A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: ds1984 on August 02, 2024, 11:36:20 AM

Title: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: ds1984 on August 02, 2024, 11:36:20 AM
No US LOG tour

Looking back at Dire Straits tours I did forget that Dire Straits did not perform in the US for the LOG tour.
Well a bit surprising as it was an usual gig territory.

Australia not good enough for touring in 1991

Ed Bicknell after the OES autralian leg failure was telling that Australia wasn't a good place for touring but Dire Straits already did tour there for the OLT, LOG and BIA tours, the latest one being huge success.


No day off

1982 - 22 days in a row between november 30 and december 21
1985 - 19 days in a row between june 28 and july 16
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: wayaman on August 02, 2024, 11:52:07 AM
Australia wasn't a good place to tour because of the economical situation in 1991.

(https://www.oneverybootleg.nl/VOX1992.jpg)
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on August 02, 2024, 12:18:42 PM
No Log US Log tour

Looking back at Dire Straits tours I did forget that Dire Straits did not perform in the US for the LOG tour.
Well a bit surprising as it was an usual gig territory.

Australia not good enough for touring in 1991

Ed Bicknell after the OES autralian leg failure was telling that Australia wasn't a good place for touring but Dire Straits already did tour there for the OLT, LOG and BIA tours, the latest one being huge success.


No day off

1982 - 22 days in a row between november 30 and december 21
1985 - 19 days in a row between june 28 and july 16

Don't interested in another Australia DS debate and whether or not it was a success but WOW (you see?) And blimey, never was aware of that long touring stints. Just imagine!

LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: ds1984 on August 02, 2024, 01:35:49 PM
Australia wasn't a good place to tour because of the economical situation in 1991.

Ok got it now, heavy economical recession in Australia.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on August 02, 2024, 02:11:23 PM
Australia wasn't a good place to tour because of the economical situation in 1991.

(https://www.oneverybootleg.nl/VOX1992.jpg)

Ed said that to U2... but I'm not aware of U2 having any problems themselves in Australia on their tour. In fact they released a live video from a sold out Australian show at a football stadium.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pByY7ybCC4E

It COULD be that while Ed put the disappointing ticket sales down to the economy at the time, the actual reason was diminishing interest in DS...
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: stratmad on August 02, 2024, 06:07:27 PM
Thanks for the article. That was completely new to me! Is there a second page, too?
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on August 02, 2024, 06:50:07 PM
Thanks for the article. That was completely new to me! Is there a second page, too?

If you do a search for Vox I shared the whole thing a few months back. :)
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: ds1984 on August 02, 2024, 07:13:28 PM
I think it is : https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?topic=8492.msg173055#msg173055
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: stratmad on August 03, 2024, 12:15:44 AM
Thanks a lot!! That's wonderful.
Reading all those articles, I felt catapulted back to 1992. Of course I'd read all those interviews back then, and I remembered Phil Palmer's "ogre" joke.
I've still got all the printed copies of those mags. Does that make me a Rüdiger?  :lol
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on August 03, 2024, 01:15:53 AM
Thanks a lot!! That's wonderful.
Reading all those articles, I felt catapulted back to 1992. Of course I'd read all those interviews back then, and I remembered Phil Palmer's "ogre" joke.
I've still got all the printed copies of those mags. Does that make me a Rüdiger?  :lol

Joke?
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: stratmad on August 03, 2024, 07:57:08 AM
Joke?
Well, I hope it was one, although there were clearly some things that went wrong. But at least he didn't fire them on the spot, and they all stayed on until the end of the tour.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on August 03, 2024, 09:20:54 AM
It didn’t sound to me like a joke. And everything we’ve subsequently learned about life on that tour backs that up.

The stuff Chris W wrote on here about what the tour did to him was genuinely heartbreaking.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: stratmad on August 03, 2024, 09:38:50 PM
Yes, very sad. But as Phil said in that article, they seem to have found different ways of dealing with it.

Here's a nice video of Phil talking about Knebworth 1990: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGCoMzQsD4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGCoMzQsD4).
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on August 26, 2024, 07:02:51 PM
I don't know what 'ogre' is about either.
There was absolutely no issue with the playing or the musicianship on the Australian tour.
The band left Oz on a massive high in 1985. It was six years later and a lot of the casual fans had obviously moved on. The economy was in recession too.
Still, we played multiple shows in Sydney and Melbourne. They had left days for extra shows to be added and the demand wasn't there. So it was dire financially for Mark and John as they were paying for a hundred people, a hundred hotel rooms etc while not playing any shows to recoup the costs.
The only time there was a performance crisis was in America. In my opinion Mark and John were depressed about ticket sales in the USA too. We played to 1/3rd empty halls must of the time, with only the major cities sold out. So in a burst of frustration Mark called a band meeting and claimed we weren't giving it 110%. personally I was too terrified to never NOT give it 110%.
Of course the band stayed to the end, you can't replace people during a tour, especially after three months rehearsal. And the band played the music perfectly for hundreds of shows. I think John later said it was the best band they ever had (in terms of musicianship).
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Banjo99uk on August 26, 2024, 08:02:28 PM
I don't know what 'ogre' is about either.
There was absolutely no issue with the playing or the musicianship on the Australian tour.
The band left Oz on a massive high in 1985. It was six years later and a lot of the casual fans had obviously moved on. The economy was in recession too.
Still, we played multiple shows in Sydney and Melbourne. They had left days for extra shows to be added and the demand wasn't there. So it was dire financially for Mark and John as they were paying for a hundred people, a hundred hotel rooms etc while not playing any shows to recoup the costs.
The only time there was a performance crisis was in America. In my opinion Mark and John were depressed about ticket sales in the USA too. We played to 1/3rd empty halls must of the time, with only the major cities sold out. So in a burst of frustration Mark called a band meeting and claimed we weren't giving it 110%. personally I was too terrified to never NOT give it 110%.
Of course the band stayed to the end, you can't replace people during a tour, especially after three months rehearsal. And the band played the music perfectly for hundreds of shows. I think John later said it was the best band they ever had (in terms of musicianship).
Bit harsh to blame the band for lack of ticket sales. Surely not having a big hit like MFN from the last album was a factor. Ed said recently that MK said to him that OES wasn’t a very good album. He should have gone solo after BIA in my opinion. Saying that though, I first saw you guys at Earls Court and then Woburn Abbey and I loved every minute of it. I wasn’t even a big fan back then, especially of the country music direction.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on August 27, 2024, 01:02:59 AM
I was on the Bremen Show 1991 which was Sept 26th, so pretty early and all I can say from looking back, there was some magic coming from the stage right into my soul. I thought that the set was perfect balanced. I loved the early 1991 Sultans especially because of your drumming, Chris. Now knowing all the background of the problems with volume and Mark's demand for your playing it is almost unbelievable HOW great it sounded nevertheless. There is this part where you play along to the first notes of the twiddly bits which gets me every time. I dream of a YouTube Video of you doing a live Sultans drum-along!

LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on August 27, 2024, 01:10:20 AM
It was indeed harsh of Mark to say so. Especially when you remember him and compare his performance from 1985/1986 with 1991, the question should be allowed if he himself gave 110%. It looked (and sounded) more like auto-pilot-mode on the OES tour.

LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on August 27, 2024, 09:51:35 AM
The OES album and tour started my obsession with music. I picked up a guitar in 1992 and haven't looked back (7 guitars and 2 amps scattered around the room I am in just now). It's a shame it was gruelling for the band and that ticket sales weren't as good as anticipated in certain territories but those of us who were engaged (and I didn't see a live show, just on tv) loved it.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: superval99 on August 27, 2024, 10:00:29 AM
Even though I had been a fan since '82, I will never forget the Basel concert in '92 on Channel 4.   I recorded it and watched it endlessly!   It started my obsession with DS/MK.  :)
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: rmarques821 on August 27, 2024, 10:17:00 AM
It was unfair of Mark to blame the band for not giving 110% when he, himself, couldn't wait for the tour to end.
His vocal delivery in 91/92 was terrible. I think if he could have done the show without singing, he would have done so.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on August 27, 2024, 10:56:40 AM
Well, as Chris wrote, it was "in a burst of frustration". He is human after all. I am sure he would have dealt it different during the last solo years. But it must indeed have felt offensive to hear that when you already give 100% each night. And I have no doubt that especially the new band members did exactly that.

LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Robson on August 27, 2024, 01:12:22 PM
Yes. Basel. An amazing concert. The broadcast was a breakthrough and historic moment for me.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Pottel on August 27, 2024, 03:11:23 PM
I don't know what 'ogre' is about either.
There was absolutely no issue with the playing or the musicianship on the Australian tour.
The band left Oz on a massive high in 1985. It was six years later and a lot of the casual fans had obviously moved on. The economy was in recession too.
Still, we played multiple shows in Sydney and Melbourne. They had left days for extra shows to be added and the demand wasn't there. So it was dire financially for Mark and John as they were paying for a hundred people, a hundred hotel rooms etc while not playing any shows to recoup the costs.
The only time there was a performance crisis was in America. In my opinion Mark and John were depressed about ticket sales in the USA too. We played to 1/3rd empty halls must of the time, with only the major cities sold out. So in a burst of frustration Mark called a band meeting and claimed we weren't giving it 110%. personally I was too terrified to never NOT give it 110%.
Of course the band stayed to the end, you can't replace people during a tour, especially after three months rehearsal. And the band played the music perfectly for hundreds of shows. I think John later said it was the best band they ever had (in terms of musicianship).
nice to see "Christian" W. back in action :-)
good to have you
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Pottel on August 27, 2024, 03:13:30 PM
Even though I had been a fan since '82, I will never forget the Basel concert in '92 on Channel 4.   I recorded it and watched it endlessly!   It started my obsession with DS/MK.  :)
yup.....
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Knut on August 28, 2024, 02:31:08 AM
Always thought the tour dates were a bit weird in 1991. Like, all cities seemed to get as many shows as possible up until a certain point where there was just one show per city afterwards? That said, the ones with many shows were at smaller venues than the stadium ones that ended up being one-offs. Not sure if the idea was to fill Subiaco 4-5 times in a row? Surely that's asking a bit much for any act. Or maybe the idea was to play in some other cities, too?
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on August 28, 2024, 06:54:54 AM
First part was during autumn/Winter 1991 in Europe so they did often several gigs in a row at indoor venues. The return to Europe in the Summer of 1992 was at Stadiums which made not more than one date necessary.

LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dmg on August 28, 2024, 10:39:45 PM
Even though I had been a fan since '82, I will never forget the Basel concert in '92 on Channel 4.   I recorded it and watched it endlessly!   It started my obsession with DS/MK.  :)

Me too.  We never got a good picture on C4 back in the day and it looked like it was snowing! 😂

Unfortunately to top it all, it wasn't the complete concert and Calling Elvis was cut just before the percussion/drum solos.

_______________

Interesting revelations there Chris W - thanks for that inside info.

It makes one think if perhaps this wasn't the real reason Mark disbanded DS and not the whole "it got too big" thing he comes away with.  Having to pay for hotels, not selling out venues and not having a good vibe on the road can't have been much fun for 14 months.  It would also explain why the first solo tour was so short and only included very small venues.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Robson on August 28, 2024, 10:44:01 PM
Even though I had been a fan since '82, I will never forget the Basel concert in '92 on Channel 4.   I recorded it and watched it endlessly!   It started my obsession with DS/MK.  :)

Me too.  We never got a good picture on C4 back in the day and it looked like it was snowing! 😂

Unfortunately to top it all, it wasn't the complete concert and Calling Elvis was cut just before the percussion/drum solos.

_______________

Interesting revelations there Chris W - thanks for that inside info.

Are you sure? It was a broadcast.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dmg on August 28, 2024, 10:49:55 PM
Even though I had been a fan since '82, I will never forget the Basel concert in '92 on Channel 4.   I recorded it and watched it endlessly!   It started my obsession with DS/MK.  :)

Me too.  We never got a good picture on C4 back in the day and it looked like it was snowing! 😂

Unfortunately to top it all, it wasn't the complete concert and Calling Elvis was cut just before the percussion/drum solos.

_______________

Interesting revelations there Chris W - thanks for that inside info.

Really? It was a broadcast.

Yes, that's why!  My reception wasn't good because the signal on C4 was weaker than the other 3 channels.  That's right, only 4 channels back then!
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Robson on August 28, 2024, 10:56:55 PM
Even though I had been a fan since '82, I will never forget the Basel concert in '92 on Channel 4.   I recorded it and watched it endlessly!   It started my obsession with DS/MK.  :)

Me too.  We never got a good picture on C4 back in the day and it looked like it was snowing! 😂

Unfortunately to top it all, it wasn't the complete concert and Calling Elvis was cut just before the percussion/drum solos.

_______________

Interesting revelations there Chris W - thanks for that inside info.

Really? It was a broadcast.

Yes, that's why!  My reception wasn't good because the signal on C4 was weaker than the other 3 channels.  That's right, only 4 channels back then!

I thought that TV broadcasting was the same in all countries :o
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on August 28, 2024, 11:10:01 PM
The full concert was shown live on Sky which is a subscription channel.

An edited version was shown on Channel 4 at Christmas.

My mum couldn’t afford Sky but a kind friend recorded the full show for me. I even bought a “special” high quality VHS tape for the ocassion!
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on August 29, 2024, 09:55:42 AM
The OES tour was highly successful in the UK and Europe. By the end (Zaragoza) we could have gone around large parts of Europe again with no problem. The only issue being winter was beckoning and the single outdoor shows would have had to turn into multiple indoor shows. Everyone was pretty exhausted.
The Australian promoter was over confident, given the explosion of interest in Dire Straits at the end of the Brothers In Arms tour.
The North America tour was a bit of a misstep, with the band being booked into a University arena and then a casino, places I'd never played with a band of that stature.
Before even a note had been played at the first rehearsal, I was made aware this was a final tour for DS. They already knew it was one world tour - goodbye. So there was no impact on Mark's future decisions based on the Australia or USA legs. It was all planned at least a year in advance and the end of the band (effectively Zaragoza) was already accepted before we'd even played together for the first time.
I can't speak for Alan and Guy, the other long standing members, but we more freelance guys (me, Danny, Chris, Paul and Phil) were of course playing to our highest level every single show. Not only is it professional pride, but also news travel fast and you don't want a reputation as a slacker following you around the music industry.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: iorch82 on August 30, 2024, 12:17:14 AM
Chris , do yo have any memories of not full venues around the US? What was the biggest open air show you did there?

About the level of the freelances, is out of question. Listening to the On The Night extension is pure glory, your work on Telegraph Road is out of this world.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on August 30, 2024, 10:16:56 AM
USA was in January, February, March. No outdoor shows. Many shows were not sold out. Mostly the sold out and most enthusiastic shows were the major cities, New York, Chicago, LA etc....
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: cannibals on August 30, 2024, 12:14:00 PM
Makes me wonder why MK waited so long to disband the band when he already knew before rehearsels even started this was going to be the last tour. It has been a while but did DS offcially not called it a day in 1995. So they kept it for theme selves for a few years.....
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: rpb424 on August 30, 2024, 02:02:28 PM
Makes me wonder why MK waited so long to disband the band when he already knew before rehearsels even started this was going to be the last tour. It has been a while but did DS offcially not called it a day in 1995. So they kept it for theme selves for a few years.....

Probably contractual as much as anything else. They still owed an album to Phonogram Records (which is why Live at the BBC was released in 1995), so easiest to simply let the band 'still exist' until all commitments were fulfulled even with no intention of actually reassembling the band itself ever again. For official purposes the band does still exist even now, with Dire Straits Ltd. being registered at Companies House with MK and JI as named officers.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: wayaman on August 30, 2024, 02:09:48 PM
I think Live at the BBC comes from the BBC itself, by their own record company.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on August 30, 2024, 02:11:16 PM
Yes, the Live Box Set was an official Dire Straits release and as Guy was quoted there will be coming up some more. So as an operation it still exists.

LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on August 30, 2024, 02:13:45 PM
I think Live at the BBC comes from the BBC itself, by their own record company.

Again, Wikipedia is your friend:

Live at the BBC was released on 26 June 1995, after the group officially disbanded. According to Knopfler, the album was released because Dire Straits still owed one album to Phonogram Records (now Mercury Records). The album was a means to end the contract before Knopfler began his solo career (still signed to Mercury).

Live at the BBC was re-released in November 2023 for the box set Live 1978-1992.


LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on August 30, 2024, 02:26:17 PM
Makes me wonder why MK waited so long to disband the band when he already knew before rehearsels even started this was going to be the last tour.

No one cared? You can put a band almost permanently to sleep without making an 'official' announcement.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: wayaman on August 30, 2024, 04:52:46 PM
I think Live at the BBC comes from the BBC itself, by their own record company.

Again, Wikipedia is your friend:

Live at the BBC was released on 26 June 1995, after the group officially disbanded. According to Knopfler, the album was released because Dire Straits still owed one album to Phonogram Records (now Mercury Records). The album was a means to end the contract before Knopfler began his solo career (still signed to Mercury).

Live at the BBC was re-released in November 2023 for the box set Live 1978-1992.


LE

Maybe they used that release to end that contract, but the Live at the BBC series were commissioned by the BBC itself not by DS, there are a lot of that releases by many many different artists. Probably when they were asked by the BBC record label someone in the DS team said, yes, please, yes, we still have a record in our contract, please do it and we are free if it!!!!

LOL
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Knut on August 31, 2024, 01:34:27 AM
Found this. Two questions: the two Hobart dates are missing from some sources, were those shows cancelled? Also, if the attendance was poor, why add more shows in the beginning of the leg in particular?

The single Sydney show also seems oddly out of place. But, it is a real event at least - we even got a recording now!
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on August 31, 2024, 09:35:53 AM
No shows was ever cancelled in my official itinerary.
There were sometimes dates pencilled in with the comment TBC.
99% of tours have extra shows pencilled in that would never become actual shows if the previous day's show wasn't close to selling out.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on August 31, 2024, 10:04:06 AM
I thought I would try to get a feel for the level of American indifference by searching out a random Midwest show and settled on Champaign, Illinois.

For what it’s worth, the audience appear to be having a good time, and at 39 mins there’s a blistering version of Setting Me Up featuring Danny wandering about with his shakers, pretty funny.

https://youtu.be/c7zC_0fxMPQ?si=lh0JEVWpoNF5EhH-
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: stratmad on August 31, 2024, 12:48:05 PM
Well, Champaign may not be quite comparable to an average Midwest town, because most of the town is basically a (high-profile, Ivy League?) university campus, so you would get a young and enthusiastic audience.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on August 31, 2024, 01:48:09 PM
Yeah, I think that was the university sports hall that felt out of place on this kind of rock tour.
I din't think it was full either.
The DS tour played a lot of towns and venues in North America I'd never played before or since, which made it feel long, especially as it was deep winter, cold and grey most days.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: wayaman on August 31, 2024, 06:02:15 PM
Yeah, I think that was the university sports hall that felt out of place on this kind of rock tour.
I din't think it was full either.
The DS tour played a lot of towns and venues in North America I'd never played before or since, which made it feel long, especially as it was deep winter, cold and grey most days.

I think I read somewhere that because of snow some gigs were close to be cancelled as it was very difficult to get to the venues, but can't remember exactly what happened, do you remember any issue with snowing during that leg of the tour?
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on September 01, 2024, 09:19:08 AM
Ugh, the rumour mill.
No memories of snow in particular. Of course there was snow in the cities where snow is common, as such, these cities are prepared for bad weather and very little possibility of disruption.
There was absolutely no threat of any show being cancelled within the band. We were travelling almost every day too. If we could get to the gig, the audience could.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on September 01, 2024, 09:49:19 AM
Chris, not sure if you’ve seen this, but there’s a funny moment when Metallica spot you guys on your private plane, 54.40 approx

https://youtu.be/052tZFi2gYU?si=cYcwW3ck-16i3rSc
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Pottel on September 02, 2024, 03:44:58 PM
Chris, not sure if you’ve seen this, but there’s a funny moment when Metallica spot you guys on your private plane, 54.40 approx

https://youtu.be/052tZFi2gYU?si=cYcwW3ck-16i3rSc
dude, details! 53:44
on a somewhat related note, how do you rate Lars Ulrich's drumming Chris?
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: shortfin on September 06, 2024, 09:40:54 AM
Speaking of the OES Tour, I was struck by what Bicknell writes in one of the first replies. He says "[A regrettable decision was] Not resigning immediately over the decision by Mark to do the OES record and tour once I learned the REAL reasons behind that decision which in themselves led to it being the sad and toxic event it was for those involved (though not necessarily the audiences)."
What REAL reasons are you talking about? The decision that OES would have been the last album and the last tour, or is he referring to something else?
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on September 06, 2024, 09:57:52 AM
The real reason that MK did the album and tour.

Ed told us that he thought BiA should have been the end.

And Ed has told us that he can't reveal the real reason so all we can do is speculate.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on September 06, 2024, 10:17:25 AM
This is exactly the kind of thread that makes people like Chris leave.

However, OES has the most cynical lyrics from MK in his whole career and if you look at When It Comes To You, Fade To Black and You And Your Friend and also the title track, it is obvious that a broken relationship is the main theme, one where the narrator always adresses a third party in it and where MK seemed to be the one cheated on.
So I guess it was a dirty divorce with a lot of money being involved. Maybe MK invested so much private money into the tour to safe it from being split and put the profit into the DS company to make it unavailable for divorce lawyers... 

If we already know the details, I'm sorry. I am not too much into gossip.

Not too sure however if we really should open this can of worms...

LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: shortfin on September 06, 2024, 11:29:04 AM
This is exactly the kind of thread that makes people like Chris leave.

Why?
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on September 06, 2024, 11:38:00 AM
Not so much the thread itself but the speculation thing
.
LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on September 06, 2024, 11:44:13 AM
Not so much the thread itself but the speculation thing
.
LE

Well we don't have the facts, and we likely never will, so if we want to discuss it then we will have to speculate.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: quizzaciously on September 06, 2024, 12:23:01 PM
Man, this OES tour can really be renamed the "Can Of Worms" tour. There were so many mistakes, heartbreak, drama, sausages, and tears... Personally, I marvel at how they were able to pull it off at all considering all the drama. And NO WONDER nobody, including Mark, John and Ed is willing to give away secrets of what really happened.

Even if Ed can't talk or even joke about something, then it's dire. Stratis that is...
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Robson on September 06, 2024, 01:08:52 PM
This is exactly the kind of thread that makes people like Chris leave.

However, OES has the most cynical lyrics from MK in his whole career and if you look at When It Comes To You, Fade To Black and You And Your Friend and also the title track, it is obvious that a broken relationship is the main theme, one where the narrator always adresses a third party in it and where MK seemed to be the one cheated on.
So I guess it was a dirty divorce with a lot of money being involved. Maybe MK invested so much private money into the tour to safe it from being split and put the profit into the DS company to make it unavailable for divorce lawyers... 

If we already know the details, I'm sorry. I am not too much into gossip.

Not too sure however if we really should open this can of worms...

LE

Yes, if you analyze the lyrics of On Every Street and Golden Heart, it's a completely different world. After 5 years, a big change.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Pottel on September 06, 2024, 01:16:25 PM
This is exactly the kind of thread that makes people like Chris leave.

Why?
mm, i saw him post recently. was not aware he "left"?
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on September 07, 2024, 10:28:17 AM
I go away when people dispute my posts, people who weren't there, have never even been in a band or been on tour.

Overall, there is more wild conspiracy than facts on the forum, which is why Ed posted lengthy rebuttals and offered some very detailed info to you all.

The tour was the tour. A few wild conspiracies exist and although I haven't read the book, Phil Palmer's account seems to be exaggerated, probably because it makes for better reading and sells more books.
There was never a moment where Mark threatened the band members, or read us the riot act for not performing. there was a and meeting after one of the USA shows where he claimed we were under performing, but that was obvious (to us all) that he was frustrated about how the US tour was going, a very long segment with not many completely sold out shows.
The sausage incident was amusing to most of us. A couple of people were pissed off (nothing more) on the night and the next day it was basically forgotten.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on September 07, 2024, 10:43:29 AM
Thank you, I see (ref. Pottel) "leave" was the wrong word and what I meant was excactly what Chris made clear in the first sentence. Of course, as a fan forum, we love facts but where there aren't any, it's like a room full of fans chatting (and speculating) about this and that and all kinds of things. That's the main difference to a music forum or official band forum. With that in mind, it's awesome and very appreciated what you and Ed do for us!

LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Love Expresso on September 07, 2024, 10:58:04 AM
Chris, nowadays, ticket sales usually are done long before the tour starts, often more than a year before the first show, with bigger acts anyway. I wonder if Mark really thought that a possible "lower performance" of the band would affect ticket sales and not sold out shows. I know word of mouth is important but I would assume that the biggest chunk of tickets would have been sold months before?

LE
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on September 07, 2024, 12:23:00 PM
No.
Even back then tickets went on sale a few months before the show.
I think maybe Mark and John felt deflated, playing odd venues to two thirds full crowds. They then projected their own feelings on to the rest of us and assumed we weren't giving it our all.
In the end, you don't get to be a successful freelance player  (like me, Phil, Danny, Chris White, Paul Franklin) unless you are extremely professional and a dedicated player. You don't sustain such a career by giving 50-75% when you feel like it.
On such long tours like McCartney and Dire Straits I had to play at 100% level on four hours sleep, with extreme jet lag, when I had a bad cold etc....
That is the job.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Peter1981 on September 08, 2024, 11:16:13 PM
I think I said it before, but thanks again for the stellar job on the tour, Chris.
The On The Night record ( and VHS tape ) is what inspired me to get into music, and that has brought me so much in life so far.
Some of those version played (BIA, YAYF, OES) I much prefer over the album versions.
So thanks!!
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on September 09, 2024, 10:59:13 AM
Thank you.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Pottel on September 09, 2024, 01:50:13 PM
I go away when people dispute my posts, people who weren't there, have never even been in a band or been on tour.

Overall, there is more wild conspiracy than facts on the forum, which is why Ed posted lengthy rebuttals and offered some very detailed info to you all.

The tour was the tour. A few wild conspiracies exist and although I haven't read the book, Phil Palmer's account seems to be exaggerated, probably because it makes for better reading and sells more books.
There was never a moment where Mark threatened the band members, or read us the riot act for not performing. there was a and meeting after one of the USA shows where he claimed we were under performing, but that was obvious (to us all) that he was frustrated about how the US tour was going, a very long segment with not many completely sold out shows.
The sausage incident was amusing to most of us. A couple of people were pissed off (nothing more) on the night and the next day it was basically forgotten.
to this day i do not know who stole that friggin sausage back then....pls enlighten us.(or rather me)
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on September 12, 2024, 10:18:11 AM
I never knew.
Maybe a couple of band members with a couple of crew.
It happened during the show, so it had to be people not in the show at any point.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: wayaman on September 12, 2024, 03:42:26 PM
I never knew.
Maybe a couple of band members with a couple of crew.
It happened during the show, so it had to be people not in the show at any point.

I think that Ed pointed to one person in one of his posts, can't recall if Jbaent's, Dusty's or at the answers thread, I remember exactly who was the one who ate the sausags, maybe it wasn't Ed who said it, don't remember exactly, but as far as I don't recall and don't have time to search myself, and I can't point to the source, otherwise the fury of the mighty LE would fall over me, I'm not telling the name.

Well, a clue, is someone that still worked for MK during his solo career.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: dustyvalentino on September 12, 2024, 04:00:59 PM
Not the full post, but the relevant part...

New message by Ed:


Jabent , pop out to the local patisserie and get yourself some Lamb Merguez sausages and pretend your Peter McKay secretly gorging yourself on a sausage intended for your hero in some cold Canadian arena , not realising that you are committing the SIN OF SINS and putting your very livelihood at risk.

Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: quizzaciously on September 12, 2024, 04:05:18 PM
Not the full post, but the relevant part...

New message by Ed:


Jabent , pop out to the local patisserie and get yourself some Lamb Merguez sausages and pretend your Peter McKay secretly gorging yourself on a sausage intended for your hero in some cold Canadian arena , not realising that you are committing the SIN OF SINS and putting your very livelihood at risk.


Gotta love how of all the tours, countries and changing musicians the biggest controversy in the band's history is who ate the sausage that made MK go bananas.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: wayaman on September 12, 2024, 04:12:32 PM
Not the full post, but the relevant part...

New message by Ed:


Jabent , pop out to the local patisserie and get yourself some Lamb Merguez sausages and pretend your Peter McKay secretly gorging yourself on a sausage intended for your hero in some cold Canadian arena , not realising that you are committing the SIN OF SINS and putting your very livelihood at risk.


Thanks for saving my ass!
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Robson on September 12, 2024, 04:24:05 PM
Not the full post, but the relevant part...

New message by Ed:


Jabent , pop out to the local patisserie and get yourself some Lamb Merguez sausages and pretend your Peter McKay secretly gorging yourself on a sausage intended for your hero in some cold Canadian arena , not realising that you are committing the SIN OF SINS and putting your very livelihood at risk.


Gotta love how of all the tours, countries and changing musicians the biggest controversy in the band's history is who ate the sausage that made MK go bananas.

I feel like I'm reading about this too often.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Marijn on September 12, 2024, 05:40:26 PM
The real reason that MK did the album and tour.

Ed told us that he thought BiA should have been the end.

And Ed has told us that he can't reveal the real reason so all we can do is speculate.

I heard the reason was that Mark kept his management waiting so long, all expecting something new. Then Paul Cummins spoke out that he would leave if nothing would happen anymore. I spoke with Paul briefly before the 1996 show at the Shepherds' Bush.
There's this story about the meeting at Tootsie's restaurant, where plans for both the album and tour were announced.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: Chris W on September 13, 2024, 09:47:45 AM


Gotta love how of all the tours, countries and changing musicians the biggest controversy in the band's history is who ate the sausage that made MK go bananas.

I agree. It sells books obviously. On the tour it was completely forgotten 36 to 48 hours later.
Title: Re: Random reflexions about Dire Straits tours
Post by: ds1984 on September 13, 2024, 06:52:47 PM
Anecdotal but fun.