Mike Lindup began a staggeringly successful professional career as founder and keyboard player in platinum pop band Level 42, which continues to this day. He also has a successful solo career, and enjoys supporting a variety of super-talented artists including Dominic Miller, Phil Gould, and Zeep (Da Lata).

B1SWvZUCEAISM0tBorn in London March 1959 to musical parents David Lindup and Nadia Cattouse, Michael started composing at age 3, and took piano lessons from age 6. He was influenced by a wide variety of music all around him in the family household from Menuhin to Miles Davis, Bartok through the Beatles to Bossa. At Chethams School of Music he studied piano, percussion and composition, and sang in senior and chamber choirs, then graduated to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. There his musical experience spread to include playing orchestral percussion in concert at the Royal Festival and Albert Halls, drums and keyboards in jazz ensembles and participating in pop workshops.

In 1990 Mike released his first solo album Changes, a song album featuring his great friend Dominic Miller on guitar, Pino Palladino on bass and Manu Katche on drums.

In 1994 Level 42 took a break and Mike used the opportunity to diversify musically exploring different styles of music echoing his breadth of tastes and influences. He wrote music for an Audi Sport video ‘Return of the Four Rings’ (1996), performed with Latin Jazz band Negrocan (1994-98) and played regularly with UK/Brazilian band Da Lata, whilst continuing to work on his own solo material.

In 2003 he released his second solo album Conversations with Silence, an instrumental album combining classical, latin-jazz and film music featuring percussionist Bosco d’Oliveira, percussionist Kuljit Bhamra and bassist Danny Thompson.

In 2006 Mike rejoined Mark King touring and recording with Level 42 again, and promoting the then new album Retroglide.

2010 is the 30th Anniversary of Level 42 and celebrates a long and successful creative friendship between Mike and Mark. The band, recently augmented by Pete Ray Biggin on drums, are busy touring the UK, Europe, Japan and USA whilst also writing and recording new material. The 4-CD box-set Living It Up was released August 3rd, which includes 10 new acoustic re-interpretations from their catalogue.

6 comments

  1. Comment by MUNAF MOHAMMED

    MUNAF MOHAMMED Reply 5 April, 2021 at 18:42

    Hi Mike, i hope you are well, wandering if you will ever do a solo concert in Birmingham, like 606 club London.

  2. Comment by Tine Eg

    Tine Eg Reply 2 July, 2021 at 16:46

    Hi Mike.
    We are looking forward to your Level 42 concert in Horsens in November . Greetings and love from a great fan. Love xx

  3. Comment by Shane

    Shane Reply 13 October, 2022 at 03:30

    hey Mike, I am a big level 42 fan and would like to say that without you!!!, level 42 is not level 42!!!. although Mark is the driving force, without great support, level 42 goes nowhere, and I’m saying these things as a bass player of 30 + years of experience. this is what I truly Believe. I appreciate the band, I appreciate Mark and I appreciate you!!!.

  4. Comment by Francesco Pellegrini

    Francesco Pellegrini Reply 24 January, 2023 at 22:09

    Hi Mike!
    Greetings from Italy!
    I hope see you again in Italy with L42 or solo project, please come back to Italy!!!!
    I wish you a great and fantastic year, full of music and every beautiful thing you desire
    Francesco

  5. Comment by Roberto Zec Zeccara

    Roberto Zec Zeccara Reply 8 August, 2023 at 13:33

    Wow, Mike…
    what an impressive job. I loved “Changes”, but this second one is just… wondefull!
    I hope in a Level42 tour in Italy. Please, we are orphans for too many times!!!
    I wish you all the best and, please (!!!) be always an ambassador of the best music, instead of the new sounds that are invading our culture.
    You’re the winner.
    Thanks for your good vibrations.
    Zec!

  6. Comment by Peter

    Peter Reply 23 September, 2023 at 17:51

    Hi Mike
    So nice to hear you are doing well. The extracts from ‘Changes 2’ sounds really good. I became a big fan of Level 42 in the early 80’s. The cool jazzy stuff was the best, I think. Looking forward to buy and hear the rest of ‘Changes 2’.
    Greeting from Denmark.

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