One of the legends of the rock and roll world is set to wow fans in Dartford and they get to help choose which songs he sings.

Mark King, Level 42's former frontman, will be performing at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford, on November 23 as part of his latest national tour.

He has been described as the fastest thumb in Christendom and his unique style has influenced a generation. He may have been copied by thousands of bassists around the planet but he has never yet been matched.

Some 30 million albums and thousands of shows later, he has beaten a well-earned retreat to his Isle of White mansion.

But once a year, he comes out of semi-retirement to remind us all what a sensational musician he is and he loves it.

He said: "It's like having my cake and eating it because I can still have all the fun without anything else that went with the pop star lifestyle."

King's sensational playing is only half the story.

As the driving force of 1980s and early 1990s pop sensation Level 42, he released 14 hit albums, enjoyed 18 top 40 hits including smashes Running In The Family, Hot Water and Lessons in Love, and toured the globe endlessly for nearly 15 years.

The really good news for fans is he intends to make sure he gives fans exactly what they want: "I've got my ideas as to which songs to play but I want to hear from everyone. If they log onto the web site mark-king.com and give me their suggestions, I'll make sure the most popular choices make it into the set."

He accepts fans don't come to his gigs to hear lots of new songs they don't know: "I've got to be honest and say people want to hear Level 42 material in the main, and maybe some stuff from the solo albums, which is fine."

When Level 42 folded in 1994, King lived the big-mansions-fast-cars lifestyle to the full for a time but eventually decided to get back to what he knew best of all: music.

He has released four solo LPs since 1998 and moved into other ways of getting his music to the people: "The internet has been a great thing for me. I've been able to carry on at my own pace, releasing the occasional CD, putting out some live stuff, which keeps the name out there and gives something for the Level 42 fans to keep up their interest."

There is none of the music industry baggage any more and that's the point really. Today King does what he wants when he wants. And he makes a bit of pocket money as well.

But he has no plans to attempt to reform the band, he says he's not angry enough: "These days, my kids are at university, I go on holiday, I sleep a lot, I like my life, I've got nothing left to be angry about so why live a lie? Let the past stay where it belongs."

But he is looking forward to his Dartford gig. He said: "I'm really happy with the line-up and I think Level 42 fans will be as well. Gary Husbands, who was with the band, is on drums, with Lyndon Connah on keyboards and my brother Nathan on guitar and vocals."

Friday November 23, Mark King Live, Mick Jagger Centre, Shepherds Lane, Dartford, £16.50, 7.30pm, 01322 291101/ 020 8306 2218.

November 14, 2001 15:30