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Mark Knopfler
Early Life :
Mark Knopfler was born to a Jewish father and an English mother on August 12, 1949, Glasgow, Scotland. His father was an architect and because of his communist feelings he was forced to flee the fascist Hungary. When Mark was nine, the family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne in the North-East of England which was his mother's native place. Along with his younger brother David, Mark attended the Gosforth Grammar School. In the school he was inspired by his uncle Kingsley's harmonica and boogie-woogie piano playing. He got a £50 twin pickup Höfner Super Solid instead of an expensive flamingo-pink Fender Stratocaster that he wished for. The 1960s schoolboys were heavily influenced by music that there were many schoolboy bands during that time. Mark too joined many of the anonymous bands and played. His favourites were Elvis Presley and guitarists Chet Atkins, Scotty Moore, Jimi Hendrix, Django Reinhardt and James Burton. His first exposure was at sixteen when he made a local TV appearance as half of a harmony duo along with school-friend Sue Hercombe.
Knopfler always displayed a flair for English. Hence in 1967 he studied journalism for a year at Harlow Technical College. After he completed the course he secured a job in Leeds as a junior reporter on the Yorkshire Evening Post. After two years he continued his studies in English at the University of Leeds. He also worked as a lecturer at Loughton College during this period. It was while Knopfler was living in Leeds that he married his school days girlfriend Kathy White, and met a local blues singer/guitarist by the name of Steve Phillips.
He seperated from his wife and moved to London. There he joined a High Wycombe based band called Brewers Droop, appearing on the album "The Booze Brothers". One night while spending some time with friends, the only guitar available was an old acoustic with a badly warped neck that had been strung with extra-light strings to make it playable. Even so, he found it impossible to play unless he finger-picked it. He said in a later interview, "That was where I found my 'voice' on guitar." Soon after he made his first record in a London studio: an unreleased demo of an original song, "Summer's Coming My Way".
With Dire Straits
In 1977, Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers joined together to form Dire Straits. Though formed during the punk rock time, the band still worked on the classic rock with small modifications to appeal to the audiences of their time. The group released their first album self titled Dire in 1978. The album went multi platinum. Their single release "Sultans of Swing" became a chart hit in Holland. The second album, Communiqué was released in 1979 and reached #1 in Germany while the first album was still at #3. In 1980, Making Movies was released and this marked the band's movement towards more complex arrangements.
In 1982 Dire Straits released their fourth album, Love Over Gold. which included "Telegraph Road," "Industrial Disease," and the #2 hit "Private Investigations," which became a popular live song. Mark was not limited to the albums. He was also writing music score for the film Local Hero at the same time. The success of Local Hero, won Mark another movie Cal. In 1983 Mark married Lourdes Salamone and had twins Benji and Joseph born in 1987. Lover Over Gold was followed with a world tour called Alchemy: Dire Straits Live. A double-LP of the recordings of two live shows in Hammersmith Odeon in London sold over 500,000 albums. Dire Straits' best-selling album was their fifth, Brothers in Arms, which became an international hit on its release in 1985, and spawned several chart singles including number-one hit "Money for Nothing," which was the first video ever to be played on MTV in Britain. The band's 1985–86 world tour, of over 230 shows, was immensely successful. After this , there were not any releases from Dire straits for some time. But Mark Knopfler was concentrating on film soundtracks. He even formed country-focused band Notting Hillbillies.
Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Tribute concert gave a reason for Dire Straits to regroup. In 1990, they recorded their final original studio album, On Every Street. The album met with a mixed critical reaction, regarded by some as an underwhelming follow up to Brothers in Arms. The album sold well, nonetheless, reaching #1 in the UK. This was followed by two live albums On the Night and Dire Straits' final tour. The Line up of Dire straits kept changing but Mark was the driving force. Touring was never his favourite and he wanted to concentrate on a solo career. So Dire Straits disbanded in 1995 and yet Guy Fletcher (keyboardist) has been associated with almost every piece of Knopfler's solo material following Dire Straits' dissolution. Danny Cummings, the percussionist, also makes frequent appearances, including one on Knopfler's latest solo album.
In 2002 Mark Knopfler did four charity concerts with Dire Straits members John Illsley, Chris White, Danny Cummings and Guy Fletcher playing some old Dire Straits songs. The session also included The Notting Hillbillies.
Knopfler's marriage to Salamone ended in 1993, and he subsequently married actress Kitty Aldridge. This marriage has given him daughters Isabella (born 1998) and Katya Ruby Rose (born 2003). The family currently lives in Chelsea.
After Dire Straits
In 1996, the year after Dire Straits officially disbanded, Knopfler released his first solo album, Golden Heart. The line up of his Solo band lasted longer than the Dire Straits line-up. It was also called "The 96'ers" and their first album was certified nine times platinum. Knopfler also recorded soundtrack for the movie Wag the Dog in 1997. It took another three years for him to release his second solo album Sailing to Philadelphia. Knopfler's third album The Ragpicker's Dream, was released in 2002.
March 2003 saw Knopfler meet with a motorbike crash. He suffered from a fractured collarbone, broken shoulder blade and seven broken ribs. The planned Ragpicker's Dream tour was subsequently cancelled, but Knopfler recovered and was able to return to the stage in 2004 for his fourth album, Shangri-La." The "Shangri-La" tour took Mark to countries like India and the UAE for the first time. In India, his concerts at Bombay and Bangalore were very well received, with over 20,000 fans gathering at each concert to listen to a legend many thought would never visit their country.
In 2006, Knopfler recorded an album of duets with country music singer Emmylou Harris, "All the Roadrunning," which reached #1 in Denmark and Switzerland, #2 in Norway and Sweden, #3 in Germany, Holland and Italy, #8 in Austria and UK, #9 in Spain, #17 in the United States (Billboard Top 200 Chart), #25 in Ireland and #41 in Australia.
All The Roadrunning was nominated for "Best Folk Rock/Americana Album" at the 49th Grammy Awards (February 11, 2007) but lost out to Bob Dylan's nomination for Modern Times.
Mark has recently released his fifth solo studio-album Kill to Get Crimson. The album was released on September 14, 2007 in Germany, September 17 in the UK and September 18 in the USA. Besides the standard CD edition, a special "Deluxe Edition" with an extra DVD is also on sale.
Knopfler will also be commencing a world tour to support the album, starting in late 2007 and continuing in to 2008.
Mark Knopfler is left handed, but plays right-handed, and for fingerpicking uses a personal variant of the clawhammer style instead of using a plectrum (i.e., "pick").
Just About Knopfler:
Knopfler revealed during a French interview that he uses a pick for his rhythm work during recording sessions. Knopfler surprised the interviewer by pulling a pick out of his pocket and saying that he usually carries one.
Knopler's has a wide spectrum of audience reaching six continents. The reason for his fan following lies in his humour and amiable audience interaction.
Knopfler has been known to sip tea on stage during live performances.
His awards and honours include a Doctor of Music at Newcastle University, an OBE and also an honorary Doctor of Music at Sunderland University. He is one of the most respected fingerstyle guitarists of the modern rock era. Knopfler was ranked #27 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
Mark Knopfler was born to a Jewish father and an English mother on August 12, 1949, Glasgow, Scotland. His father was an architect and because of his communist feelings he was forced to flee the fascist Hungary. When Mark was nine, the family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne in the North-East of England which was his mother's native place. Along with his younger brother David, Mark attended the Gosforth Grammar School. In the school he was inspired by his uncle Kingsley's harmonica and boogie-woogie piano playing. He got a £50 twin pickup Höfner Super Solid instead of an expensive flamingo-pink Fender Stratocaster that he wished for. The 1960s schoolboys were heavily influenced by music that there were many schoolboy bands during that time. Mark too joined many of the anonymous bands and played. His favourites were Elvis Presley and guitarists Chet Atkins, Scotty Moore, Jimi Hendrix, Django Reinhardt and James Burton. His first exposure was at sixteen when he made a local TV appearance as half of a harmony duo along with school-friend Sue Hercombe.
Knopfler always displayed a flair for English. Hence in 1967 he studied journalism for a year at Harlow Technical College. After he completed the course he secured a job in Leeds as a junior reporter on the Yorkshire Evening Post. After two years he continued his studies in English at the University of Leeds. He also worked as a lecturer at Loughton College during this period. It was while Knopfler was living in Leeds that he married his school days girlfriend Kathy White, and met a local blues singer/guitarist by the name of Steve Phillips.
He seperated from his wife and moved to London. There he joined a High Wycombe based band called Brewers Droop, appearing on the album "The Booze Brothers". One night while spending some time with friends, the only guitar available was an old acoustic with a badly warped neck that had been strung with extra-light strings to make it playable. Even so, he found it impossible to play unless he finger-picked it. He said in a later interview, "That was where I found my 'voice' on guitar." Soon after he made his first record in a London studio: an unreleased demo of an original song, "Summer's Coming My Way".
With Dire Straits
In 1977, Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers joined together to form Dire Straits. Though formed during the punk rock time, the band still worked on the classic rock with small modifications to appeal to the audiences of their time. The group released their first album self titled Dire in 1978. The album went multi platinum. Their single release "Sultans of Swing" became a chart hit in Holland. The second album, Communiqué was released in 1979 and reached #1 in Germany while the first album was still at #3. In 1980, Making Movies was released and this marked the band's movement towards more complex arrangements.
In 1982 Dire Straits released their fourth album, Love Over Gold. which included "Telegraph Road," "Industrial Disease," and the #2 hit "Private Investigations," which became a popular live song. Mark was not limited to the albums. He was also writing music score for the film Local Hero at the same time. The success of Local Hero, won Mark another movie Cal. In 1983 Mark married Lourdes Salamone and had twins Benji and Joseph born in 1987. Lover Over Gold was followed with a world tour called Alchemy: Dire Straits Live. A double-LP of the recordings of two live shows in Hammersmith Odeon in London sold over 500,000 albums. Dire Straits' best-selling album was their fifth, Brothers in Arms, which became an international hit on its release in 1985, and spawned several chart singles including number-one hit "Money for Nothing," which was the first video ever to be played on MTV in Britain. The band's 1985–86 world tour, of over 230 shows, was immensely successful. After this , there were not any releases from Dire straits for some time. But Mark Knopfler was concentrating on film soundtracks. He even formed country-focused band Notting Hillbillies.
Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Tribute concert gave a reason for Dire Straits to regroup. In 1990, they recorded their final original studio album, On Every Street. The album met with a mixed critical reaction, regarded by some as an underwhelming follow up to Brothers in Arms. The album sold well, nonetheless, reaching #1 in the UK. This was followed by two live albums On the Night and Dire Straits' final tour. The Line up of Dire straits kept changing but Mark was the driving force. Touring was never his favourite and he wanted to concentrate on a solo career. So Dire Straits disbanded in 1995 and yet Guy Fletcher (keyboardist) has been associated with almost every piece of Knopfler's solo material following Dire Straits' dissolution. Danny Cummings, the percussionist, also makes frequent appearances, including one on Knopfler's latest solo album.
In 2002 Mark Knopfler did four charity concerts with Dire Straits members John Illsley, Chris White, Danny Cummings and Guy Fletcher playing some old Dire Straits songs. The session also included The Notting Hillbillies.
Knopfler's marriage to Salamone ended in 1993, and he subsequently married actress Kitty Aldridge. This marriage has given him daughters Isabella (born 1998) and Katya Ruby Rose (born 2003). The family currently lives in Chelsea.
After Dire Straits
In 1996, the year after Dire Straits officially disbanded, Knopfler released his first solo album, Golden Heart. The line up of his Solo band lasted longer than the Dire Straits line-up. It was also called "The 96'ers" and their first album was certified nine times platinum. Knopfler also recorded soundtrack for the movie Wag the Dog in 1997. It took another three years for him to release his second solo album Sailing to Philadelphia. Knopfler's third album The Ragpicker's Dream, was released in 2002.
March 2003 saw Knopfler meet with a motorbike crash. He suffered from a fractured collarbone, broken shoulder blade and seven broken ribs. The planned Ragpicker's Dream tour was subsequently cancelled, but Knopfler recovered and was able to return to the stage in 2004 for his fourth album, Shangri-La." The "Shangri-La" tour took Mark to countries like India and the UAE for the first time. In India, his concerts at Bombay and Bangalore were very well received, with over 20,000 fans gathering at each concert to listen to a legend many thought would never visit their country.
In 2006, Knopfler recorded an album of duets with country music singer Emmylou Harris, "All the Roadrunning," which reached #1 in Denmark and Switzerland, #2 in Norway and Sweden, #3 in Germany, Holland and Italy, #8 in Austria and UK, #9 in Spain, #17 in the United States (Billboard Top 200 Chart), #25 in Ireland and #41 in Australia.
All The Roadrunning was nominated for "Best Folk Rock/Americana Album" at the 49th Grammy Awards (February 11, 2007) but lost out to Bob Dylan's nomination for Modern Times.
Mark has recently released his fifth solo studio-album Kill to Get Crimson. The album was released on September 14, 2007 in Germany, September 17 in the UK and September 18 in the USA. Besides the standard CD edition, a special "Deluxe Edition" with an extra DVD is also on sale.
Knopfler will also be commencing a world tour to support the album, starting in late 2007 and continuing in to 2008.
Mark Knopfler is left handed, but plays right-handed, and for fingerpicking uses a personal variant of the clawhammer style instead of using a plectrum (i.e., "pick").
Just About Knopfler:
Knopfler revealed during a French interview that he uses a pick for his rhythm work during recording sessions. Knopfler surprised the interviewer by pulling a pick out of his pocket and saying that he usually carries one.
Knopler's has a wide spectrum of audience reaching six continents. The reason for his fan following lies in his humour and amiable audience interaction.
Knopfler has been known to sip tea on stage during live performances.
His awards and honours include a Doctor of Music at Newcastle University, an OBE and also an honorary Doctor of Music at Sunderland University. He is one of the most respected fingerstyle guitarists of the modern rock era. Knopfler was ranked #27 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
