though sound quality was very good in De Montfort Hall, Mark's bass was lost during Mr Pink. It was obvious he was going absolutely hell-for-leather but half of it was inaudible. The crowd were great - I felt proud to be a Digester - the aisles gradually filled during the set and the entire house were on their feet for the encore (following some spirited urgings from Bilal at the front...) Great to meet familiar and not so familiar Digesters again - you know who you are (Winston, I'm afraid I drank your brown ale, sorry but I'm sure it's what you would have wanted). Regards all Nigel "...friends all over the world, none in this country but all over the world" - Tony Hancock, The Radio Ham http://www.ncl.ac.uk/~nnac/ ------------------------------ Subject: Is it safe to look????? From: "Chris Dickman" Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 02:25:31 -0000 Dear all..... ***************ADVANCE WARNING!************* DO NOT, repeat NOT go to the latest addition to my site if you DO NOT wish to see Mark's Tour Setlist..... Wolverhampton visitors should NOT spoil their enjoyment. However, if you are not going to Wolves, go and have a look if you want :-) www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/hall/9755/setlist.htm I'll be in touch, see you at Wolves! Chris ------------------------------ Subject: Track List for Shepherds Bush gig ? From: igotan @ ombomb.demon.co.uk Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 03:53:15 +0000 Can anyone remember the track list for the Shepherds Bush gig ? I know he played the following tracks (but I can't remember the correct order or if I've missed something, due to my synapses taking a hammering post-gig;-) Bitter Moon* Pamela* World Machine A Physical Presence Kansas City Milkman Love Games Hot Water Something About You Running in the family Love Wars* Take My Hand * If I Had Something * Changing the Guard * Turn it On and an encore of The Chinese Way * = new album 'One Man' Anyone ? Dave Crowson http://www.ombomb.demon.co.uk/ ------------------------------ Subject: Wolverhampton Gig From: Fiona Klimczak Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 08:18:14 -0000 Does anyone know if there are any arrangements for Digesters to meet up prior to the MK gig on 1st Feb? If so please e-mail me direct. Thanks. Fiona `K' ------------------------------ Subject: I'm back... From: morgan42 Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 09:37:29 +0100 Hello fans ! Thank you all for coming (especially to the London gig). It was one of the best trip in my life : I saw Mark, Boon, Gary, Jakko and the best crowd ever :) (There was more of 40 digest members...) Thank you again. Morgan. http://www.level42.com ------------------------------ Subject: Mr P-Funk From: Lars-Ove Larsson Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 10:11:46 +0100 This one actually is 42-related. I have no idea who Mr P-Funk is, but i laughed a lot. http://hem2.passagen.se/slap/index.html Lars ------------------------------ Subject: MK in The Times - TODAY From: Tom Brown Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 09:04:06 +0000 Hi Folks, Review of the Empire gig in The Times today !!! (www.the-times.co.uk) There's a small pic of Mark (circa Guaranteed ???) along with a small heading "Life after Level 42: Mark King goes solo". The piece is by Paul Sexton and is a pretty good review entitled "Going it alone pays off". The most notable bit from it has got to be : "But behind the critical tendency to dismiss Level 42 as furry-dice 1980s soulsters lay an accomplished body of achievement, and Saturday's London show was a banner event for the power of collective memory. The Empire crowd was jumping with an animation to match that of the group's glory days." Well done you guys, I wish I could have been there !!! That's All -T ------------------------------ Subject: Shepherd's Bush reflections. From: "Balfour, Chris" Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 02:09:01 -0800 Hi all. Just a few comments about Shepherds Bush on Saturday. What an excellent show! The venue wasn't jam packed with people but it wasn't far off, and there looked like there were lots of the old Essex soul boys present! Mark was superb and the band was showing that they are really getting to know the material well. The set list was just right and without giving too much away a highlight for me was in Love Games when they slowed down and speeded up again the part after the middle keyboard/scat break, just as they do on the Physical Presence album. I have always wanted to hear it done like that live! The band sound was more like the early Level 42. Anyway, I'm annoyed I didn't go to any of the other concerts now but hopefully Mark will be back in April as he said about in the concert. I found myself standing next to Bill Miller and had a chat with him, which was great and look forward to meeting a few more of you in the future. Chris ------------------------------ Subject: Everything and anything From: L.F.Green @ shu.ac.uk (Laurence F. GREEN) Organization: Sheffield Hallam University Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 09:03:53 -0000 Hi All, Where do I start! Leicester was a truly marvelous gig. It was great to meet these people and if I forget you I am truly sorry. No particular order either. Mark King (OK, am I the only person who got to speak to Mark at Leicester?) I only said 'hello' and 'yes'. I handed him a copy of Word Machine issue 2 (his third copy) (one for the road). Lisa - a pleasure as always, Lisas better half Marcus (can I say that?) I guess this is pretty boring for everyone, nevertheless, I must plod on. Eric J Hansen - the man who is directly to blame for me not getting a first class honours degree (I can live with what got though, I had a lot of fun. I remember finding the digest after being at University for about 3 weeks. I remember thinking, hey, I'm gonna spend hours on here) Winston Walker Lolita J The mighty Carl Mueller + wife briefly. Bill Wilson Adam Hankinson Nigel Collier (again) Bilal + delicate sister Don Zipf ERic W Jenny R I'm trying hard. Well I went with Rich Graham and my mate Paul Waller. I met Margaret, the very affluent Level 42 lady. I am hoping I forgot nobody. Ahhhhahahha - the great Mike Payne I am sure there were others, you certainly added to what was a great concert. I have heard from Mark since and he says he is proud to be up on stage with those guys. He should be coming back to the UK after the European leg for a few more gigs. Now then, minutes approved, onto matters pending. had an email recently asking for more interesting facts and bits about the group so quickly, here goes: The first single by Level 42 was 'Sandstorm' a fact even the group themselves fail to remember. There were 1100 copies pressed, but they had typed or handwritten labels. This was done on purpose so when you went into the record shop you said, 'have you got anything extra special' (whilst tapping the side of your nose). He pulls out this white label promo from under the desk and says, well, I've got this, and the customer thinks 'WOW, KNOCK me down, this is undergroud stuff, I'll buy it'. 15 years later it's worth a hundred quid!!! But Sandstorm had Level 42 on the B-side so perhaps it shouldn't count as the first single?? Well, I guess we should say the first single was combined with a single by another artist. Unreleased singles: Here's a list of bits and bobs that were a one stage going to be singles but were dropped for whatever reason: You Can't Blame Louis Standing In The Light Two Hearts Collide She Can't help Herself Billy's Gone Learn To Say No Tired Of Waiting (maybe we should add Changing the Guard to the list?) Of course there is 'Clocks Go Forward' I seem to remember Polydor considered releasing Changes as a single too. It certainyl made it to a Polydor sampler for forthcoming releases. I wish I had that! (We could maybe add Kansas City Milkman and True Believers) but I reckon thats about it. The only actual item I can think of that alludes to this list is the You Can't Blame Louis white label promo that goes for 40 to 50 pounds. NO, there is another! Clocks Go Forward white label promo 12"! (30 to 35 pounds) Well, I must dash now. LOZ ------------------------------ Subject: The Empire Gig From: Vicki Marchant Organization: University College Dublin Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 10:44:22 +0000 (GMT) What can I say but WOW! I met loads of people and a special thanks goes to Rob my fellow countryman. I can't believe you all went off to eat after the gig. I stayed around and (finally) met Mark, Gary Husband, Boon, Nathan and Lyndon. I'm still in shock. I waited 13 years to meet Mark and Boon. The gig itself was fantastic. I was about 2 people from the front and had a great view. My one question - who was that mad Frenchman? Mark seemed thrilled with the crowd response to all the songs. I'll let others talk about the gig properly. Mark came out at I guess about 12, I'm not sure. There were about 40 people waiting. He signed loads of stuff and posed for loads of pictures despite the fact that one of the security guards kept pulling him away as he had to go for a ferry home. He did say at the end of the gig that he would see us again in April!!!!! Gary was absolutely plastered and was thrilled to give an autograph even though he only signed his name I still can't make it out. Boon seemed completely shocked when I stopped him and asked him to sign something. He was lovely and signed a load of stuff for me. Nathan was still in great form when he came out at about 1. So was Lyndon. It was fantastic seeing everyone enjoy themselves so much. It was really like the old days. My fiance says the producer on the albums doesn't do justice to Mark's bass playing. I think he just hasn't listened to the albums properly. By the way when the photo of the Digest people was taken outside after the gig the girl at the far left of the photo (right of the crowd) is me. See you all again soon. Vicki ------------------------------ Subject: Leicester Gig From: Richard Lowe Organization: Hughes Rae Ltd Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 10:53:38 +0000 The leicester gig was absolutely superb!!! Mark was on top form, and for those of you attending the Wolverhampton gig you're in for a cracking concert. It has inspired me to dust off my bass, get a fresh set of strings and polish up my slapping skills again. :) Looking forward the release of Changing The Guard (which sounded superb live). - Richard ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Lowe, Internet Consultant, Hughes Rae Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1332 600110 E-Mail: R.Lowe @ hughesrae.com Fax: +44 (0)1332 733244 http://www.hughesrae.com ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.withintra.com - 'Intranet In A Box' for NT http://www.kitbag.com - Football Merchandise Online! ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Subject: The Times Shepherds Bush Review From: "Bill Leslie-Miller" Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 10:49:16 -0000 Taken from 'THE TIMES' 1st February 1999 Headline - "GOING IT ALONE PAYS OFF" When Mark King stepped back into the studio last year for the album 'One Man', the venture was more toe-dip than exultant return. Inserting 'Level 42's' on the billing only underlined that, 4 years after the completion of their slow demise and following a period of effective retirement, King was not at all sure who might still be listening. And since sales of the set did not exactly start forest fires, he might have approached this tour with trepidation. But behind the critical tendency to dismiss Level 42 as furry-dice 1980's soulsters lay an accomplished body of achievement, and Saturday's London show was a banner event for the power of collective memory. The Empire crowd was jumping with an animation to match that of the group's glory days. King now makes an amiable, unostentatious frontman, and the first half of the show suggested that the comeback has been crafted on his terms. Opening with one of Level 42's less-remembered hits, the cauldron bubbling ------------ his celebrated 'Thunderthumbs' bass led a lean quartet with Lynden Connah in the crucial keyboard/vocal role filled in the old days by Mike Lindup. King then delivered his current business card with 2 pieces from 'One Man'....-------------------------------- Any doubt that he was among old close friends dissolved in the energetic reaction to two of his old band's dusty album tracks--------------------------- and -------------------- After a career lived within pop perimeters, King's soul and jazz chops might have taken him into new territory by now; it is no criticism that instead he continues a more mainstream quest, and the follow up to 'One Man' should show him emboldened by the vote of remembrance. As if to say that the fans loyalty deserved it, he spent the last half hour dispensing unashamed nostalgia and a breathless run of hits such as -------------------- and------------------------ showed not even a hint of middle aged spread. King and company take the last steps of this lap of honour in Wolverhampton tonight... BILL MILLER