Mark Knopfler on BBC4 Tonight

[richardhomer]

Anyone watch Mark Lawson's interview with MK tonight?

While Dire Straits seem to be viewed along-side Simply Red as part of all that was wrong with the 80s, I love the guy's playing. Pretty much learned the first DS album note for note.

Anyone agree?

[Lixarto]

Nice guy, written some decent songs too.

The coming of the CD, "Walk of Life" and MTV are intractable problems however.

[Not_the_DJ]

Missed that. I'll catch up on the iplayer.

Fantastic player.

[Close2u]

If you are unable to re-visit Dire Straits back catalogue without prejudice .... and I highly recommend that you do ... then you can always tap in to his solo releases ... I think there are five now .... simply one of Britain's greatest modern artists ...

the stupendously good guitar playing across so many genres and the exceptional song-writing

and a 'nice' guy to boot

[axisus]

While Dire Straits seem to be viewed along-side Simply Red as part of all that was wrong with the 80s

Well I totally disagree with that! Both classic bands with a lot of great songs. The cr*p from the 80s was the synth groups who couldn't play, the singers who couldn't sing and the Stock Aitken Waterman sausage factory. Dire straits always had great solos and Hucknall (like him or not) has an unbelievably soulful voice.

Dire Straits I have to pick and choose a bit, I hated some but the best songs were amazing. I really can't get into Knopflers solo career though (I have tried!). He's ditched all that cracking soloing in favour of a bunch of low key songs.

I saw a documentary on him a while back, it was very good and the hilight was him playing Brothers in arms live - what an exquisite and heartfelt solo.

[impmann]

and Hucknall (like him or not) has an unbelievably soulful voice.

I'll side with the 'NOT' vote as whilst he has a pleasant enough voice the material was utterly dreadful, dire and bland in the extreme. Plus he is such an arrogant little c*nt - a truly unlikeable man.

Knopfler is great though - yes the MTV era stuff was more than a little 'corporate', the stuff he made before that made up for it. And his modesty and sense of humour make him a much more likeable character.

All IMHO, of course.

[jalapeno]

There's also another documentary on iPlayer about his famous guitars, which is superb.

[CHRISB50]

There's also another documentary on iPlayer about his famous guitars, which is superb.

There's a program doing the rounds on Sky Arts at the moment that sounds similar. About his 5 favourites I think. It's a good watch.

[jalapeno]

There's a program doing the rounds on Sky Arts at the moment that sounds similar. About his 5 favourites I think. It's a good watch.

That's the one ! Forget what I said about iPlayer.

[richardhomer]

I'll side with the 'NOT' vote as whilst he has a pleasant enough voice the material was utterly dreadful, dire and bland in the extreme. Plus he is such an arrogant little c*nt - a truly unlikeable man.

Knopfler is great though - yes the MTV era stuff was more than a little 'corporate', the stuff he made before that made up for it. And his modesty and sense of humour make him a much more likeable character.

All IMHO, of course.

I went to the same school as MH and had some 'issues' with him. That said, he is blessed with a lovely voice, if perhaps not the best of temperaments...

I saw him at Robert Cray's first Manchester gig at the International club in 1985, standing at the bar dressed in a deer-stalker and Sherlock Holmes style cape - complete with walking cane. He was also wearing one of those 'don't approach me' facial expressions (needlessly!)

What a contrast to meeting MK back-stage at the Apollo, later that year. Answered all my guitar-geek questions about amps, guitars and pick-ups AND was happy to have his picture taken with me. I've never forgotton how kind he was. A real gent...