A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => Almost Straits => Topic started by: dmg on September 25, 2014, 01:09:13 PM

Title: Chris White Statement
Post by: dmg on September 25, 2014, 01:09:13 PM
Just received this interesting statement regarding The Straits from Chris on FB:

Lots of changes happening over the last four or five months, so apologies for the absence from facebook.
So, for many valid reasons, The Straits is coming to an end. It has been a fantastic three years and I would like to say a huge personal thank you to all of you who have supported us and attended our gigs during this time. It has been lovely to catch up with so many old friends , as well as make so many new ones.
Some band members feel they need to devote more time to other / new projects and therefore feel a conflict with continuing to play the Dire Straits catalogue. We perform our last show together on Friday night at the Schupfart festival in Switzerland. I'm looking forward to a great last outing.
I also have some new projects I am moving ahead with now, but am very happy to continue playing the music of Dire Straits which was such a huge part of my career.
To that end, Terence and I have been asked to go and perform some shows for a promoter in Australia and New Zealand, working with him under the name "The Dire Straits Experience ".
We have put together another great band of British musicians, which also includes Straits stalwart and stunning bass player Micky Feat.
We depart for New Zealand on Saturday evening. I'm very excited at the prospect. We have been able to rehearse some additional material , so the set is longer and feels really good. I can't wait to get out and play it !
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: Fletch on September 25, 2014, 01:28:38 PM
Oh that sounds interesting, if my social calendar allows I'll probably stroll on down and watch Terence. I'd love to ask him about some of the song lyrics.
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: foma on September 25, 2014, 01:36:36 PM
Please guys name your new band without
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: dmg on September 25, 2014, 02:10:33 PM
Please guys name your new band without
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: dustyvalentino on September 25, 2014, 09:58:42 PM
The whole thing's a farce.
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: foma on September 26, 2014, 11:40:53 AM
I've recently found an ideal picture for Dire Straits Experience and The Straits posters:

(https://pp.vk.me/c623924/v623924999/3c8c/GBRhcFTF-Ck.jpg)

From here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHW6QUXBiE8

IMAO the best portrait after mediocre Colin Davidson sketches. Good for The Straits!
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: jbaent on September 26, 2014, 01:19:15 PM
Actually any Dire Straits cover band should have Dire Straits on their name or something that make DS fans recognize them as a tribute band for DS.

The Straits in their concept wasnt a tribute band but as an evolution of the old band, but without the Dire man  ;D, without Alan Clark, who was one of the creative forces musically speaking of Dire Straits, calling themselfs Dire Straits Experience is more accurate to what they are.

I
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: ds1984 on September 26, 2014, 06:36:11 PM
You can be an excellent musician and starve for a job.
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: dustyvalentino on September 26, 2014, 07:43:57 PM
I've recently found an ideal picture for Dire Straits Experience and The Straits posters:

(https://pp.vk.me/c623924/v623924999/3c8c/GBRhcFTF-Ck.jpg)

From here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHW6QUXBiE8

IMAO the best portrait after mediocre Colin Davidson sketches. Good for The Straits!

Ha.
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: andychap on October 05, 2014, 09:49:38 PM
Just read this on Alan's website

"The Straits, the band I put together with Steve Ferrone of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, multi-instrumentalist and singer Jamie Squire, bass player Mickey F
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: dmg on October 05, 2014, 11:01:04 PM
In other words a couple of the guys have done the honourable thing!  Good luck to Alan and co with their own material though.  I wish they had started playing that from the off.

P.S.  I was always under the impression they were a tribute band.  What exactly was Alan inferring there?
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: yontwocrows on October 05, 2014, 11:54:30 PM
Simply the fact that his plan was to mix the Dire Straits numbers with new material he has written himself. He announced it in several interviews (see link below). Obviously not everybody of the band was happy with this decision. He underlines that he doesn't see the Straits as a cover band (that they were) but as a living band.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6185871/dire-straits-alan-clark-new-album (http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6185871/dire-straits-alan-clark-new-album)
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: dustyvalentino on October 06, 2014, 07:58:10 AM
Maybe the guys who left thought Alan's songs were crap.
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: jbaent on October 06, 2014, 09:31:25 AM
Maybe the guys who left thought Alan's songs were crap.

Probably they thought, as the statement says, that they should keep playing the DS hits onstead going ahead and release their own stuff.

I wonder under which name Alan and the others will release their music, I hope he forget about being any kind of DS evolution and go for his own...
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: dmg on October 06, 2014, 11:30:15 AM
Maybe the guys who left thought Alan's songs were crap.

Probably they thought, as the statement says, that they should keep playing the DS hits onstead going ahead and release their own stuff.

I wonder under which name Alan and the others will release their music, I hope he forget about being any kind of DS evolution and go for his own...

I heard Alan was thinking of using the name Mart Knopfler.  ;)
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: dmg on October 06, 2014, 11:30:46 AM
Maybe the guys who left thought Alan's songs were crap.

 :lol
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: jbaent on October 06, 2014, 12:50:15 PM
This is one of the new songs:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6zH2swFaoo
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: foma on October 06, 2014, 01:13:53 PM
This is one of the new songs:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6zH2swFaoo

I like that. First thing that I actually like about The Straits ever!
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: nababo on October 10, 2014, 05:22:28 PM
You can be an excellent musician and starve for a job.

Maybe this is why some have prefered to play DS songs instead of new attempts. It's a safer way to earn some money.
Title: Re: Chris White Statement
Post by: nababo on October 10, 2014, 05:27:35 PM
This is one of the new songs:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6zH2swFaoo

Some piano licks clearly reminded me of 1980/82 DS songs