Our Mark is so humble that he neglected to mention that he auctioned a large portion of his guitar collection at Christie's in January. He earned nearly £9 million and gave 25% away to 4 of his favourite charities! God bless you Mr. Knopfler.
Tax deductible . I donate nearly all my money to the government and all the other shit related that ends up with the government so I can watch the wealthy get richer whilst also giving away our money to freeloaders and British hating foreigners that don’t hate the freebies. Dire straits were awesome, shame he ended it and the other band members were cut from the big time prematurely
A little story, I was living in Sydney Australia in the 80s. Dire Straits came to play some dates in early 1986. The tickets sold out in minutes, so the organizers went back to Mark and said could they possible do more shows. Mark said we will play as long as you can sell tickets. The played 21 shows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre and then went to Melbourne and did 19. I believe they still hold the record for the most number of shows.
How good was that tour. They played in smaller venues requiring 21 shows. 950K tickets. I saw them three times on that tour. Just awesome. Pink and Ed Sheeran have sold more tickets on one tour in Oz than DS but the MCG holds a few more than Sydney Entertainment Centre or the Myer Music Bowl. Great memories I will have forever so thank you Mark Knopfler.
Jj.Cale and this dude are my all time faves . Been fully pro for 56 years now and their songs have helped me get through bad times and good .Respect and gratitude.
Its called cope. You can't run around living the rockstar life being cheered everywhere you go when you're a grandpa in his 70s. Unless you're Ozzy Osbourne anyway
You've got to admire Mark Knopfler, one of the greatest guitar players of all times, signature style and sound, band leader, lead vocalist, wrote the odd mega hit or many and yet no rock star antics, no silly hair, no outrageous clothing, no weird tats, I'll tip my hat to that.
@@garydunn3037 I'll forgive him that bandana (well almost) and just add and agree that he is one of the most humble Guitar God's ever. Doesn't harp on about how great he is and how much he's worth, for him the music is its own reward. A few could take note (cough... Andy Summers... cough cough) 🎸
@@RideAcrossTheRiver indeed Mark stated that fans in front of the stage had complained about him sweating all over the place, so he decided to do something against it. It was no fashion statement.
Born in 58 . My teens in the 70's . My 20's in the 80's . The explosion of MTV and on into the 90's and beyond . What a time to live ... the most fantastic music !!! . However it has taken me some time to appreciate this man and ageing has made it all worth while . So proud of his roots ... so humble . His warmth/genorosity of spirit and incredible catalogue of music . Mark Knopfler you are indeed a treasure . May god bless you Sir !!!
I'm also from 58 and you put your words in my mouth indeed. Mark just delivered another brilliant album and most important of all; he still is a normal person without "sterallures" as we would say in The Netherlands. Do your thing and act normal! That's Mark. "Pure" is the right discription I think.
'57 here. What a time ... the 70s, the 80s and like you I sort of thought of Dire Straits as pretty good ......... but now? Well Knopfler is really special. God, we were lucky.
I went to Sotheby’s 2 days before the auction, minding my own business, found myself standing next to Mark, I still can’t believe it happened to be honest.
The very first record I ever bought with my first wages was “Sultans Of Swing” I’m now 62 & want to say thanks for so many good memories every time I hear that tune Mark! 🙋🏻♀️🇬🇧
I was lead singer in a band in 1977 and getting by selling jeans that I picked up from a friends factory outlet in Deptford. Having seen the then not quite famous Dire Straits on Old Grey Whistle Test the night before and loving their guitar player, I happened to spot a guy that looked like him as I was walking along the pavement near Deptford High Street. So I went up to him and asked if he was the guitar player I'd seen on TV last night and he said yes. We ducked down a side street and talked for half an hour about music and issues getting a good sound on stage and in a studio. He was a lovely guy, enthusiastic about music like I was, and not the least bit bigheaded. He said they were playing at a local pub that night and to come down and see them. I never made it, and within a matter of weeks they were too big to be playing in local pubs! I've always loved Marks Knopfler's music and remember that day and where we stood and chatted almost as if it was yesterday. ♥
No other musician ever touched my heart as Mark did through his songs..cant really explain but it helped me through so many hard times and listened to him for 40 years…🙌…biggest poet and musician to me😊
71 here. These interviews of classic musicians who reflect on their lives and the eras they live in are among my favorites! The golden era of rock and roll, it was a great time to be alive!
MK is not just a singer and guitarist; he's penned some of the most memorable and deeply moving songs in pop/rock history. He is up there with the greatest.
...says the man with the profile pic of the album cover of the other greatest guitarist ever - David Gilmour. They're my favourite two guitarists anyway.
Mark Knopfler mit Dire Straits war der Grund, warum ich mich dafür vor 40 Jahren entschieden habe, Rockmusik oder besser gesagt Musik zu hören. Danke mein Herr Knopfler. 
A genius, a master poet, and one of the best guitarists this world has ever seen. “These days I get to where I'm going Make it there eventually Follow the trail of breadcrumbs To where I'm meant to be To where I'm meant to be”
I stumbled on Dire Straits's Sultans of Swing CD, as a young African graduate doing development work in the Southern African country of Zambia in early 2000. Music by Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler has been truly been inspirational ever since. Its a pity I have never had a chance to see Mark live on stage. Really, a great guy and fantastic music!
I admire this man’s desire to control his own life. Fame has eaten up so many. His commitment is to the creative enterprise. Kudos. I love watching the journey.
I have only 2 brothers in the music industry who I love with all my heart, one was Leonard Cohen and the other is Mark Knopfler. God bless both of them.
Thanks for sharing this. I've loved Mark's music for 45 years, but living in Sweden of cource I wouldn't be able to watch interviews like this one without the help of other fans. So, thanks again. 🙏💯
J’ai 70 ans mais quel bonheur de pouvoir encore profiter depuis toutes ces années de sa musique merveilleuse …Dommage je ne comprends pas beaucoup l’anglais j’aurais aimé une traduction je l’ai vu une fois en concert à paris en 1996 j’en garde un souvenir impérissable👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Sometimes it's funny where Knopfler pops up. My sister was dating a guy really into Bob Dylan, who left an odd boxed set there. While I waited I put it on, made it some of the way through before one song in particular just floored me, called Blind Willie McTell. I played it on repeat and couldn't believe the incredible power and beauty Dylan had managed to pack into the interaction of the dramatic acoustic guitar over the simple piano lines. Easily the greatest Dylan song I've ever heard, and just one of the greatest songs I've ever heard ever. Finally I read the liner notes. That's a Knopfler guitar track. One take. Like he just whipped that out off the cuff? Absolutely unreal.
I love this man’s genius music and musicianship. The new album on LP is on its way and I should have it by Thursday at the latest. Don’t ever stop Mark. Thank you for everything! ☮️
One of my best memories of my time at Southampton University was seeing Dire Straits performing Sultans of Swing at the student refectory in c1978 before they made it big.
Just was reading a 1996 article where Peter Green referenced Hank, as his first real guitar influence. You’re in great company!! He said ,Cliff was suppose to be UK’s Elvis and I guess he was, but all the young guitarist loved Hanks play, his phrasing💚😊 Mark ranks right at the top of my list of beautiful, soul felt , players. No one sounds like Mark Knophler!
Missed the boat with my guitar lessons, (80). Must comment on the young guitarist having lessons. “I wanna play like MK”, teacher, “listen mate, we all wanna play like MK”.😅😊
Mark, if I ever meet you.. I would give you a huge hug! The best musician & song writer this country has ever seen. Thanks for all your hard work. Matt
I am 21 years of age and found Mark's music while sifting through some music playlists. Started with Sultans and then money for nothing. Ended up at his modern stuff and LOVE it! I love this new album!
I went to see Bob Dylan once at the Hollywood bowl in LA. It had long been a dream of mine to see Dylan and where better to do it? Unbenownst to me Mark Knopfler was the opening act. I was blown away. Not by Dylan...by Knopfler. Really magical. Such a unique sound. Was not a huge fan before then, but sure am now.
The Alchemy Album recorded Live over several nights at the Hammersmith Odeon back in 1983 has to be one of the Best DS Albums of all times ,over the years I have owned in on vinyl ,cassette ,CD and now hold the album via the streamed version from tv . Simply a magical album that has never been copied . Thank you .
Mark stayed down to earth. Great player, wrote great songs, and I can still remember what I was doing the first time I heard Sultans of Swing, driving around Dublin, Ireland. Coincidentally, The Big Rock Candy Mountain was one of my first songs to sing and play when I was about 5yo. These days, I am 68 and still performing Money for Nothing and The Walk of Life.
I am so gratefull to see Mark when i was 15 in Amsterdam! I am curently 20 years old and I still listen to one of his or Dire Straits songs everyday. Legend!!
1978 Great concert in a little bar club in Georgetown,Washington,DC on a late night weekday. Their first album was getting a lot of radio play, so at the last minute I drove downtown got in line and ticket for $20 sat up front at a table sipping Heinekens while Mark and the band rocked the club for 2 hours. 46 years later it still remains one of my most favorite shows. His music has traveled with me my entire life since that moment. Everything about Mark is superb. Thanks for a great show and memories Mark.
It’s so cool that Mark tells a coherent story about why he quit Dire Straits. It’s a real comfort to hear the same explanation. It builds his credibility. Go Mark and can’t wait to hear your new album.
I remember hearing Sultans of Swing for the first time when I was a teenager, and not liking his voice at first, but it grew on me ever since. That was the first song I ever heard of Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits, and it was already two decades old. Nowadays his music means a lot to me personally. What a guitar talent, a true master! The fact that his fingerprint has remained the same while allowing his music to evolve with age, (to me) adds something extra beautiful to enjoy while listening to his music. Mark Knopfler, one of my top favourite artists!
I've been a fan of his for decades now, I've lost count of how many... Sultans Of Swing, what a masterpiece. Thanks Mark for your lifetime commitment to giving us such a great fantastic body of work.
I heard Dire Straits in 1978 when I drove with my little sport car over the Reeperbahn in Hamburg from the university to my house and still today with 68 years I hear him and saw him 5 times live 😊 many thanks for making a great good music for my life ❤
Listening to the new songs Mark is putting out they are so good and Marks songs & guitar playing just keeps getting better ...I never met Mark but he has been a guiding light from the first time i heard Sultans .
Saw Dire Straits March 21, 1979 at a bar called Texas Oprah House in Houston, Texas. Just over 45 years ago. Happy we’re still here. The new music sounded good! Of course it did. Mark Knopfler is fantastic. P.S. that show cost $5.00.
If ever I fly anywhere and it gets to that moment when the plane is at the foot of the runway and then starts to roar forward, I try and sort out the sounds and listen to that opening riff of Money for Nothing. What a song! What a guy! Love Mark Knopler!
I visited the Spanish City, Whitley Bay, in December on a visit to the UK from Australia. Didn't check the weather app and was freezing and windy lol, but was so beautiful and I managed to play a Dire Straits (Tunnel of Love) tribute, with very cold fingers, anyway... 😀
I met the band on a flight between Amsterdam and Hamburg in 1980 .. I’d grabbed 4 Lufthansa snack bags b4 boarding the flight and those guys just took one each , I shared all the extra food with them on the 737 and they thanked me like I was a messiah, I was only 18 at the time ..
I know the TV presenter has to ask him about Dire Straits reforming, even for just a one-off show. It won't happen. That is now a glorious moment from past times. I think Mark realises that there is a massive number of people who would like to see it. He covers this by including a few Dire Straits songs in his current shows. Hold on to your memories... and RU-vid. There is a good deal of DS shows there.
I listened to techno and new electronic music back in the late 80s and early 90s. That mournful guitar of tunnel of love will never be beat for me. (Album version)