A simple trip abroad turned into a birthday surprise to remember for one writer, who was only a baby when this group first stormed the charts
I’m jetting off to Amsterdam for a solo birthday getaway after what’s been an absolutely gruelling few weeks at work. A break in the land of tulips, cheese and four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen is just the tonic I need.
Little did I know that while chasing some Dutch fun, I’d end up with the most incredible birthday shock mid-flight. We’d barely left the tarmac at Heathrow when a cabin crew member approached asking about refreshments and nibbles.
“Surprise me,” I said back, prompting her to reel off the usual items on the menu. Feeling rather daring, I went for my favourite tipple.
“Oooh, I’ll have a gin and tonic, please. I feel great,” I declared with buzzing excitement. You only live once, as the saying goes. The delightful stewardess then presented me with a plastic beaker, some Fever-Tree tonic water and two miniature bottles of gin.
That’s when something rather peculiar occurred – a slim and well-groomed chap sporting chunky black noise-cancelling headphones in the seat ahead swivelled round towards me, his face absolutely beaming after overhearing my drink order.
Another gent, kitted out in a dark jacket with perfectly styled hair, was seated beside me and quipped: “Ooh, that’s a great choice!” I shot back: “I’m on holiday, mate. It’s a great time to have fun.”
But to this millennial’s utter amazement, I’d clocked exactly who these gentlemen were. They weren’t just any ordinary passengers – they were members of one of Britain’s most legendary pop groups, heading to a show in the Netherlands. And here I am, sharing the very same aircraft with them.
Level 42 stood among the globe’s most colossal bands during the 1980s, their polished, sophisticated and extraordinary tracks – a fusion of pop, rock and jazz funk – becoming the era’s defining sound. The group shifted more than 31 million records during their heyday and notched up six top 10 smashes throughout the 1980s.
This year marks a special milestone as the band commemorates 40 years since the launch of their most triumphant album, World Machine, with a UK and European tour. Ten dates, including their mammoth show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 22, have already sold out.
The man who grinned back at my beverage selection was Mike Lindup, the band’s keyboard wizard and veteran member. Beside him sat Mark King, the bassist and founding member, sporting a black T-shirt and radiating youthful energy as always.
And the chap sitting next to me? That was Nathan King, Mark’s younger sibling and guitarist who became part of the outfit in 2001 following the original line-up’s dissolution in 1994, which had featured brothers Phil and Rowland “Boon” Gould.
I was just a baby when Level 42 unleashed some of their greatest anthems, but it wasn’t until the late 1990s – when I stumbled upon and became captivated by new wave, synthpop, alternative rock and goth rock – that I encountered their musical brilliance.
The timeless love ballad Something About You still resonates as poignantly today as it did back in 1985 when it soared into the top 10 charts both in the UK and the US. And let’s not overlook their 1986 hit Lessons In Love – the rest of their discography is a veritable goldmine of tunes and I’m chuffed to bits that I gave them a listen.
Yet, true to form, I was beside myself with excitement when I asked Nathan a simple favour: “Do you reckon Mike and Mark would have some time for me to say hello to them? I just want to thank them for creating such great music for all these years and for sticking around to celebrate World Machine this year.”
Nathan’s response left me taken aback, as he kindly replied: “Yeah, they will, mate. That’s really nice of you to say that about us.”
Our conversation meandered through Nathan’s adventures with Level 42, his Dutch wife and the band’s massive fan base in the Far East. “Ah, you guys are probably bigger than Beyoncé and Katy Perry over in that part of the world,” I quipped to Nathan.
The guitarist then spilled the beans on their trip to Amsterdam; they were en route to headline the Dijkpop Festival in Andijk, a quaint village 39 miles north of the Dutch capital. Even more impressive was their plan to return to the UK that very night via the overnight ferry – now that’s dedication.
As our chat wound down, I realised I had a bottle of gin to spare. “Would you like it?” I offered to Nathan.
“You sure? You don’t have to,” he replied. I insisted he accept it as a modest token – it’s not every day you encounter such down-to-earth stars.
As we prepared to land at Schiphol Airport, Nathan introduced me to Mike and then Mark. “It truly is an honour to see you both. World Machine is one of the best albums you’ve made and I’m glad you’re both still here touring,” I expressed to the pair.
“Thanks very much. That means a lot to us,” responded Mark with a handshake, his appreciation evident. “It’s really nice to hear our music cutting across many generations, so thank you.”
Then, the conversation turned to football. Mike is a Tottenham Hotspur fan, and I showed him a snap of another celeb I’d encountered at Heathrow earlier. The celebrity was Ange Postecoglou, the manager who was fired by Spurs despite steering them to their first trophy since 2008.
“I think I shook his hand earlier today at the lounge,” Mark burst out. “I don’t think I saw him there,” confessed Mike, which took me aback considering his passion for the team.
After wrapping up our sports chat, we touched down and the band kindly agreed to a selfie. We found the perfect spot in the arrivals area before parting ways. This encounter was undoubtedly the highlight of my birthday celebrations.
Surprisingly, it seemed I was the only one on the flight who recognised them, despite the passengers being of a similar age to Level 42’s eclectic group. All I can say is that I had a cracking tale to share with my mates back home. Rubbing shoulders with Level 42 until the sun – or in this case, the plane – goes down.
They often warn you not to meet your heroes, for fear of disappointment. But my recent brush with one of the most iconic 80s bands proved to be an exception in more ways than one. Or should I say, in more levels?
Level 42’s World Machine 40th anniversary tour runs between September 18 and November 17. Click here for more information.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
