A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: 3Pints on April 04, 2012, 06:01:59 PM
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For many years now I've marked this date by hoisting an extra pint to toast the man who is still (in my honest opinion) the best drummer Dire Straits ever had - Pick Withers.
David 'Pick' Withers was Mark's first choice when Dire Straits was being formed and Withers played drums on the bands' classic first 4 albums. In 1982, after the recording sessions for Love Over Gold, Withers left the group for personal and artistic reasons.
His style suits that early material so well that you'd almost think some of it was written partly with him in mind. Just listen to "Water of Love" from the debut album. The deft cross-stick and tom-tom rolls propel the rhythm in a way that is both subtle and inexorable. ....brilliant stuff!
Listen again to "In the Gallery", or "Wild West End" - just for Pick's drumming. And on "News" (from Communique) the way he helps Mark build the tension is exquisite, as are the lovely builds and releases in "Romeo and Juliet", and "Hand in Hand" from Making Movies.
Love Over Gold, his final album with DS opened with "Telegraph Road" and Pick created the template on which every subsequent drummer has based their performance. He can rock out with the best, but what distinguishes Pick's playing for me on this track is the subtlety of his cross-stick, high-hat, and tom-tom fills in the quieter sections.
Pick's playing on those four albums (as well as on Bob Dylan's Slow Train Coming) is tasteful, solid, and always right in the pocket. No drummer since has quite managed to capture his superb feel, and Dire Straits' sound changed noticeably after his departure.
Pick's alleged quote to a reporter upon leaving - that there was nothing left in the music for him, and that he felt he was in danger of becoming a rock drummer - speaks volumes I think, about his artistic integrity and his passion for music. With the band already on the verge of super-stardom, not many would have been so committed, or so brave.
So Pick... wherever you are..... Happy 64th, mate!!
(*Disclaimer: I first posted this in a related forum a year ago today. Apologies to those for whom it may sound familiar......)
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Welcome, 3 Pints! :)
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So he is 65 now?
LE
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Welcome, 3 Pints! :)
Thanks for the welcome SuperVal99,
I actually joined here over a year ago. I just don't post often.
I will take this opportunity though, to say that I always enjoy reading your posts.
Thank you!
3Pints
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So he is 65 now?
LE
Hello LE.
Thanks for checking. No, I took the liberty of updating the message slightly.
Pick turned 64 today - April 4th, 2012.
Cheers,
3Pints
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Hi!
I was only kidding.. I know of course that you are not THAT new to AMIT and already posted back in 2011.. I already liked your Avatar picture very much at post number one! I hope you will stay with us and have a nice chat about MK and stuff. New MKish input is always welcome.
Have seen you at mk.com occasionally. Are you looking forward to the new album, too?
LE
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welcome 3pints and happy b-day to the great Pick (never EVER would have thought he had another first name then Pick)
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I totally agree, actually what we call "Dire Straits Sound" its a mixture between MK guitar and Pick drums. After Pick left, DS changed to a rock and roll band, without that sound, but with other different, more "mainstream".
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welcome 3pints and happy b-day to the great Pick (never EVER would have thought he had another first name then Pick)
Yes, I didn't know his real name either until long after he'd left the band and I was looking up some info about him. It does sound a bit strange to think of him as David though, so I'll stick with Pick. ;)
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I totally agree, actually what we call "Dire Straits Sound" its a mixture between MK guitar and Pick drums. After Pick left, DS changed to a rock and roll band, without that sound, but with other different, more "mainstream".
So true, jbaent! Mark as lead singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist is obvious but Pick was the other really crucial part of the early sound of the band.
And you're right, the DS sound became much more mainstream after Pick left. All the subsequent drummers were more rock-oriented.
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Hi!
I was only kidding.. I know of course that you are not THAT new to AMIT and already posted back in 2011.. I already liked your Avatar picture very much at post number one! I hope you will stay with us and have a nice chat about MK and stuff. New MKish input is always welcome.
Have seen you at mk.com occasionally. Are you looking forward to the new album, too?
LE
Hi LE,
Yeah I used to post pretty regularly on the other site but then ran into some problems last year and took some time off.
Am I looking forward to the new album? Yes, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I'm taking more of a wait and see attitude this time.
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Gotta love Picks subtle style. I imagine he must have left the band simply because he got sick of being told exactly what to play? Seems obvious.
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Of course you can think the other way around: DS went this way because Pick has left! ;D
He should have waited a dozen years and he would be playing again the things he loves in the new MK solo albums. ;D
I really think he was the best drummer of DS. And he was so experienced too! All these folk bands he was playing before he joined DS. Dando shaft albums with Pick were great.
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How I'd love to see the original four members do one concert together.