SPOILERS: John Illsley will publish a book about Dire Straits

[quizzaciously]

I received John's book last Tuesday. Read a couple of pages until now.  Regarding Hal's departure from Dire Straits: he had to choose between his girlfriend and the band during the Montserrat sessions.

Hal seems like the most adequate DS member that this band ever had. Peaceful leaving, not too much noise and hassle, and no tribute bands afterwards.

[dustyvalentino]

OK, cat out of the bag, I managed to read this book a few months ago, can't say how.

Everyone here should buy it, you will enjoy it.

However, unless you are a DS "get a lifer" it's not really a very interesting rock biography.

And for us obsessives, there are quite a few mistakes.

I also have it on very good authority that John did not write the book himself. I can't tell you how I know this and I can't offer any proof so you can choose to believe this or not, but I believe it to be true. 

[Robson]

OK, cat out of the bag, I managed to read this book a few months ago, can't say how.

Everyone here should buy it, you will enjoy it.

However, unless you are a DS "get a lifer" it's not really a very interesting rock biography.

And for us obsessives, there are quite a few mistakes.

I also have it on very good authority that John did not write the book himself. I can't tell you how I know this and I can't offer any proof so you can choose to believe this or not, but I believe it to be true.

 

[quizzaciously]

OK, cat out of the bag, I managed to read this book a few months ago, can't say how.

Everyone here should buy it, you will enjoy it.

However, unless you are a DS "get a lifer" it's not really a very interesting rock biography.

And for us obsessives, there are quite a few mistakes.

I also have it on very good authority that John did not write the book himself. I can't tell you how I know this and I can't offer any proof so you can choose to believe this or not, but I believe it to be true.

 

Unfortunately, when you get to the point of being an avid fan, almost nothing can surprise you anymore. If only it's the topic bigger than life, but when the object of your "desire" is a British man who's an ordinary guy with an extraordinary life who doesn't want to share his private life a lot, you get to the point of "get a lifer" pretty quickly. With Mark, it could take just a few years really and then nothing can surprise you.

I'm 100$ sure John used some help to write the book, it's impossible to do it single-handedly. Even Mark teamed up with a professional journalist to make his radio broadcast, even though his name isn't on the show's front, he did all the work behind the scenes. I think it depends on the writer should he want to include co-author or leave it as is.

And especially since it has mistakes, that means that the co-writer is not that great in fact checking. Because I highly doubt John or Mark would get something wrong from their own life.

[Robson]

I do not understand. Does John thank someone in the book?

[herlock]

I have skimmed through the book, and I tend to think that yes, not only John didn't write it, but also he didn't even care to read it... It is written that Alchemy features guest star Hank Marvin !!!???

[herlock]

Two years later at Wembley Arena, yes

Well Hank guested the night before Alchemy in Hammersmith Odeon, but is certainly not on Alchemy. To the better, probably. As much as I love and admire Hank, his playing on Going Home is quite redundant with Mark's, as Wembley 85 shows.
But my point is, this book seems grossly inaccurate ! God knows what other greenies are in it...

[Kris-b]

That is really strange! On the other side, that was all a long time ago, perhaps their memory got a bit blurred. And after hundreds of concerts

[Knopflerfan]

Today's arrival...

[dustyvalentino]

I have skimmed through the book, and I tend to think that yes, not only John didn't write it, but also he didn't even care to read it...

You could very well be correct but I can’t say anymore.

[herlock]

I'm really disappointed with the foreword.
In France we say something like "trade-unionist bare minimum"...

[Robson]

Two years later at Wembley Arena, yes

Well Hank guested the night before Alchemy in Hammersmith Odeon, but is certainly not on Alchemy. To the better, probably. As much as I love and admire Hank, his playing on Going Home is quite redundant with Mark's, as Wembley 85 shows.
But my point is, this book seems grossly inaccurate ! God knows what other greenies are in it...

My mistake. He played in Going Home on July 22, 1983

[jbaent]

The reason why Hal Lindes left the band is finally revealed, or at least the version of the story by the one who really wrote the book, after listening to John's story.

[herlock]

The reason why Hal Lindes left the band is finally revealed, or at least the version of the story by the one who really wrote the book, after listening to John's story.

Maybe the only revelation of the book...

[hunter]

Please don't spoil any details!