Huge 90s band reunite for UK gigs after selling 31m records and split that nearly ended the group forever | The Sun

A HUGE 90s band have reunited for UK gigs after selling 31 million records and after a split that nearly ended the group forever.

Level 42 were huge back in the 80s and 90s – and now they are back on the road with a new UK tour.


Formed on the Isle of Wight, Level 42 are a jazz-funk band who had a number of UK and worldwide hits.

Their single Lessons In Love reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, and number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, when it was released in 1986.

And their most successful hit in the US was Something About You, which reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Running in the Family, and Staring at the Sun were also big hits in the UK for the band.

Read More on 90s bands

rock legends

90s band reunites for new tour – and they’re playing pubs all over the UK

THEY'RE BACK!

Iconic 90s band reunite for new shows nine years after topping the charts

The band was started by Mark King and the Gould brothers and it was in 1979 that Phil introduced Mark and Mike Lindup to each other and after playing together they developed their jazz-funk fusion style.

But in the 1990s the commercial profile of the band began to diminish, after some personal changes.

They disbanded in 1994, but ended up reforming in 2001.

The Early Tapes featured Mark King, Phil Gould, Ben Gould and Mike Lindup, when the band formed in 1979.

Most read in Showbiz

Undivided love

Louise Redknapp makes red carpet debut with her new boyfriend Drew Michael

KATY FERRY

Busty Katy Perry shows off curves in floral set as she takes trip on luxury boat

BACK WITH A BANG

Nineties pop band reveals plans for TV series ahead of anniversary tour

‘PRAYING FOR YOU’

Britney Spears sparks concern with bandaged finger after knife dance

But both the Gould brothers had left the band in 1987 and they were then replaced by guitarist Alan Murphy and drummer Gary Husband.

Unfortunately, Alan only recorded one studio album with the band as he died of pneumonia in October 1989.

Level 42 continued for a while and whilst they searched for a guitarist, Allan Holdsworth – one of Alan’s big guitar influences, stood in.

Hit with more sadness, founding member of the pop band, Rowland Gould, was found dead at a friend’s home in Devon in April 2019.

A coroner later concluded that the musician had taken his own life.

The remaining members of Level 42 have continued to tour.

Mark King's brother Nathan King has been onboard since 2001, and they released a studio album named Retroglide in 2006.

Level 42 released more new material in 2013 – their EP Sirens.

They toured some more in 2016, with performances at festivals across South America and Europe.

Read More on The Sun

TIME OUT

How to take 55 days' holiday in 2024 by booking just 25 days of annual leave

MARKED DOWN

Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan home-shamed as they reveal decor at mansion

And they’ve now embarked on their Living It Up UK Tour, which sees them have a 22 show date run throughout October and November.

Fans of the band have expressed their excitement about the hotly anticipated tour, which will see Level 42 perform in the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth, Oxford, Bath, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow, Cardiff, and many other locations across the UK.




Source: Read Full Article