Mark King Fans. They're a sensitive bunch.

[Rich]

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1450305511' post='2931619']
I mentioned that i would like to see Mark... break out from his usual music. [/quote]
Which he did of course, on his solo album 'One Man'. Anything more different from the standard L42 you could not possibly imagine, and from what I remember the fanbois hated it for its complete lack of wockity-wockity bass pyrotechnics. I loved it -- I very rarely listen to L42 these days, but I frequently listen to that album.

[skidder652003]

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_jGIUm2Il0"]https://www.youtube....h?v=Z_jGIUm2Il0[/url]

Edited December 17, 2015 by skidder652003

[Coilte]

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1450307697' post='2931651']
Ooops i got a feeling of deja vu.
[/quote]

So do I. Going by the defensive responses on the "Jaco/Noodling" thread, it would appear that a lot of bassists are not able to handle other people's opinions on their heros....unless it is one of adoration.

[lowdown]

[quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1450343902' post='2931768']
Non King fan's are just poor at spelling!
[/quote]


In fact, they could do with a good slapping, Jay.

Back in the day when MK was flavour of the month, I am pretty sure he played on a few folks tracks and albums.
In the session world, he is not flavour of the month anymore.
Producers come and go.
Mark King is a great player, and like all great players he will get a hammering, or in his case, a slur and hammer on.

[crez5150]

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1450347588' post='2931817']
In fact, they could do with a good slapping, Jay.


[/quote]

;O)

[No lust in Jazz]

From what I have seen and read about Mark King he's a good guy, who isn't afraid to laugh at himself. I have total respect for someone who has been such a high level player and who has inspired many.

[ratman]

[quote name='No lust in Jazz' timestamp='1450348511' post='2931836']
From what I have seen and read about Mark King he's a good guy, who isn't afraid to laugh at himself
[/quote]
Actually, he's got quite a reputation for being a grumpy f****er.

[Kevin Dean]

Didn't Mark play on a Elton John & Midge Ure Album ?

[Mykesbass]

He was house bassist for the Prince's Trust All-Stars back in the day:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECqW4pt6-JQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECqW4pt6-JQ[/url]

[RhysP]

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1450350022' post='2931849']
Actually, he's got quite a reputation for being a grumpy f****er.
[/quote]

That's the first time I've ever heard that.
I've met him a few times & a nicer person you couldn't wish to meet. Plenty of others have said the same thing too.

[spectoremg]

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1450306553' post='2931633']
mark king..... is he all that?
[/quote]Smiles

Edited December 17, 2015 by spectoremg

[funkgod]

i love marks playing, i like his no bull@hit approach to people as well come to that,
like it or not he is one of the worlds best bass players and im not talking about just speed slapping
but his finger playing is top draw, tight thoughtfull and catchy as hell
and more to the point as a total package i dont know anyone who comes close to him,
he has dedicated his life to attaining that with more than his fair share of personal loss and bumps along the way, but he never lost sight, strived on and is still at it ,101% respect,

keep going mark you are inspirational.

but as you say bub, yes i would like to see him more in other feilds
using all his knowledge for other things which i know he does.
in fact thinking about it i cant think of anyone else i would like more to produce my soon to be out
funk cd, what a buzz....... hold on...i think iv just inspired myself to dare an email.

Edited December 17, 2015 by funkgod

[spectoremg]

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1450305511' post='2931619']
Im a huge fan of Mark King and L42. But I've recently posted on a couple of YT videos. I mentioned that i would like to see Mark do some session stuff, or break out from his usual music. My word did i get some hostile responses. Ive been called a bedroom bassist, to a keyboard warrior twat, "don't know what I'm doing on a bass" ? and I'm slagging off world class musicians from my bedroom.? i personally would love to hear Mark do something different, play on other peoples records. he's got so much talent on the bass, why not do something more contemporary.? only my op.

It reminds me of people who will possibly kill you if you slag off Music Man basses.

They seem to hold that Mark King sound very close to there heart. i don't blame them to a point because its some fantastic music, but its fanatical. Ive never seen this with another bass player and there sound. maybe its a very special sound from there teen years.?

by the way my bestest. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twWu-66suvU[/media]
[/quote]Keyboard Warrior Twat - nice ring to it.

Edited December 17, 2015 by spectoremg

[spectoremg]

Mark mate, before the session starts we just need to weld your thumb to your neck pickup...

[Japhet]

I have no idea how he plays that stuff and sings at the same time. I'd love to hear him play different stuff as well since he has been pigeon-holed as a one trick pony which is way off the mark.

[leschirons]

Just be grateful you didn't start a Miles Davis, genius, or self indulgent tosser? thread. You'd have crosses painted in blood on your front door by now

Mark King is A-okay. Probably responsible for thousands of people taking up the bass.

Edited December 17, 2015 by leschirons

[Paul S]

[quote name='funkgod' timestamp='1450353140' post='2931901']

but his finger playing is top draw, tight thoughtfull and catchy as hell
and more to the point as a total package i dont know anyone who comes close to him,

[/quote]

Very much this. His finger playing in particular is some of the best I have seen. I have been going to Level 42 gigs since they started and when I saw them at IndigO2 earlier this year (recorded and now on DVD) I reckon his playing (and this incarnation of the band) is better than ever. Their last release, Sirens, had finger playing and even pick playing tracks outnumbering the slap. Plus these days he doesn't stand on the stage edge doing 15 minute solos, just plays for the music. He has a reputation of being a one trick pony but I suspect it is largely perpetuated by people who haven't seen him play live recently.

[chris_b]

Is it just me and the gigs I go to, because I rarely see slap bass playing on the pub gig circuit and I haven't seen any slap on the theatre or arena gigs I've been to.

I guess the irony is that the most rabid Mark King fans are probably "bedroom" players themselves!!

I think Mark King is a great player but I prefer his finger style playing rather than the incessant "bag of spanners in a washing machine" style.

[karlfer]

Hmm, slap bass. If I wanted to slap things about, I'd have learned to drum.
I just can't listen to slap.
Mr King has a phenominal reputation, but from his early days, simply not for me.
I'm that bad, whenever I watch any kind of video, as soon as the slap starts, it gets closed.

Now, John Paul Jones, was he.......................

[crez5150]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1450356887' post='2931957']
Is it just me and the gigs I go to, because I rarely see slap bass playing on the pub gig circuit and I haven't seen any slap on the theatre or arena gigs I've been to.

I guess the irony is that the most rabid Mark King fans are probably "bedroom" players themselves!!

I think Mark King is a great player but I prefer his finger style playing rather than the incessant "bag of spanners in a washing machine" style.
[/quote]

I mostly only ever see Rock/classic Rock/ Indie bands being advertised in pubs.... rarely do you see any that would perform music that contains any length of slap material.... No slap in Dakota, Sex on fire or Zombie

[mentalextra]

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1450358985' post='2931997']
Hmm, slap bass. If I wanted to slap things about, I'd have learned to drum.
I just can't listen to slap.
Mr King has a phenominal reputation, but from his early days, simply not for me.
I'm that bad, whenever I watch any kind of video, as soon as the slap starts, it gets closed.[/quote]

Just about sums it up for me

[anaxcrosswords]

Were it not for MK I wouldn’t have taken up bass, end of. And I can’t even play slap, not properly anyway, but he was the first person to bring bass all the way to the front as a percussive, driving instrument. For me, the percussiveness (and inherent need for spot-on timing) was far more important than the rest of it, and it still influences me now even when I’m playing simple one-note phrases.

One Man demonstrated his ability to show off a more ‘humans can do this’ style and I loved that departure. Yeah, there were a couple of duff tracks – including the title track – but mostly it showed his exceptional songwriting. Just wish I could get an original recording (I lost the CD) of Love Wars; I can only find a live version on YouTube.

[timmo]

Always hated Level 42. Mark King is another one that i can appreciate his talent, and can see why he is so well thought of. I don't think anyone can deny his place in the pantheon of bass

[40hz]

I have lot of time for Mark King, he comes across as a very down to earth and intelligent bloke. He's only one of 3-4 bass players who I can tolerate/enjoy slapping. It takes some unbelievable talent to slap as he does and sing.

That said, IMO of course, Level 42 are what I'd call a 'bass players' band. Irrelevant to most others. He does inspire legions of wannabe's with their statii/jaydee/alembic strapped up under the chin and taped thumbs but then again what other famous bass player doesn't inspire people? The guys a British bass playing institution.

Edited December 17, 2015 by 40hz

[lowdown]

[quote name='40hz' timestamp='1450362660' post='2932053']
Level 42 are what I'd call a 'bass players' band. Irrelevant to most others.
[/quote]

"Since [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_in_music"]1980[/url], [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom"]British[/url] [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music"]pop[/url] musical group [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_42"]Level 42[/url] has released 11 [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_album"]studio albums[/url]. The band's latest was [i]Retroglide[/i], released in [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_in_music"]2006[/url]. The group have one [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_40"]Top 10[/url] hit on the [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States"]American[/url] [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100"][i]Billboard[/i] Hot 100[/url] chart ("[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_About_You_(Level_42_song)"]Something About You[/url]") and six top 10s on the British [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_single_charts"]UK single charts[/url] ("[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun_Goes_Down_(Living_It_Up)"]The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)[/url]", "Something About You", "[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lessons_in_Love_(song)"]Lessons In Love[/url]", "[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_in_the_Family_(song)"]Running in the Family[/url]", "[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Be_With_You_Again"]To Be With You Again[/url]" and "[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_Over_(Level_42_song)"]It's Over[/url]"). [b]Level 42 have sold 31 million units worldwide[/b]."

31 million Bass players - That's a lot of Bass players in the World.