Mark King is one of the worlds greatest bass players ever yet hes also one of the most underrated

When Mark King plays his bass, it’s a huge victory for humanity.

Level 42: geweldige band. Wel bijzonder dat een basgitarist zo centraal staat in een band, dat komt bij mijn weten niet zo veel voor. En wat een basgitarist! Mark King is echt fantastisch!

I've been enjoying the music of Level 42 for 38 years since first hearing Love Games back in '81. Their fantastic music has seen me through many house moves, holidays, changes of car, living abroad and even divorce, the music has been a constant backdrop to my life. There are many great bass players, Stanley Clarke, Louis Johnson, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Bernard Edwards........but for me the greatest of them all is Mark King, his ease of rhythm and pure funk is unequalled, a flurry of notes that your ears tell you are impossible to play......he plays them with ease. A creative genius who makes it look so easy by doing the impossible, singing AND chewing gum too. He also plays a really soulful, melodic bass when playing 'finger style', just listen to Love Meeting Love or Leaving Me Now to understand that other great dimension to his playing. I salute you Mr King, you are truly a bass god. I look forward to seeing you on tour for many years to come and enjoying the music that you make so well 👍

I can understand/accept how Mark King plays excellent bass lines ... what blows my mind is his ability to sing so well while doing it.

Mark is without doubt a credit to his profession and the very fact that he is so up front and prepared to reveal all....what more can you say ?

What I find most enjoyable is that he fucking loves it!

One of the greatest slap bass guitarists of all time. One of the great guitarists too. Brilliant band. Unforgettable music, is Level 42.

2020! Master of the bass! Saw them live back in 1984...it was amazing! Utrecht Netherlands. I'm 47 now still want to see them live!! Mark is such a kind guy and whole band so talented! Love from the Netherlands!😎🖤🖤🖤💯👍🏻

When i first heard Starchild ( extended Version ), followed up by Love Games, it changed my life. Thank you, Level 42.

Absolutely wonderful guy.

Mark King is in my top five best bass players in the world. Mesmerising.

I could sit watchin him play that bass guitar all day long.

40 years ago, i start to play bass guitar (from zero) Thanks to him..... hours and hours to listen and watch.....Hands, fingers, arm moves.... and in the end, bought gibson bass, my first one :)

loved how he got so into playing, you could see how he still finds passion and joy playing

I fell in love with Level 42 back in the early 80's and to this day, no band has ever been better. I had the privilege of shaking hands with Mark and Mike during their UK tour in Cardiff a few years back and have seen them numerous times during their tours. Love to you guys x

Always loved level 42,and still do.

A masterclass on how to play bass by 1 of the greatest of all time. Thank you Mark for the (GREAT) music and humbleness all these years! All the best 2 you! 💖😉

The joy of making music just drips of of it.

I saw them live in a not too big club in Milan, so I was really near Mark, and the energy he radiates is simply astonishing!

7636 views! come on people this guy is a bass playing god, he deserves far more views than this. Mark King is a barn building, bass playing superstar.

No one plays the bass like Mr. Mark King. His artistry is second to none. World Machine, Running in the Family & Staring at the Sun are my favorite albums from Level 42.

The "A physical presence" version is still unmatched, especially with its incredible build-up at the beginning.

Mark King is really one of the all time greats! Timeless music and also great lyrics. I went with my wife to see him in Osaka. Great playing. But also he is a very kind guy, we got to meet him and even took a photo . Didn’t know he made a record in 2012!

Genius. It's amazing how he keeps his right hand going with that rhythm. Unbelievable

Been a fan since... let's not get into that. Wasn't until recently I realized how INSANELY complicated every bass line is. Even more respect.

Mark King is bass legend and 😎 cool guy!

A magician on the bas guitar, one of the best

Omg mark king my idol since I was 11 years old now 53 the best base player ever jazz funk at its best I’ve danced for years no one can touch him

in the brittfunk movement there is no better bassplayer than Mark King! I just found out the other day that he contributed his bass playing on one of Nik Kershaw his songs called - Easy- it's a new favorite of mine now heheh. Level 42 is responsible for my connection to the UK, it has left a profound love for their music of the 80's.

What a man, he ´s definitely the boss!!!

I pulled out some old CDs and loaded them on my mp3 player (have I showed my age yet 😁) to play in my office as I work from home. I heard Level 42 songs I never really paid attention to before. Now I'm addicted to Mark King and the band. Amazing musician! Thank you!

Absolute Master Musician

All hail the King, I am a drummer but I want to be King for a day, not just because of his technical ability as a super bassist but also because he has such a good vibe, you know he enjoys music so much that always comes across.

Mr. King the Master of the Bass. Amazing in-depth conversation 🔥👍👍

Saw them supporting The Police back in the days. Mark was playing like an animal while jumping around on the stage. Incredible!

A very talented man. I grew up listening to Level 42. Their early hits in the early 80's really had that influence. They improved themselves through out the whole decade! Mark you really are an inspiration to us all. Brilliant mate, definitely spot on!

So many fantastic bass players out there, but none of them could play and sing as well as Mark King, he is a one off. The ability to play the bass with such swinging up and down catchy hooks, then to sing at a different pace is just ridiculously hard to do. Mark King I salute you... 👍🤴

When Mark slaps the Earth's rotation slows a little.

I had no idea that a bass guitarist could be a genius. That is some kind of mastery.

Watching him play, I catch myself with my mouth wide open in amazement.

Probably one of the best bass players in the world. He really makes it sing!!!

A lifetime of happiness from Level 42, THANK YOU! :-)

OMG, these guys were fantastic (And I guess, still are) since I was a teenager...

One of my favourite songs of theirs....Amazing music

Amazingly talented. I love Level 42..supurb band. Marks bass playing is outstanding plus his vocals plus the other guy with the high harmony.

Massively underrated bass player that Mark King and with a great singing voice to boot.

Binge watching this series makes you appreciate how much talent there is in the UK. Not that I didn't know that already but this makes you so aware of how many fantastic singers, songwriters and musicians to come from there. It's really mind boggling. In addition to that they have a plethora of playwrights, authors and artists in general. Where does all this creativity come from? Hail to the Brits! You should be proud. And just for the record I'm danish.

Great song, great memories of the eighties!

Nice. Decent chap and still a great musician.

Mark, you are a legend ... Since 20 years ... me drummer 70 and have seen u from the start ... 1st Album in germany ... l.u.

this guys amazing!!

That was just so cool. I can’t stop smiling. Thank you

Top man.Down to earth but an absolute legend.One of the reasons I play bass.

Imagine knowing Mark King. What a legend. I was lucky enough to see Level 42 live once back in 2003, they were incredible.

That's some freakin' awesome bass playing skills.

A master on the bass. Will see them 4th of november in Holland

What a group.I saw this group in the 1980’s at the Odeon New Street Birmingham.All I can say what a night.😁👍🍺

Im a bassist singer songwriter its the best instrument and mark kings playing is astounding 👍

Mark was an excellent drummer with the band Re-Flex (Politics of Dancing) before Level 42 hit the big time. I'd love for someone to interview him about his Re-Flex days.

'Love Games' and 'The Chinese Way' are two of my favourites and both contain great bass.

Incredible musician. MK has forged his own unique vision and expression of the instrument. He is a R&R Hall of Fame candidate in my opinion.

Mark, that’s amazing mate. My band played Cardiff Uni one night after you guys. No offence against our own bass player but FM, you knock it out of the park!

Seen you loads of times and gets better every time - cant wait to the next concert

Mark long je t'aime depuis 1982 au casino de Paris le plus incroyable concert que j'ai vu dans ma vie

Dahyem, I didn't realize then what great musicians these guys were. That bass is in unbelievable.

First heard it live b side which was the only single worth listening to on the jukebox in the pub were we would meet, I played it every time, finally after looking for ages gotvit on 12 in,from a charity shop plays like perfect 🥰

Me and my girlfriend used to jump around our flat playing air bass to this song! Wonderful times. 😎

Thank you Mr King! Now I undersrand why your music is so addictive! Nothing else sounds like it!

just pure class!!!!

That Status bass is the shyte! Love you Mark!

So excellently good.

He makes it sound so easy, Kingy your a legend.....

Astonishing up close! 👍👍

He's aged well. Always loved "Its over"

Fantastic and perfect band !!! It's my favorit! Great Mark !!!!!

It really helps being a great drummer too. He’s crossing over from bass to drums all the time. Great musician.

One of the greatest & most criminally UNDERRATED Musician & Bassist...EVER !!!! #FunkyMarky #SlappinRoyalty

Thxs for all the good songs and the great moments Mr King❤️✨

He is one of the best bass players. I like him an his music!

A true legend 👍

Mark King.....what a guy!

Geweldig dit!

Every time since I first heard Mark King play Love Games back in the early 1980s and I hear him playing anything else,my questions has always been 'How the fuck does he do that?' How can one man play the bass line,the melody and sing all at the same time and do it every time live perfectly? And something I feel I must address here,why do people find the need to say 'XXXX is under rated' when they in fact have all the critical acclaim they could ever deserve? Level 42 and of course Mark King have never ever been under rated,just because he doesn't do all that well in some greatest bass players ever chart doesn't mean anything.I feel I need to repeat this,Mark King was never ever under rated as a bass player,ever!!!!!

I just love it. The best ever

This was the first band I became a fan of, and also the first ever band I saw live when they did a tour in The Netherlands back in the 80's..Still listen to their music from time to time..

Lovvvveee Mark King xx

Mark King is the only bass player that i know who plays paradiddles on the bass this is what makes him great above others

AMAZING BAND!!!! FUNK AT ITS BEST!!!

so down to earth.

RESPECT!!!! The very BEST!!

wow, such a well done vid. the edits, the merging of the current with the classic - was seamless. slo mo was extra - loved it. and to be about one of my favorite musicians, singers and songwriters tops it off. hope to meet one day. but your vid, let me feel like the next best thing. great great great.

Desde la última frontera Chile, también conocemos a esta gran banda level 42, y por supuesto al gran maestro Mark king, saludos....

.... this man is, together with Marcus Miller, a league of his (their) own. Thanks for this great video

Dude must be fed up playin this fuckin song at every gig since 1981.

No words ....just booom !! 👍🏻🎶

Still have a soft spot in my heart for The Pursuit of Accidents album...

Thank you Mr. Mark King!

Yes it's all about that song. Not only the bass riff but also the keyboard line. A big rock fan (Maiden , Lizzy and later Metallica) found something else a little bit different. Love that early stuff and so much more to them than bloody Running in The Family.

Thanks for the post, had not seen this interview yet! 42!