A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: jbaent on October 21, 2020, 02:48:54 PM
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Next autumn
https://www.thebookseller.com/news/dire-straits-story-goes-transworld-1222710?fbclid=IwAR1KUZ6QSsIqn2LAvBUkf5yOXQQLi6BoWC_z0AO5ndlL1jC-njO59_NjtQE
Transworld Publishers has acquired It’s a Long Way From Deptford – The Dire Straits Story by John Illsley.
Illsley was a founder member and bassist for the rock band Dire Straits. This book will mark the first time their story has been told by someone from the band.
Editorial director Michelle Signore acquired world English language rights from Annabel Merullo at PFD. It’s a Long Way From Deptford – The Dire Straits Story will be published in autumn 2021.
Signore said: "As soon as I started reading John’s proposal, I knew I had to publish his book. His writing conjures such a wonderful sense of time and place, from the spit-and-sawdust pubs of south-east London to hanging out with Bob Dylan in LA and playing to packed stadia all over the world. With incredible honesty, John also talks of the the darker times after the touring stopped and he returned home to a life he no longer recognised as his own. John has a wealth of captivating stories to tell and he does so with warmth, wit and generosity of spirit."
Illsley commented: "This book above all is about passion and pursuing your dreams – taking the unpredictable path, not the easy option. It charts the journey from my innocent teens strumming a few chords, to playing on the biggest stages in the world; a chance meeting in 1976 with Mark Knopfler that created a musical partnership that lasted 20 years, and a strong friendship that continues to this day. Dire Straits was an idea that created a phenomenal musical legacy, an extraordinary journey of joy, fun, companionship and surprises. I am immensely proud of my contribution to this journey."
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That will be a fascinating read....
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Great news!
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Something to look forward to! :)
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That will be a fascinating read....
Yeah! It would be a great addition to Mark's own autobiography book :D
If only he would write it lol. I'm sure John's book will be a fascinating read, he's a ganuinely funny guy and an optimistic guy just like Mark, that's why their friendship lasts for a lifetime, the amount of stories they have I believe is insane!
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That will be a fascinating read....
Yeah! It would be a great addition to Mark's own autobiography book :D
If only he would write it lol. I'm sure John's book will be a fascinating read, he's a ganuinely funny guy and an optimistic guy just like Mark, that's why their friendship lasts for a lifetime, the amount of stories they have I believe is insane!
You are so right. Actually the more I think about it the more I think that this is really big news....
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A big well known fan, who is close to MK, says MK is not very happy with this, in the contrary...
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A big well known fan, who is close to MK, says MK is not very happy with this, in the contrary...
So there's only two ways: either Mark don't want to share anything from his life or he could do better. And I think the first one is more realistic :lol
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MK is not happy with releasing a full MK solo concert on bluray after 25 years of solo career, zero, the only artist in the world,
let alone a book by John Illsley about Dire Straits
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A big well known fan, who is close to MK, says MK is not very happy with this, in the contrary...
Sounds just like MK.
Sour grapes perhaps?
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Fantastic news :)
And then Mark should write a book about his solo career. I am a naive dreamer :)
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MKs reaction will surely be that his current yet secret ongoing project with a massive autobiography now will end up in the same bin as the Madrid DVD and the Hansen documentary. ;D
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MKs reaction will surely be that his current yet secret ongoing project with a massive autobiography now will end up in the same bin as the Madrid DVD and the Hansen documentary. ;D
;D ;D
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Excellent news! :clap
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MKs reaction will surely be that his current yet secret ongoing project with a massive autobiography now will end up in the same bin as the Madrid DVD and the Hansen documentary. ;D
;D ;D
I'm sure Mark wasn't happy about things like his minions collecting the Hall Of Fame award for Dire Straits, things like Danny C. playing in a tribute band, he's not happy. The same guy also refused to play a lot of songs live so tribute bands have to go out and play all those underplayed songs, and John Illsley have to go out and write a biography book about Mark without Mark, and the fans need to go out and make a live DVD for Mark's show without Mark. That's quite amazing :lol :lol :lol
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MKs reaction will surely be that his current yet secret ongoing project with a massive autobiography now will end up in the same bin as the Madrid DVD and the Hansen documentary. ;D
;D ;D
I'm sure Mark wasn't happy about things like his minions collecting the Hall Of Fame award for Dire Straits, things like Danny C. playing in a tribute band, he's not happy. The same guy also refused to play a lot of songs live so tribute bands have to go out and play all those underplayed songs, and John Illsley have to go out and write a biography book about Mark without Mark, and the fans need to go out and make a live DVD for Mark's show without Mark. That's quite amazing :lol :lol :lol
Nailed it!
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Fantastic news :)
And then Mark should write a book about his solo career. I am a naive dreamer :)
What is life without dreams, so let's dream on. :wave
Fantastic news!
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Mark seems a right miserable old git! Sorry but it has to be said. John is exactly the opposite and appears to be the nicest guy you could ever wish to meet.
Mark never does anything for the people who made him and only thinks of himself when it comes to music. I think if you look at the personnel he's been through over the years it tells the story. John appears to be very easy going and I will look forward to his book with great anticipation.
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Fantastic news :)
And then Mark should write a book about his solo career. I am a naive dreamer :)
What is life without dreams, so let's dream on. :wave
Fantastic news!
It is true :)
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Mark seems a right miserable old git! Sorry but it has to be said. John is exactly the opposite and appears to be the nicest guy you could ever wish to meet.
Mark never does anything for the people who made him and only thinks of himself when it comes to music. I think if you look at the personnel he's been through over the years it tells the story. John appears to be very easy going and I will look forward to his book with great anticipation.
Exactly, totally nailed it with every single word. That's the reason I split with him after more than 33 years being a crazy fan. Now it's done. Haven't listened to him about more than 18 months now. Not a single note. Don't miss it. Worst thing about it was that you people always were and still are such a nice and friendly bunch here. It was much harder to leave you all than him. But I felt I had no right to be here anymore as you all are still so loyal and in love that it's unbelievable.
About him and John, if the rumour is true, it would fit so perfectly well that now, in the end, he would also end the relationship with his oldest and best mate John Illsley because of his ego.
Good news about the book. In a way, for me, it's a much better news that John writes it. So it will be a good read for sure. Kudos to him. I really hope it does well and he will earn a big heap of money with it.
LE
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I think the problem for MK with the book is, that he has no control of the content or rather the stories John will tell or not.
To protect his privacy - that he is mostly concerned of - is to sit down with John to write the book together.
Just a dream. ;)
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Apparently Ed Bicknell is also writing a book. That would be a good one, he knows some great stories and he's hilarious, with a great ironic and sarcastic style!
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I think the proposal or exposé mentioned in the first post makes clear that it will be about his personal way and adventure. Also, John would never say a single bad word about MK. Mark being angry is the typical reaction of a control freak who feels some obscure danger threatening his holy legacy.
Ed Bicknell however I would see spill the beans and MK totally being right in being anxious. It seems it all comes back to MK now. David Knopfler anyone?
LE
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I don't expect David doing such a thing... He looks very calm and in peace with his past, and lately he doesn't talks bad about him, he refers to MK with respect... and melancholy too.
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I think the proposal or exposé mentioned in the first post makes clear that it will be about his personal way and adventure. Also, John would never say a single bad word about MK. Mark being angry is the typical reaction of a control freak who feels some obscure danger threatening his holy legacy.
Ed Bicknell however I would see spill the beans and MK totally being right in being anxious. It seems it all comes back to MK now. David Knopfler anyone?
LE
John would have to be very careful with what he says about MK, but I bet that won't be problematic with John, he is a good chap, very elegant, in the contrary, I expect from Ed a lot of "tasteful" anecdotes, not only from MK but from everybody...
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I love how such happy news turns into a typical "grumpy MK" situation on this forum. I'd love to read John's stories, and I understand how some are unhappy with MK lately, but I wouldn't give a damn either if I were him. He has done 40 years of touring, got more money than he could ever spend, and his physical health is not great. He never cared about live releases or releasing old and abandoned stuff. Sure, I'm curious what's in the faults as well, but in the meantime, I enjoy all the things that he did release. Today I listened to both Lucca 2001 and Woodinville 2019. Incomparable, but that's life. Heroes grow old too.
I have deep respect for John. He didn't lose his cool when MK basically dumped him. I loved the Guitar Stories show, and it's a lovely gesture he visited some of the 2019 shows. I think he knew it was now or never. He wouldn't bet his friendship with MK over a book.
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I love how such happy news turns into a typical "grumpy MK" situation on this forum. I'd love to read John's stories, and I understand how some are unhappy with MK lately, but I wouldn't give a damn either if I were him. He has done 40 years of touring, got more money than he could ever spend, and his physical health is not great. He never cared about live releases or releasing old and abandoned stuff. Sure, I'm curious what's in the faults as well, but in the meantime, I enjoy all the things that he did release. Today I listened to both Lucca 2001 and Woodinville 2019. Incomparable, but that's life. Heroes grow old too.
I have deep respect for John. He didn't lose his cool when MK basically dumped him. I loved the Guitar Stories show, and it's a lovely gesture he visited some of the 2019 shows. I think he knew it was now or never. He wouldn't bet his friendship with MK over a book.
Somebody's got to write that book, but since Mark is too cool for books and too cool for many other things, John decided to step up and just do it. I bet the book won't even have a foreword by MK, because he's too cool for even that... You know, as much as I love MK, and as much as you are so right, that every topic seems to gravitate towards bashing Mark into the ground, I think there's no smoke without fire. Seems like more we fans want from MK, more he doesn't care about it. Good for him!
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Given that the rumor is true, it would be really unfair to Illsley as he has every right to tell his story or stories.
And the only way to neutralize those things?
Write your own bloody book!
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Cool! Looking forward to this. He has all the right in the world to tell his story. My only fear is that, John, being the kind gentleman he is, might keep things a little too polite though.
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Cool! Looking forward to this. He has all the right in the world to tell his story. My only fear is that, John, being the kind gentleman he is, might keep things a little too polite though.
Yes, I'm sure. Actually it's his book so he's gonna tell HIS story. Obviously he would mention MK, and I'm sure he would do it with the highest respect and praise to him, as they are still friends, and he knows MK better than anyone else.
I'm also sure he would be not that way with the rest of the band, in the "Story of DS" concerts he had been playing before the pandemic, he used to refere to people like Hal Lindes as "a relieve when he left", I guess he would say similar things in his book, but in a gentle way.
Ed would be very different, his book would be more "juicy" as he doesn't give a d**m, lol
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Cool! Looking forward to this. He has all the right in the world to tell his story. My only fear is that, John, being the kind gentleman he is, might keep things a little too polite though.
Yes, I'm sure. Actually it's his book so he's gonna tell HIS story. Obviously he would mention MK, and I'm sure he would do it with the highest respect and praise to him, as they are still friends, and he knows MK better than anyone else.
I'm also sure he would be not that way with the rest of the band, in the "Story of DS" concerts he had been playing before the pandemic, he used to refere to people like Hal Lindes as "a relieve when he left", I guess he would say similar things in his book, but in a gentle way.
Ed would be very different, his book would be more "juicy" as he doesn't give a d**m, lol
Yes, Ed's book will/would be a great read, I think.
Back to John's book, though. I'm curious if he will talk about how things functioned in the band. In the video interview with Pick, Pick gave a not very flattering picture of John's and David's musical abilities. As long as John did what he was told, things were ok. My impression is that John was a solid, reliable, useful "yes man", but also he that he accepted and was happy in that role. It will indeed be interesting to read this.
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Cool! Looking forward to this. He has all the right in the world to tell his story. My only fear is that, John, being the kind gentleman he is, might keep things a little too polite though.
Yes, in light of Mark's unhappiness about it I can envisage some dilution of the juicy bits.
On the other hand Ed's book should be an absolute hoot!
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Back to John's book, though. I'm curious if he will talk about how things functioned in the band. In the video interview with Pick, Pick gave a not very flattering picture of John's and David's musical abilities. As long as John did what he was told, things were ok. My impression is that John was a solid, reliable, useful "yes man", but also he that he accepted and was happy in that role. It will indeed be interesting to read this.
It's like the Nick Mason biography... He explained the Pink Floyd history from his own point of view, which is a very gentle and polite one but I can imagine a more exciting one if it was Roger Waters who speaks, lol.
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Back to John's book, though. I'm curious if he will talk about how things functioned in the band. In the video interview with Pick, Pick gave a not very flattering picture of John's and David's musical abilities. As long as John did what he was told, things were ok. My impression is that John was a solid, reliable, useful "yes man", but also he that he accepted and was happy in that role. It will indeed be interesting to read this.
It's like the Nick Mason biography... He explained the Pink Floyd history from his own point of view, which is a very gentle and polite one but I can imagine a more exciting one if it was Roger Waters who speaks, lol.
The trouble is people often disagree on stuff, I remember Paul McCartney said he and Ringo would always remember stuff different, so Ringo's book on The Beatles would be completely different from Paul's. We'll never know who's right, and in the case of DS, given Mark's dominant presence in the band, it's kind of strange to read someone else's take. It's like Guy would write a biography of Mark's solo career, if you know what I mean. But again, in the absence of any official biography almost anything will do.
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Back to John's book, though. I'm curious if he will talk about how things functioned in the band. In the video interview with Pick, Pick gave a not very flattering picture of John's and David's musical abilities. As long as John did what he was told, things were ok. My impression is that John was a solid, reliable, useful "yes man", but also he that he accepted and was happy in that role. It will indeed be interesting to read this.
It's like the Nick Mason biography... He explained the Pink Floyd history from his own point of view, which is a very gentle and polite one but I can imagine a more exciting one if it was Roger Waters who speaks, lol.
The trouble is people often disagree on stuff, I remember Paul McCartney said he and Ringo would always remember stuff different, so Ringo's book on The Beatles would be completely different from Paul's. We'll never know who's right, and in the case of DS, given Mark's dominant presence in the band, it's kind of strange to read someone else's take. It's like Guy would write a biography of Mark's solo career, if you know what I mean. But again, in the absence of any official biography almost anything will do.
The key here is that it is John Illsley life which would be in the book. So what we are going to read is John involvement in the band, and Mk will be mentioned, of course, but usually that would be from John's point of view as member of the band. He's not writing MK biography nor DS biography, but his involvement with the band.
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I don't foresee more than laughs and jokes and drinks and smokes.
And no light on the stairs, of course.
A book could never chant the chord :'(
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Mark seems a right miserable old git! Sorry but it has to be said. John is exactly the opposite and appears to be the nicest guy you could ever wish to meet.
Mark never does anything for the people who made him and only thinks of himself when it comes to music. I think if you look at the personnel he's been through over the years it tells the story. John appears to be very easy going and I will look forward to his book with great anticipation.
I think you are wrong when you say MK never does anything. MK has throughout his career been surrounded by people less talented than him who has made a career, become famous and seen the world thanks to MK’s talent, not their own. He has made music that means a lot to a number of people and given lots of people good times and memories for life. So MK has done everything for the people «who made him» and that are keeping on milking his fame and talent. The fact that he makes artistic and business desitions that not all agree on, is not selfishness, but integrity. John (and the rest) had better be happy, easy going and smiling. It’s MK who plays his bills and sells his records, concerts and the coming book.
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:thumbsup A very good answer. A very good reaction.
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A big well known fan, who is close to MK, says MK is not very happy with this, in the contrary...
We don't know the whole truth.
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A big well known fan, who is close to MK, says MK is not very happy with this, in the contrary...
Wait a minute. Who is this ‘big well known fan who is close to MK’? Everyone on here seems to be assuming this rumour of Mark being unhappy about the book is true. Can you verify this information?
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This should be a good read.
Who cares if MK likes it or not?
I am only interested in the music he produces so his personal likes or dislikes are irrelevant.
Although it is frustrating deluxe reissues haven't been released and that dvds/live shows/books/films/documentaries/headbands also haven't been produced to our specifications,less can help you appreciate the goods that are available.
We will be getting a new album and perhaps a tour along with the London run of Local Hero which is a lot for a 71+ year old.
I would imagine the Bicknell book will be sensationalised so will get more headlines but how much will be fact rather than fiction remains to be seen.
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Guy is ignoring a question about the book on his forum :think
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Mark seems a right miserable old git! Sorry but it has to be said. John is exactly the opposite and appears to be the nicest guy you could ever wish to meet.
Mark never does anything for the people who made him and only thinks of himself when it comes to music. I think if you look at the personnel he's been through over the years it tells the story. John appears to be very easy going and I will look forward to his book with great anticipation.
I think you are wrong when you say MK never does anything. MK has throughout his career been surrounded by people less talented than him who has made a career, become famous and seen the world thanks to MK’s talent, not their own. He has made music that means a lot to a number of people and given lots of people good times and memories for life. So MK has done everything for the people «who made him» and that are keeping on milking his fame and talent. The fact that he makes artistic and business desitions that not all agree on, is not selfishness, but integrity. John (and the rest) had better be happy, easy going and smiling. It’s MK who plays his bills and sells his records, concerts and the coming book.
The fact Mark has toured, made records and surrounded himself with people less talented doesn't make him a saint. He has made the music he has because he wanted to. He has toured because he wanted to (or to promote an album). If he has made us happy then that's purely coincidental. He's never thought to tour for us or to perform songs for us or to release certain songs for us. It's just not him.
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A big well known fan, who is close to MK, says MK is not very happy with this, in the contrary...
We don't know the whole truth.
"Guy is ignoring a question about the book on his forum"
Don't we... :lol
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Mark seems a right miserable old git! Sorry but it has to be said. John is exactly the opposite and appears to be the nicest guy you could ever wish to meet.
Mark never does anything for the people who made him and only thinks of himself when it comes to music. I think if you look at the personnel he's been through over the years it tells the story. John appears to be very easy going and I will look forward to his book with great anticipation.
I think you are wrong when you say MK never does anything. MK has throughout his career been surrounded by people less talented than him who has made a career, become famous and seen the world thanks to MK’s talent, not their own. He has made music that means a lot to a number of people and given lots of people good times and memories for life. So MK has done everything for the people «who made him» and that are keeping on milking his fame and talent. The fact that he makes artistic and business desitions that not all agree on, is not selfishness, but integrity. John (and the rest) had better be happy, easy going and smiling. It’s MK who plays his bills and sells his records, concerts and the coming book.
The fact Mark has toured, made records and surrounded himself with people less talented doesn't make him a saint. He has made the music he has because he wanted to. He has toured because he wanted to (or to promote an album). If he has made us happy then that's purely coincidental. He's never thought to tour for us or to perform songs for us or to release certain songs for us. It's just not him.
Just had a thought about this... Just like Mark distinguish music and music business side of his work, there's music business side of MK and music side of MK. Music business side is extremely selfish and demanding, hence all these stories and 'psychological injuries' among his colleagues. Hovewer, if you just make music with him or agree on everything with him, he's as nice as The Pope and literally a saint and will do anything for you. Until... You're still useful for his business side!
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Aren’t you describing things that happened 30 to 40 years ago? Hasn’t the personell group been quite stable since then?
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Aren’t you describing things that happened 30 to 40 years ago? Hasn’t the personell group been quite stable since then?
It's stable because it involves very loyal people! I will always remember a quote from Guy, that he and Mark never had a single argument in their whole career. This is something I don't understand, but OK. To me, discussion mater veritas est (thought thrives on conflict).
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It’s clear that Mark doesn’t like fame and it’s also clear that he is humble and self-deprecating.
I do wonder, however, if his attempt to be completely humble and self deprecating doesn’t come across well. Was it out of attempted humility that he didn’t go to the Hall of Fame induction? If so, it came across badly in my opinion. I doubt anyone though MORE highly of MK because of this than they did before.
The other thing that comes to mind is the well known interview when he describes hearing Telegraph Road in a bar and how much he hated it. If that’s completely true, why did he perform it still for so long. If he thinks it’s such a bad recording and everything, he should have dropped it years ago surely? Maybe a cover of Rave On (mentioned as being more preferable in that interview) would not have covered the “TR hole” in the show but if he REALLY dislikes TR as much as he claimed then why did he play it for so long?
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It’s clear that Mark doesn’t like fame and it’s also clear that he is humble and self-deprecating.
I do wonder, however, if his attempt to be completely humble and self deprecating doesn’t come across well. Was it out of attempted humility that he didn’t go to the Hall of Fame induction? If so, it came across badly in my opinion. I doubt anyone though MORE highly of MK because of this than they did before.
The other thing that comes to mind is the well known interview when he describes hearing Telegraph Road in a bar and how much he hated it. If that’s completely true, why did he perform it still for so long. If he thinks it’s such a bad recording and everything, he should have dropped it years ago surely? Maybe a cover of Rave On (mentioned as being more preferable in that interview) would not have covered the “TR hole” in the show but if he REALLY dislikes TR as much as he claimed then why did he play it for so long?
1. The official reason of Mark missing Hall Of Fame, if I remember correctly, was that they would say what Mark should do there and he won't stand when somebody tells him what to do. I'm pretty sure by that they would mean that Hall Of Fame wanted basically a Dire Straits reunion. Haha! This fact alone shows how stupid they are. They should've done the research and find out that Mark will do a Dire Straits reunion only through his dead body! If he'd just was invited and not forced to do anything, chances are he would collect the award.
2. Mark never hated Telegraph Road, he just hated the overproduction of the album version. Because they worked so hard on it, and in the end, it loses in feeling live to "Rave On", which was recorded with a couple of microphones in a couple of minutes, completely live. He was complaining that overproduced studio recording can potentially be so overproduced, that it loses life, not that he's not a fan of the song.
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Aren’t you describing things that happened 30 to 40 years ago? Hasn’t the personell group been quite stable since then?
It's stable because it involves very loyal people! I will always remember a quote from Guy, that he and Mark never had a single argument in their whole career. This is something I don't understand, but OK. To me, discussion mater veritas est (thought thrives on conflict).
It always amuses me when people say things like "50 years married and never a cross word"! That says to me that one of them is "under the thumb" - afraid to give their own opinion.
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It’s clear that Mark doesn’t like fame and it’s also clear that he is humble and self-deprecating.
I do wonder, however, if his attempt to be completely humble and self deprecating doesn’t come across well. Was it out of attempted humility that he didn’t go to the Hall of Fame induction? If so, it came across badly in my opinion. I doubt anyone though MORE highly of MK because of this than they did before.
The other thing that comes to mind is the well known interview when he describes hearing Telegraph Road in a bar and how much he hated it. If that’s completely true, why did he perform it still for so long. If he thinks it’s such a bad recording and everything, he should have dropped it years ago surely? Maybe a cover of Rave On (mentioned as being more preferable in that interview) would not have covered the “TR hole” in the show but if he REALLY dislikes TR as much as he claimed then why did he play it for so long?
1. The official reason of Mark missing Hall Of Fame, if I remember correctly, was that they would say what Mark should do there and he won't stand when somebody tells him what to do. I'm pretty sure by that they would mean that Hall Of Fame wanted basically a Dire Straits reunion. Haha! This fact alone shows how stupid they are. They should've done the research and find out that Mark will do a Dire Straits reunion only through his dead body! If he'd just was invited and not forced to do anything, chances are he would collect the award.
2. Mark never hated Telegraph Road, he just hated the overproduction of the album version. Because they worked so hard on it, and in the end, it loses in feeling live to "Rave On", which was recorded with a couple of microphones in a couple of minutes, completely live. He was complaining that overproduced studio recording can potentially be so overproduced, that it loses life, not that he's not a fan of the song.
I haven't listened to the album version of TR for years, it is too over-produced for my taste. I much prefer the live ones, even if there are some greenies.
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Aren’t you describing things that happened 30 to 40 years ago? Hasn’t the personell group been quite stable since then?
It's stable because it involves very loyal people! I will always remember a quote from Guy, that he and Mark never had a single argument in their whole career. This is something I don't understand, but OK. To me, discussion mater veritas est (thought thrives on conflict).
Or because they all are economically and artistically independent of MK and have their own lives, carreers, tallents and dreams. (I agree with you on the Guy quote. Hard to understand.)
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Aren’t you describing things that happened 30 to 40 years ago? Hasn’t the personell group been quite stable since then?
It's stable because it involves very loyal people! I will always remember a quote from Guy, that he and Mark never had a single argument in their whole career. This is something I don't understand, but OK. To me, discussion mater veritas est (thought thrives on conflict).
Or because they all are economically and artistically independent of MK and have their own lives, carreers, tallents and dreams. (I agree with you on the Guy quote. Hard to understand.)
not a single argument after 35 years is impossible unless you are a yes man
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Aren’t you describing things that happened 30 to 40 years ago? Hasn’t the personell group been quite stable since then?
It's stable because it involves very loyal people! I will always remember a quote from Guy, that he and Mark never had a single argument in their whole career. This is something I don't understand, but OK. To me, discussion mater veritas est (thought thrives on conflict).
Or because they all are economically and artistically independent of MK and have their own lives, carreers, tallents and dreams. (I agree with you on the Guy quote. Hard to understand.)
not a single argument after 35 years is impossible unless you are a yes man
Exactly, and Mark surrounds himself with them, even down to his manager. This surely to the detriment of creativity, but it's his choice.
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You don't bite the hand that feeds you.
I'm pretty sure Guy is on retainer or is a full-time employee.
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Mark is almost a normal man.
When you are the boss and assume to be one you may choose to have total control over YOUR choices.
This is why at some point when Mark decided that DS was OVER, ED did not survive the solo career longer than the first two albums...
Mark is the man who write the stuff and decide what input he is giving or not to others musician.
And Guy 99 % of the time is an employee that doesn't feel the need to tell the world he has different opinion than his boss when it happens.
We can also assume that Mark evolved, that his goals when he started DS, once they have been reached changed over the time.
None of us really know who is Mark apart he is an artist (and not your best pal).
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I think the same. Thanks for this post ds1984:)
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skint in a material world. You have got to have no credit cards to know how good it feels
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Mark is almost a normal man.
When you are the boss and assume to be one you may choose to have total control over YOUR choices.
This is why at some point when Mark decided that DS was OVER, ED did not survive the solo career longer than the first two albums...
Mark is the man who write the stuff and decide what input he is giving or not to others musician.
And Guy 99 % of the time is an employee that doesn't feel the need to tell the world he has different opinion than his boss when it happens.
We can also assume that Mark evolved, that his goals when he started DS, once they have been reached changed over the time.
None of us really know who is Mark apart he is an artist (and not your best pal).
I totally agreed with you. Great post! :thumbsup
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https://youtu.be/sztf4hcGrB4
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As far as I'm concerned Ed was the one who cared about us the fans and the albums released under him contained plenty of what I would call Mark's trademarks. Labelled "The voice and guitar of Dire Straits" they appealed to his army of loyal fans for obvious reasons.
When Ed departed and "yes man" PC came in we were met with a new brand of music that Mark wanted but with no regard to his loyal fans and perhaps even some great guitar-driven songs left out.
When it comes to touring just about every artist pleases their fans by playing favourite songs because they've been milestones in their lives. Not our Mark! He plays obscure ones from recent works leaving out his signature songs.
Now before Robson has a fit and Stanko finds a quote [only joking guys] ask yourself would any other artist do this and really get away with it unless they surrounded themselves with yes men? That's why Ed bit the dust and sadly, for us he was one of the best things that ever happened to Mark.
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When it comes to touring just about every artist pleases their fans by playing favourite songs because they've been milestones in their lives. Not our Mark! He plays obscure ones from recent works leaving out his signature songs.
I don't agree with you , Mark has always said that he was aware that some songs are , as you say, milestones , and he new that he had to play them for what they mean to fans , but in another hand , after so many years of touring , you can understand that he wants to skip some and try to promote new ones , he has been working on.
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When it comes to touring just about every artist pleases their fans by playing favourite songs because they've been milestones in their lives. Not our Mark! He plays obscure ones from recent works leaving out his signature songs.
I don't agree with you , Mark has always said that he was aware that some songs are , as you say, milestones , and he new that he had to play them for what they mean to fans , but in another hand , after so many years of touring , you can understand that he wants to skip some and try to promote new ones , he has been working on.
He's said that often, which is why I used his own words, but never really lived up to it as far as I'm concerned. Playing BIA at a handful of shows in an entire tour just does not cut it for example.
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I fully understand what you mean , but playing again , and again SOS,TR,RJ,WOL,MFN from his perspective can be a bit "boring"...working hard on new songs , enjoying recording them and not being able to play most of them live because some songs are mandatory to please fans , can be frustrating.
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According to Pick Withers facebook account, run by his wife, Pick is also writing a book of his musical memoirs!
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According to Pick Withers facebook account, run by his wife, Pick is also writing a book of his musical memoirs!
Lol! Only Mark is looking forward only, unlike all those losers!
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According to Pick Withers facebook account, run by his wife, Pick is also writing a book of his musical memoirs!
Lol! Only Mark is looking forward only, unlike all those losers!
David was asked in his patreon account and he said he rather tell whatever story on his podcasts in its own patreon, by now, LOL
If David would write one, that would made 4 of 5 early Straits (including Ed...)
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When it comes to touring just about every artist pleases their fans by playing favourite songs because they've been milestones in their lives. Not our Mark! He plays obscure ones from recent works leaving out his signature songs.
He has been playing the milestones for years - R&J, SOS, BIA, So Far Away, Local Hero, MFN, TR, etc and it was only recently that he stopped playing some of them, either because they were too difficult these days, or because he wanted other less played songs eg OUATITW, Your Latest Trick, Silvertown, OES in the setlist and some new ones too! Mark can't win! If he plays the milestones, people say he should drop them and do other songs and when he drops them and plays new stuff, it's still not right! He does his best, I'm sure, to make a balance, but he can never please everyone! I'm sure most of us wouldn't want to hear him play the milestones, if he couldn't manage to play them to the best of his ability, would we?
When I listen to older concerts it makes me realise that he covers a great range of songs from his repertoire from tour to tour. It was only on the last tour that he stopped playing the majority of the milestones. As for me, I would be happy to hear the more obscure songs from his back catalogue and also some more new ones. :)
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I think that what DMG means is that Mk had been saying that BIA was a milestone that he always would play it because it means a lot to fans, and specially BIA had been one of the songs that had been rarely played during his last three or four tours...
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I think that what DMG means is that Mk had been saying that BIA was a milestone that he always would play it because it means a lot to fans, and specially BIA had been one of the songs that had been rarely played during his last three or four tours...
I think it's a struggle for him to play it well these days and also some of the other milestones and that is why he has stopped playing them. He is much better playing songs that he is comfortable playing these days, like the section we heard in the middle of the last tour for example.
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Milestones are great, though given Mark's show length is about average, to say the least, not 3 hours or something, song's real estate in the setlist is literally golden, so every song counts. As much as I love Telegraph Road, 15 minutes it occupies in not the biggest set in the world is quite tragic, same with 15 minutes Sultans, 10 minutes Marbletown.
To me, not all milestones are worth playing, probably the single song that's ought to be played and is consistently played every night — is Romeo And Juliet, probably the most anticipated song in the set and the most refined one in terms of the arrangement, the perfect song. Every other 'milestones' Mark successfully threw out in random shows over the years.
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Milestones are great, though given Mark's show length is about average, to say the least, not 3 hours or something, song's real estate in the setlist is literally golden, so every song counts. As much as I love Telegraph Road, 15 minutes it occupies in not the biggest set in the world is quite tragic, same with 15 minutes Sultans, 10 minutes Marbletown.
To me, not all milestones are worth playing, probably the single song that's ought to be played and is consistently played every night — is Romeo And Juliet, probably the most anticipated song in the set and the most refined one in terms of the arrangement, the perfect song. Every other 'milestones' Mark successfully threw out in random shows over the years.
I agree, milestones are great, but only if MK is comfortable playing them as he would like them played. R&J is an exception. I think he really loves the song and so does the audience generally. It is the one song that he has played more than any other.
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Milestones are great, though given Mark's show length is about average, to say the least, not 3 hours or something, song's real estate in the setlist is literally golden, so every song counts. As much as I love Telegraph Road, 15 minutes it occupies in not the biggest set in the world is quite tragic, same with 15 minutes Sultans, 10 minutes Marbletown.
To me, not all milestones are worth playing, probably the single song that's ought to be played and is consistently played every night — is Romeo And Juliet, probably the most anticipated song in the set and the most refined one in terms of the arrangement, the perfect song. Every other 'milestones' Mark successfully threw out in random shows over the years.
I agree, milestones are great, but only if MK is comfortable playing them as he would like them played. R&J is an exception. I think he really loves the song and so does the audience generally. It is the one song that he has played more than any other.
The funny thing with Romeo And Juliet is that the song is so perfect they couldn't even find a way to play it as a duo with Emmylou Harris, the song is literally perfect the way it is. "Tunnel Of Love" would have a similar kind of vibe to it, even a more refined song than R&J, but we all know the tragedy of Tunnel Of Love never performed again.
That brings a question... What is a milestone? Is 'What It Is' a milestone? It certainly is, but I don't think that somebody cried when it wasn't in the set, because the live version never was as good as the studio version anyway. Is 'Bonaparte' or 'Paraguay' or 'Marbletown' or 'Philadelphia' milestones? Probably... But overplayed already. So, my point is, by 'milestones' Mark means Dire Straits songs, as simple as that. An euphemism for 'songs I'm famous for'.
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I think some perspective is need here. Firstly, and I have said this before, no-one here knows Mark Knopfler, some may have shaken his hand or spoken briefly to him, but no-one knows him, so it really is hard to form a definitive opinion about Mark's choices, it is often said that Mark has been the bad guy in his choices of band members leaving for example, but why? we don't really know what his relationship was with Pick Withers for example, it is interesting that Mark is the only one not talking about these kind of things, surely he should be given credit for that, instead of him constantly running down his previous band members, just look at David Gilmour & Roger Waters!!
Can Mark's personality be that bad? Take Emmylou Harris for example, she only had praise for Mark, she and Mark were even photographed with each of their mothers, wouldn't you only introduce nice people to your mother? Emmylou has no reason to be false about Mark, she could and does play with many other artists. Look at the admiration on the face of Bonnie Raitt last year when they played together, what about Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Nail, I don't recall any of them saying bad thing about Mark, I am not saying Mark is perfect, but I am saying, the people who really know him, don't seem to have a problem with him, of course there are bound to be people who he has played with that have an issue, but not as bad as has been made out. I would much prefer to be a fan of Mark than certain others who are more vocal, I respect Mark for that. I truly believe his choices have always been artistic ones, in the Arena documentary he stated it was never his aim to make a million dollars, I take his word for it, why wouldn't I? again I don't know Mark.
I recently re-watched the Golden Heart EPK, just listen to excited the band members are to play and tour with Mark, again these are guy who play many, many sessions all the time, so they know the good people from the bad.
I don't see the point talking about Mark's current guitar abilities one way or the other, he has nothing to prove anymore, and he hasn't for a long time, he is simply one of the greatest players ever to play the instrument, he always will be.
As long as he keeps recording and playing live whenever he wants to, I am happy, but more to the point, he is happy, he doesn't have to do it, but he wants to do it, I applaud him for that. They are all his songs, and he should, and does have the final say in what he wants to play. He is fully aware of what his audience likes or doesn't like, but if you look from tour to tour, he does play new songs every tour, mixed in with older songs, so I don't see the issue.
Oh, and I am looking forward to reading John's book.
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I think some perspective is need here. Firstly, and I have said this before, no-one here knows Mark Knopfler, some may have shaken his hand or spoken briefly to him, but no-one knows him, so it really is hard to form a definitive opinion about Mark's choices, it is often said that Mark has been the bad guy in his choices of band members leaving for example, but why? we don't really know what his relationship was with Pick Withers for example, it is interesting that Mark is the only one not talking about these kind of things, surely he should be given credit for that, instead of him constantly running down his previous band members, just look at David Gilmour & Roger Waters!!
Can Mark's personality be that bad? Take Emmylou Harris for example, she only had praise for Mark, she and Mark were even photographed with each of their mothers, wouldn't you only introduce nice people to your mother? Emmylou has no reason to be false about Mark, she could and does play with many other artists. Look at the admiration on the face of Bonnie Raitt last year when they played together, what about Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Nail, I don't recall any of them saying bad thing about Mark, I am not saying Mark is perfect, but I am saying, the people who really know him, don't seem to have a problem with him, of course there are bound to be people who he has played with that have an issue, but not as bad as has been made out. I would much prefer to be a fan of Mark than certain others who are more vocal, I respect Mark for that. I truly believe his choices have always been artistic ones, in the Arena documentary he stated it was never his aim to make a million dollars, I take his word for it, why wouldn't I? again I don't know Mark.
I recently re-watched the Golden Heart EPK, just listen to excited the band members are to play and tour with Mark, again these are guy who play many, many sessions all the time, so they know the good people from the bad.
I don't see the point talking about Mark's current guitar abilities one way or the other, he has nothing to prove anymore, and he hasn't for a long time, he is simply one of the greatest players ever to play the instrument, he always will be.
As long as he keeps recording and playing live whenever he wants to, I am happy, but more to the point, he is happy, he doesn't have to do it, but he wants to do it, I applaud him for that. They are all his songs, and he should, and does have the final say in what he wants to play. He is fully aware of what his audience likes or doesn't like, but if you look from tour to tour, he does play new songs every tour, mixed in with older songs, so I don't see the issue.
Oh, and I am looking forward to reading John's book.
Wise words! It reminds me of the tagline for "Social Network" movie: "You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies." Totally applicable to Mark actually! I'm not a fan of discussing personalities that's for sure. In the long career Mark met and worked with so many people, and made so many fans, that even statistically speaking he's bound to make some people angry for whatever reason, can't be the other way. That's just math!
Mark is the leader and more than that, he's "the guy who wrote the song", so, in the end, song is king. You don't even need to be the leader as long as you write good songs. The music is all that really matters, and in the ideal world it is all that really matters, so again, in the ideal world there should be no books or biographies, because the songs speaks for itself. And that, I think, is that makes Mark not happy about John's book, because he'd be like "Isn't my songs is not enough? What you like to cheapen it a little bit by telling a story of how it was made?'. Mark could be too romantic about it, but in the end he would be right and would have the last laugh. He's the Poirot of songwriters!
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I think some perspective is need here. Firstly, and I have said this before, no-one here knows Mark Knopfler, some may have shaken his hand or spoken briefly to him, but no-one knows him, so it really is hard to form a definitive opinion about Mark's choices, it is often said that Mark has been the bad guy in his choices of band members leaving for example, but why? we don't really know what his relationship was with Pick Withers for example, it is interesting that Mark is the only one not talking about these kind of things, surely he should be given credit for that, instead of him constantly running down his previous band members, just look at David Gilmour & Roger Waters!!
Can Mark's personality be that bad? Take Emmylou Harris for example, she only had praise for Mark, she and Mark were even photographed with each of their mothers, wouldn't you only introduce nice people to your mother? Emmylou has no reason to be false about Mark, she could and does play with many other artists. Look at the admiration on the face of Bonnie Raitt last year when they played together, what about Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Nail, I don't recall any of them saying bad thing about Mark, I am not saying Mark is perfect, but I am saying, the people who really know him, don't seem to have a problem with him, of course there are bound to be people who he has played with that have an issue, but not as bad as has been made out. I would much prefer to be a fan of Mark than certain others who are more vocal, I respect Mark for that. I truly believe his choices have always been artistic ones, in the Arena documentary he stated it was never his aim to make a million dollars, I take his word for it, why wouldn't I? again I don't know Mark.
I recently re-watched the Golden Heart EPK, just listen to excited the band members are to play and tour with Mark, again these are guy who play many, many sessions all the time, so they know the good people from the bad.
I don't see the point talking about Mark's current guitar abilities one way or the other, he has nothing to prove anymore, and he hasn't for a long time, he is simply one of the greatest players ever to play the instrument, he always will be.
As long as he keeps recording and playing live whenever he wants to, I am happy, but more to the point, he is happy, he doesn't have to do it, but he wants to do it, I applaud him for that. They are all his songs, and he should, and does have the final say in what he wants to play. He is fully aware of what his audience likes or doesn't like, but if you look from tour to tour, he does play new songs every tour, mixed in with older songs, so I don't see the issue.
Oh, and I am looking forward to reading John's book.
Wise words! It reminds me of the tagline for "Social Network" movie: "You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies." Totally applicable to Mark actually! I'm not a fan of discussing personalities that's for sure. In the long career Mark met and worked with so many people, and made so many fans, that even statistically speaking he's bound to make some people angry for whatever reason, can't be the other way. That's just math!
Mark is the leader and more than that, he's "the guy who wrote the song", so, in the end, song is king. You don't even need to be the leader as long as you write good songs. The music is all that really matters, and in the ideal world it is all that really matters, so again, in the ideal world there should be no books or biographies, because the songs speaks for itself. And that, I think, is that makes Mark not happy about John's book, because he'd be like "Isn't my songs is not enough? What you like to cheapen it a little bit by telling a story of how it was made?'. Mark could be too romantic about it, but in the end he would be right and would have the last laugh. He's the Poirot of songwriters!
Excellent comments. Finally someone with a decent understanding of where we are in relation to MK. So often being a devotee leads to a false sense of intimacy with the object of one's desire, a false sense of entitlement, and ultimately disappointment.
No one can really claim to 'know' Mark Knopfler, buying records, tickets,cane merchandise amounts to nothing more than your own personal choice and continues to be so until he is no more. 😢.
There is no doubt that MK is a very private person who gives very little away. In this respect I think he has every right to keep personal things to himself.
People will always ride on the coattails of others, and in our dog eat dog world that's to be expected. They should just remember why they have an audience at all before committing ink to paper....
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I think some perspective is need here. Firstly, and I have said this before, no-one here knows Mark Knopfler, some may have shaken his hand or spoken briefly to him, but no-one knows him, so it really is hard to form a definitive opinion about Mark's choices, it is often said that Mark has been the bad guy in his choices of band members leaving for example, but why? we don't really know what his relationship was with Pick Withers for example, it is interesting that Mark is the only one not talking about these kind of things, surely he should be given credit for that, instead of him constantly running down his previous band members, just look at David Gilmour & Roger Waters!!
Can Mark's personality be that bad? Take Emmylou Harris for example, she only had praise for Mark, she and Mark were even photographed with each of their mothers, wouldn't you only introduce nice people to your mother? Emmylou has no reason to be false about Mark, she could and does play with many other artists. Look at the admiration on the face of Bonnie Raitt last year when they played together, what about Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Nail, I don't recall any of them saying bad thing about Mark, I am not saying Mark is perfect, but I am saying, the people who really know him, don't seem to have a problem with him, of course there are bound to be people who he has played with that have an issue, but not as bad as has been made out. I would much prefer to be a fan of Mark than certain others who are more vocal, I respect Mark for that. I truly believe his choices have always been artistic ones, in the Arena documentary he stated it was never his aim to make a million dollars, I take his word for it, why wouldn't I? again I don't know Mark.
I recently re-watched the Golden Heart EPK, just listen to excited the band members are to play and tour with Mark, again these are guy who play many, many sessions all the time, so they know the good people from the bad.
I don't see the point talking about Mark's current guitar abilities one way or the other, he has nothing to prove anymore, and he hasn't for a long time, he is simply one of the greatest players ever to play the instrument, he always will be.
As long as he keeps recording and playing live whenever he wants to, I am happy, but more to the point, he is happy, he doesn't have to do it, but he wants to do it, I applaud him for that. They are all his songs, and he should, and does have the final say in what he wants to play. He is fully aware of what his audience likes or doesn't like, but if you look from tour to tour, he does play new songs every tour, mixed in with older songs, so I don't see the issue.
Oh, and I am looking forward to reading John's book.
Very well said! :thumbsup Thank you VERY MUCH for your great post, qjamesfloyd.
I am really sick and tired of all these Mark bashings going on here lately.
For an artist like MK who has such a vast song catalogue it is almost impossible to please each and every fan.
But as long as he keeps singing R&J I will be happy with all of the other songs he will choose. ;)
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Very well said qjamesfloyd, 2manyguutars and KnopfleRick. It’s fair enough being constructively critical, but the overt negativity towards MK on this forum has become ridiculous. None of you actually know the man. I’d still like to see some definitive proof of the claim that Mark is unhappy about this book. Because people on this forum just seem to have automatically gone along with it and used it as yet another stick to bash him with.
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Very well said qjamesfloyd, 2manyguutars and KnopfleRick. It’s fair enough being constructively critical, but the overt negativity towards MK on this forum has become ridiculous. None of you actually know the man. I’d still like to see some definitive proof of the claim that Mark is unhappy about this book. Because people on this forum just seem to have automatically gone along with it and used it as yet another stick to bash him with.
Exactly!
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If you see life on the road with Brian Johnson then you get a very good idea of what Mark's thoughts are and he didn't seem remotely grumpy in that.Lately there have been some autobiographical songs.I think he would feel genuinely uncomfortable writing a book about himself and i would imagine John would have mentioned it to him at some point in the process that he was writing a book.
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If you see life on the road with Brian Johnson then you get a very good idea of what Mark's thoughts are and he didn't seem remotely grumpy in that.Lately there have been some autobiographical songs.I think he would feel genuinely uncomfortable writing a book about himself and i would imagine John would have mentioned it to him at some point in the process that he was writing a book.
This depends on what you would call a book about yourself. I imagine Mark's book being something like "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!", a collection of stories, rather than your typical biography. "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" renders Mr Feynman character so clearly, you feel like you knew the man personally, and leaves you with a deep feeling that you would want to know him in person. Such a great personality! So I'd want something like that. And Mark actually did something like that, he told a lot of stories in his radio programme, like meeting Ennio Morricone, meeting Chet Atkins, meeting Chet Baker. That's all extremely book-worthy, well at least we got it in the form of audio. By the way, Mr. Feynman's books were also transcribed from audio interviews with him. That's so simple — just record your stories and put it on paper, nobody wants a complete 1000-pages long autobiography. Maybe John's book will be like that, I hope.
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Buying the Phil Palmer "Session Man" book I've found some info to pre-order John Illsley's book!
https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/9781787634350 (https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/9781787634350)
Hardback 320 Pages / Published: 21/10/2021
Some bands go huge - only a few stay huge.
One of the most successful music acts of all time, Dire Straits have filled stadia around the world. Their album sales number the hundreds of millions and their music is still played in every continent today. Their songs were either the complete soundtrack or the background music for an entire generation. There was, quite simply, no bigger band on the planet throughout the eighties.
In this powerful and entertaining memoir, bass guitarist, founder member and mainstay, John Illsley, gives the inside track on the most successful rock band of their time. From playing gigs in the spit-and-sawdust pubs of south London, to hanging out with Bob Dylan in LA, John tells his story - and the story of the band - with searching honesty, soulful reflection and great humour.
He also pays tribute to the remarkable talents of Mark Knopfler, whose unique ability to connect with people from all corners of the world was so important to the success of the band. John's is the first - and only - inside account of this global music phenomenon and is a fitting celebration that will delight millions of Dire Straits fans.
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 9781787634350
Number of pages: 320
Weight: 750 g
Dimensions: 240 x 156 x 40 mm
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Thanks for the update info!
Really something interessting to look forward to this year!
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ordered. 9 pounds postage? jeez.
so 35€ now.
very anxious to read it!
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ordered. 9 pounds postage? jeez.
so 35€ now.
very anxious to read it!
Yeah... A long wait until late October lol
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when it comes to the book, I expect to find the best parts between the lines ;)
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Wow, good news. Sounds interesting. I also watch for it. :thumbsup
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Will it be availible in other languages or only in english??
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Buying the Phil Palmer "Session Man" book I've found some info to pre-order John Illsley's book!
https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/9781787634350 (https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/9781787634350)
Hardback 320 Pages / Published: 21/10/2021
Some bands go huge - only a few stay huge.
One of the most successful music acts of all time, Dire Straits have filled stadia around the world. Their album sales number the hundreds of millions and their music is still played in every continent today. Their songs were either the complete soundtrack or the background music for an entire generation. There was, quite simply, no bigger band on the planet throughout the eighties.
In this powerful and entertaining memoir, bass guitarist, founder member and mainstay, John Illsley, gives the inside track on the most successful rock band of their time. From playing gigs in the spit-and-sawdust pubs of south London, to hanging out with Bob Dylan in LA, John tells his story - and the story of the band - with searching honesty, soulful reflection and great humour.
He also pays tribute to the remarkable talents of Mark Knopfler, whose unique ability to connect with people from all corners of the world was so important to the success of the band. John's is the first - and only - inside account of this global music phenomenon and is a fitting celebration that will delight millions of Dire Straits fans.
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 9781787634350
Number of pages: 320
Weight: 750 g
Dimensions: 240 x 156 x 40 mm
The title of the book has changed?
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Buying the Phil Palmer "Session Man" book I've found some info to pre-order John Illsley's book!
https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/9781787634350 (https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/9781787634350)
Hardback 320 Pages / Published: 21/10/2021
Some bands go huge - only a few stay huge.
One of the most successful music acts of all time, Dire Straits have filled stadia around the world. Their album sales number the hundreds of millions and their music is still played in every continent today. Their songs were either the complete soundtrack or the background music for an entire generation. There was, quite simply, no bigger band on the planet throughout the eighties.
In this powerful and entertaining memoir, bass guitarist, founder member and mainstay, John Illsley, gives the inside track on the most successful rock band of their time. From playing gigs in the spit-and-sawdust pubs of south London, to hanging out with Bob Dylan in LA, John tells his story - and the story of the band - with searching honesty, soulful reflection and great humour.
He also pays tribute to the remarkable talents of Mark Knopfler, whose unique ability to connect with people from all corners of the world was so important to the success of the band. John's is the first - and only - inside account of this global music phenomenon and is a fitting celebration that will delight millions of Dire Straits fans.
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 9781787634350
Number of pages: 320
Weight: 750 g
Dimensions: 240 x 156 x 40 mm
The title of the book has changed?
MK probably told him to change it.
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Does the topic title remain the same?
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Does the topic title remain the same?
Yes?
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when it comes to the book, I expect to find the best parts between the lines ;)
as is everything with Mark. agree
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Does the topic title remain the same?
Yes?
Is it a guess?
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Does the topic title remain the same?
Yes?
Is it a guess?
We are still talking about John Illsley's book about DS, so, I don't get the question.
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There are some temporaly covers of the book in the net. One of those reveals MK wrote the forewords!
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I have to say I think the title of the book is corny.
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11.11 :)
John why not It’s a Long Way From Deptford – The Dire Straits Story :think
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There are some temporaly covers of the book in the net. One of those reveals MK wrote the forewords!
Well, at least Mark wrote something! His foreword: "Everything you'll read in this book is a lie, don't believe it. Have a nice day" :lol
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Well, at least Mark wrote something! His foreword: "Everything you'll read in this book is a lie, don't believe it. Have a nice day" :lol
LOL
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Or an alternative version: Mark: "Everything you´ll read in this book is the truth, believe it. Have a nice day." ;D
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There are some temporaly covers of the book in the net. One of those reveals MK wrote the forewords!
At least a few words by Mark would be nice. Let's hope it will come true.
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Nice to see MK wrote a foreword. Should remind us not to make too hastily assumptions based on non factual information. We already had few pages full of negative comments about Mark’s disapproval of this book within this tread. But now it turns out that he actually was generous and helped John out by writing of few lines or pages in the book.
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I will judge it after I read it. I don't expect anything other than two or three lines with a more or less funny ironic old blokes statement and not really any deeper insight into his feelings or view. It might end with "it's a good vehicle to raise money for charity". But to put it onto the cover, it may help John to sell some more copies.
It's Mark Knopfler who really should write a book like this and who has the skills and capability to do it. But "No" is the usual answer.
LE
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Do we really want to have a book where he tells he used to smell catalogues and blowed the family radio?
Lol
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No. But the "Life in Songs" Docu and some more stuff after that (Hansen) plus Tracker Liner Notes from Mr. Ford showed that MK seems to be fine with the view of him being an extra ordinaire songwriter. So there might be reason enough to publish a book about him. Not automatically the simple chronological story of Dire Straits, but his inner writer's world, his influences, his process and development and so on. His testament if you like.
LE
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I was joking. I don't mind him telling that stories again, specially in a book that would include a lot of more information than that.
Having a wife who is a writer, who knows, maybe one day, he would consider it. His storytelling when playing Matchstick man was great.
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I was joking. I don't mind him telling that stories again, specially in a book that would include a lot of more information than that.
Having a wife who is a writer, who knows, maybe one day, he would consider it. His storytelling when playing Matchstick man was great.
I loved his stories on The British Grove Broadcast, however, he had a seasoned journalist helping him with writing. I tend to think that Mark isn't joking when he says he can't write prose, it's a different skill set than writing poetry, and songs are another planet in that respect. Often the song's lyrics would work badly as a piece of poetry and vice versa.
Of course, I would love it, can he actually do it is another topic. He obviously can see that everybody and their mothers write books about Dire Straits now. Except for Mark lol. Maybe he thinks that Henrik Hansen's movie will be greater than all of this. I hope so!
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I prefer that John is doing this in stead of Mark, firstly, you could argue John was more at the start of Dire Straits than Mark having shared a flat with David, and Mark "joining" them later, also clearly John is ore interested in the history of the band than Mark is so he would put more energy into a book than Mark would. Really it could only be Mark or John writing this book as they were the only 2 constant members of the group from beginning to end. I suspect Mark is happy that John is doing it and the fact he has written a foreword confirms that, so I am sure Mark has read the book and given it the thumbs up. I can't wait to read it.
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I prefer that John is doing this in stead of Mark, firstly, you could argue John was more at the start of Dire Straits than Mark having shared a flat with David, and Mark "joining" them later, also clearly John is ore interested in the history of the band than Mark is so he would put more energy into a book than Mark would. Really it could only be Mark or John writing this book as they were the only 2 constant members of the group from beginning to end. I suspect Mark is happy that John is doing it and the fact he has written a foreword confirms that, so I am sure Mark has read the book and given it the thumbs up. I can't wait to read it.
Great point. In that respect John is probably a better storyteller, however, the gripe might be that you won't get much of Mark's story in there. And this guy had quite a life! And he knows that it's pretty extraordinary, from discovering his talents to meeting and playing with every musical hero he could ever dream of. He can write a whole book on just working and meeting with musicians.
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I prefer that John is doing this in stead of Mark, firstly, you could argue John was more at the start of Dire Straits than Mark having shared a flat with David, and Mark "joining" them later, also clearly John is ore interested in the history of the band than Mark is so he would put more energy into a book than Mark would. Really it could only be Mark or John writing this book as they were the only 2 constant members of the group from beginning to end. I suspect Mark is happy that John is doing it and the fact he has written a foreword confirms that, so I am sure Mark has read the book and given it the thumbs up. I can't wait to read it.
I take it the same
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320 pages.
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320 pages.
I hope John will be awesome enough to record an audio version of this book. I'm pretty sure he will though.
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320 pages.
I hope John will be awesome enough to record an audio version of this book. I'm pretty sure he will though.
Ooooh, an audio book would be utterly awesome!!!!!!!
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320 pages.
I hope John will be awesome enough to record an audio version of this book. I'm pretty sure he will though.
Ooooh, an audio book would be utterly awesome!!!!!!!
I can bet money that he'll do it ;D
Simply because I know less-known authors who recorded audio versions of their books. I recently discovered the world of audiobooks and can't go back. Such a great, immersive and comfortable experience. John's book seems to cause some buzz when it's out, so no doubt, and especially given the extremely long waiting time, that he'll record it as well.
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I loved his stories on The British Grove Broadcast, however, he had a seasoned journalist helping him with writing. I tend to think that Mark isn't joking when he says he can't write prose, it's a different skill set than writing poetry, and songs are another planet in that respect. Often the song's lyrics would work badly as a piece of poetry and vice versa.[/quote]
So someone who studied journalism and got a degree in English can't write prose!
Sorry but this doesn't wash.If he couldn't write prose he wouldn't have graduated with a degree in English and he certainly wouldn't have lasted a year studying/working in journalism.
This boils down to the simple fact that Mark only does what he wants to.It must be great being able to live your life like this because most of us can only dream of having this option.
As with all things Mark I look forward to the next installment.He'll do his own thing and that's good enough for me.
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So someone who studied journalism and got a degree in English can't write prose!
Sorry but this doesn't wash.If he couldn't write prose he wouldn't have graduated with a degree in English and he certainly wouldn't have lasted a year studying/working in journalism.
This boils down to the simple fact that Mark only does what he wants to.It must be great being able to live your life like this because most of us can only dream of having this option.
As with all things Mark I look forward to the next installment.He'll do his own thing and that's good enough for me.
To be precise, Mark said not that he can't write prose, but that it would be boring if he could. In the same manner, when someone writes boring, bland songs, not everyone is suitable for each format. And yes, Mark has a luxury of doing what he wants, including not doing any prose ;D
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There will be a book about Dire Straits - first source, maybe one day Mark will write about a solo career ;)
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Final Cover?
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It seems there will also be a downloadable audiobook version:
Imprint: Transworld Digital
Published: 11/11/2021
ISBN: 9781473592988
RRP: £13.00
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Final Cover?
Streange cover, with MK doing a strange expression and David drinking so his face can't be seen...
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Final Cover?
Streange cover, with MK doing a strange expression and David drinking so his face can't be seen...
Looks like they tried extra hard to find the worst DS picture and I think they succeeded, also why this period? John was in all of them, so why early stuff?
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Hardly inspiring photo for a book about such an important band.
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Also there is a book with a very similar cover already
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Final Cover?
Streange cover, with MK doing a strange expression and David drinking so his face can't be seen...
Exactly my thoughts when I saw this for the first time.
Mark and David look like the least important persons in the band. Can't believe this will be the final cover.
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I think it is quite an appropriate photo. This book is, after all, about John Illsley, so it makes sense he is the focal point in the photo. To be fair, he didn't even need to include the rest of the band on the cover, it could have been a massive picture of just his face !
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Yes. The cover is not bad. But there should be dIRE sTRAITS ;)
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I don't give a crap about the cover. I'll judge the book by the contents. If only there was some sort of saying or phrase I could use here to get my point across.
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:D
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Quentin Tarantino released his first book, it's a novel based on his latest movie, and I have a feeling that this was a major mistake. With all due respect, this book feels just like a glorified movie script... Anyway, that's why, I think, Mark steers himself so far away from writing books, he just doesn't want to release something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Hollywood-Novel/dp/0063112523
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Thank you for the information Pavel:)
There are a lot of interesting photos on John Illsley's website. Maybe they will be in the book :) I can't wait.
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Quentin Tarantino released his first book, it's a novel based on his latest movie, and I have a feeling that this was a major mistake. With all due respect, this book feels just like a glorified movie script... Anyway, that's why, I think, Mark steers himself so far away from writing books, he just doesn't want to release something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Hollywood-Novel/dp/0063112523
Is there any way in which MK and QT are comparable?! :)
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Quentin Tarantino released his first book, it's a novel based on his latest movie, and I have a feeling that this was a major mistake. With all due respect, this book feels just like a glorified movie script... Anyway, that's why, I think, Mark steers himself so far away from writing books, he just doesn't want to release something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Hollywood-Novel/dp/0063112523
Is there any way in which MK and QT are comparable?! :)
I'm not comparing them at all, I just point out the fact that Mr. Tarantino, who is famous for making movies, has written a book which is basically a movie script with decent typography. And Mark, who is famous for writing lyrics for songs... And writing prose is not something that could go really well, and he also said it just like this. He said his prose would be like a note to the milkman or something.
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Quentin Tarantino released his first book, it's a novel based on his latest movie, and I have a feeling that this was a major mistake. With all due respect, this book feels just like a glorified movie script... Anyway, that's why, I think, Mark steers himself so far away from writing books, he just doesn't want to release something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Hollywood-Novel/dp/0063112523
Is there any way in which MK and QT are comparable?! :)
I'm not comparing them at all, I just point out the fact that Mr. Tarantino, who is famous for making movies, has written a book which is basically a movie script with decent typography. And Mark, who is famous for writing lyrics for songs... And writing prose is not something that could go really well, and he also said it just like this. He said his prose would be like a note to the milkman or something.
Remember that Mark was a journalist, he knows how to write prose.
That is just another excuse not to publish a book.
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Quentin Tarantino released his first book, it's a novel based on his latest movie, and I have a feeling that this was a major mistake. With all due respect, this book feels just like a glorified movie script... Anyway, that's why, I think, Mark steers himself so far away from writing books, he just doesn't want to release something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Hollywood-Novel/dp/0063112523
Is there any way in which MK and QT are comparable?! :)
I'm not comparing them at all, I just point out the fact that Mr. Tarantino, who is famous for making movies, has written a book which is basically a movie script with decent typography. And Mark, who is famous for writing lyrics for songs... And writing prose is not something that could go really well, and he also said it just like this. He said his prose would be like a note to the milkman or something.
Remember that Mark was a journalist, he knows how to write prose.
That is just another excuse not to publish a book.
But how journalism and prose are connected? Journalists usually write short articles or sometimes, rarely, long reads. And Mark said that journalism, writing short articles helped him to put a lot of meaning into few words, which is exactly the case with songs, as opposed to prose where you can go on forever.
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MK has "a way with words". There is not one formula to write prose and one to write in a journalistic style. I have no doubt that MK could write something that would be a good read. His accurate and pedantic character never shines more than in every single word of his lyrics. It's awesome and there is a lot of work and thought in every syllable. It's just that you need to dive deeper into characters, times and places to make it good literature, let alone a proper novel. Songs are miniatures, much smaller and shorter than any short story and cannot be divided from and judged without the musical level. It's a question of energy and devotion that it needs to dive into a novel's world, not one of skills when it comes to MK.
A work like John's would be no problem for MK to write. It would be better than anything from a paid journalist or ghost writer.
In my personal opinion, MK's lyric writing is more unique and more outstanding than his guitar playing. Many of his lyrics stand the test with poetry.
LE
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Very good text Love Expresso :)
I think the same.
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MK has skills to write a book without any problem, but there is no problem anyway as any book, before being published, is revised by editors so if his style is not good enough, it will be polished before it's released.
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Although we would lap it up, a book about MK's life would be pretty boring for most readers I'm afraid.
Even Clapton's book is boring and he's spent most of his life drunk/on drugs/being racist.
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Although we would lap it up, a book about MK's life would be pretty boring for most readers I'm afraid.
Even Clapton's book is boring and he's spent most of his life drunk/on drugs/being racist.
If a MK book might be boring, think about a John Illsley one ;D :lol
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Although we would lap it up, a book about MK's life would be pretty boring for most readers I'm afraid.
Even Clapton's book is boring and he's spent most of his life drunk/on drugs/being racist.
If a MK book might be boring, think about a John Illsley one ;D :lol
By the way, I don't think it would be boring. Unfortunately, I don't know that much about Eric that I know about Mark, but his life was quite extraordinary. Turning from an ordinary guy living in a flat with no furniture to recording with Bob Dylan in a couple of years. And that he was around 30 when the success hit. And how he met and played basically with all of his childhood heroes is also quite remarkable. He told some of these stories on his radio show and it was fascinating. A collection of stories like Richard Feynman's books would be amazing coming from a man who worked so hard and had so many really great and really interesting stories. I never knew Mark met Chet Baker in Paris! Mark met with everybody. And the fact that he was struggling like everybody else, and didn't want to become a musician, and hitchhiked everywhere... And even still you can get glimpses of MK visiting obscure places and meeting with all sorts of people all the time. Quite a life, anyway.
For most readers, probably, yes, it would be boring. But anyway, I think everybody agrees that Mark's talent and the way he made himself is something that could be underappreciated. Everybody just takes this all for granted, I think. That he just suddenly started writing hit songs and became famous.
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Although we would lap it up, a book about MK's life would be pretty boring for most readers I'm afraid.
Even Clapton's book is boring and he's spent most of his life drunk/on drugs/being racist.
If a MK book might be boring, think about a John Illsley one ;D :lol
:lol :lol
Both right. I think I'd nod off unless they could throw in a few juicy murders or something!
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I don't think Clapton's biography is boring. He lived quite a lot. Yes, he was most of his life on drugs, on alcohol and because of both things being an asshole. He almost kill himself with that addictions and caused a lot of damage around him, and also created some great records with his own songs and many covers of other artists, and colaborated with some of the biggest rock stars of all time. All the stuff about his life, personal and musical is interesting. It's totally understable that some didn't like him, but that doesn't made his life boring. I also think he was an asshole most of his life, and nowadays is being quite irresponsible, but I like the music he did and still do.
I think that is really a miracle he's still alive and, considering his illness, not as bad as he should be considering his life!
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I don't think Clapton's biography is boring. He lived quite a lot. Yes, he was most of his life on drugs, on alcohol and because of both things being an asshole. He almost kill himself with that addictions and caused a lot of damage around him, and also created some great records with his own songs and many covers of other artists, and colaborated with some of the biggest rock stars of all time. All the stuff about his life, personal and musical is interesting. It's totally understable that some didn't like him, but that doesn't made his life boring. I also think he was an asshole most of his life, and nowadays is being quite irresponsible, but I like the music he did and still do.
I think that is really a miracle he's still alive and, considering his illness, not as bad as he should be considering his life!
It reminds me how Brian May was at one time one thought away from committing suicide. All these guys are quite insane with their lives... I personally can't even imagine having the amount of fun and also sacrifaces they had to go through. Especially when the fame hit, the money hit and all. By the way, I'm a strong believer that money doesn't change people. Money just shows who they actually are...
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I don't think Clapton's biography is boring. He lived quite a lot. Yes, he was most of his life on drugs, on alcohol and because of both things being an asshole. He almost kill himself with that addictions and caused a lot of damage around him, and also created some great records with his own songs and many covers of other artists, and colaborated with some of the biggest rock stars of all time. All the stuff about his life, personal and musical is interesting. It's totally understable that some didn't like him, but that doesn't made his life boring. I also think he was an asshole most of his life, and nowadays is being quite irresponsible, but I like the music he did and still do.
I think that is really a miracle he's still alive and, considering his illness, not as bad as he should be considering his life!
I liked Clapton and some of his music before I read the book.
I liked him less after reading the book, probably because it was so boring.
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Eric Clapton Autobiography?
I read it quickly because I liked it.
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"money doesn't change people. Money just shows who they actually are...
Very interesting observation.
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All the factual stuff about DS and Mark is known, so just repeating that in prose is pointless. Reading what they ate for dinner during tours or where they played tennis or whatever is just dull
The book has to be personal and somewhat unfiltered, and as far as we know Mark, he just doesn't care for it. I found the stuff that Pick revealed during his many video interviews this winter very interesting. For instance how he was the experienced musician, Mark was the "woodshedder" [who practiced a lot] and John and David kind of struggled to keep up. That shed some new light on the early years. Pick's wife was Ed's assistant (I think) in the beginning, and on Pick's FB page she shares a lot of photos and personal memories. That kind of stuff gives a wonderful insight into band life during that era.
Now, a book written by Ed, that'd be something, but I guess there non-disclosure agreements in place that restrict him.
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well, after the beanstalk nothing is the same.
panta rhei!
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The cover of the audiobook is now fixed, too.
It's the same than the print version.
Hopefully the audio will be read by John himself.
I don't dare to dream that Mark will read the foreword.
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I don't feel the need to comment much anymore, but let it not be said, uncontested, that Eric Clapton's autobiography is boring. It's an unusually riveting story that really captures musical evolution through the 60s & 70s with the wonderful lens that is Eric's experience of it. Nothing beats a chapter opening where Eric is seduced by a New York 'virgin' witch who promises him he can only be free of his "marriage difficulties" by sleeping with her.
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I have finished reading Born To Run Bruce'a Springsteen'a. I recommend it, very interesting.
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I don't feel the need to comment much anymore, but let it not be said, uncontested, that Eric Clapton's autobiography is boring. It's an unusually riveting story that really captures musical evolution through the 60s & 70s with the wonderful lens that is Eric's experience of it. Nothing beats a chapter opening where Eric is seduced by a New York 'virgin' witch who promises him he can only be free of his "marriage difficulties" by sleeping with her.
It wasn’t uncontested, several people said they didn’t think it was boring.
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https://bravewords.com/news/dire-straits-bassist-john-illsley-to-release-my-life-in-dire-straits-memoir-in-november-features-foreword-by-mark-knopfler
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“This book above all is about passion and pursuing your dreams – taking the unpredictable path, not the easy option,” Illsey says. “It charts the journey from my innocent teens strumming a few chords, to playing on the biggest stages in the world; a chance meeting in 1976 with Mark Knopfler that created a musical partnership that lasted 20 years, and a strong friendship that continues to this day. Dire Straits was an idea that created a phenomenal musical legacy, an extraordinary journey of joy, fun, companionship and surprises. I am immensely proud of my contribution to this journey.”
I am very curious.
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Signed copies available here:
https://www.bookabookshop.co.uk/shop/my-life-in-dire-straits-by-john-illsley-signed-copy/
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Signed edition from Waterstones UK too (I've just ordered one)....
https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/2928377068561
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“This book above all is about passion and pursuing your dreams – taking the unpredictable path, not the easy option,” Illsey says. “It charts the journey from my innocent teens strumming a few chords, to playing on the biggest stages in the world; a chance meeting in 1976 with Mark Knopfler that created a musical partnership that lasted 20 years, and a strong friendship that continues to this day. Dire Straits was an idea that created a phenomenal musical legacy, an extraordinary journey of joy, fun, companionship and surprises. I am immensely proud of my contribution to this journey.”
I am very curious.
Very intriguing indeed......
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"For us, it was a huge adventure and a hell of a ride, with all its comedy, absurdity, exhaustion, madness, and sadness.. This ride is not for everyone, not for those who can't take the pressures and the pace. It was a different world. And John has remembered a pretty big chunk of it."
...from the foreword by Mark Knopfler
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Thanks. Where did you find it?
LE
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https://bravewords.com/news/dire-straits-bassist-john-illsley-to-release-my-life-in-dire-straits-memoir-in-november-features-foreword-by-mark-knopfler
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Thank you. I see Roger Taylor already read it.
LE
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Got to get a copy of this one.
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Got to get a copy of this one.
Rude not too!!!
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Signed edition from Waterstones UK too (I've just ordered one)....
https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/2928377068561
lol, I just cancelled my first order and reordered one wth the signature !
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Signed edition from Waterstones UK too (I've just ordered one)....
https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/2928377068561
lol, I just cancelled my first order and reordered one wth the signature !
Haha, good for you....
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Signed edition from Waterstones UK too (I've just ordered one)....
https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/2928377068561
lol, I just cancelled my first order and reordered one wth the signature !
Me roo!
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Signed edition from Waterstones UK too (I've just ordered one)....
https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-in-dire-straits/john-illsley/2928377068561
lol, I just cancelled my first order and reordered one wth the signature !
Me roo!
Most excellent! :clap
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Wil the book be translated in other languages??
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Wil the book be translated in other languages??
I really doubt it... A book like this, I think, is not big enough to receive such international coverage, but I'm happy for an audiobook.
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Wil the book be translated in other languages??
A friend of mine who works translating books to Spanish tried to contact to the book company, the agent and John himself to translate the book to Spanish with zero success, so I bet not, it won't be translated to other languages...
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Depends on the market. Germany is possible, but must not automatically be scheduled at the same original release date. Could be published next spring as well.
LE
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Nice read!
https://www.macombdaily.com/2021/10/21/dire-straits-co-founder-publishes-memoir-5-things-to-know/?fbclid=IwAR1VT-OaU289zigLcIt4BpPZO-rVdZoxutoX2GUTP-0tZyvtPXVP8LzmJIc
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Nice read!
https://www.macombdaily.com/2021/10/21/dire-straits-co-founder-publishes-memoir-5-things-to-know/?fbclid=IwAR1VT-OaU289zigLcIt4BpPZO-rVdZoxutoX2GUTP-0tZyvtPXVP8LzmJIc
Hall of fame induction in 98?
but yes, nice read.
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Nice read!
https://www.macombdaily.com/2021/10/21/dire-straits-co-founder-publishes-memoir-5-things-to-know/?fbclid=IwAR1VT-OaU289zigLcIt4BpPZO-rVdZoxutoX2GUTP-0tZyvtPXVP8LzmJIc
Hall of fame induction in 98?
but yes, nice read.
I know, I had a laugh too!
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“As far as the sort of ending was concerned it was completely mutual between the two of us."
I hope John is a bit more realistic in the book, otherwise he's heading into Alan's dream world.
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I wonder what photos John put in the book.
The book should be entitled Private Investigations ;)
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I wonder what photos John put in the book.
The book should be entitled Private Investigations ;)
All will be revealed!! 17 days to go or earlier for those like myself who have pre-ordered....
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I wonder what photos John put in the book.
The book should be entitled Private Investigations ;)
Nothing that you hadn't seen before.
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It is possible. But maybe John Illsley has rarities in his archive:)
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It is possible. But maybe John Illsley has rarities in his archive:)
Don't bet money on that.
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Wil the book be translated in other languages??
(https://i.postimg.cc/C19r23VD/81n-FVp1-d-L.jpg)
Italian version
Translator Grazia Brundu
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Wil the book be translated in other languages??
(https://i.postimg.cc/C19r23VD/81n-FVp1-d-L.jpg)
Italian version
Translator Grazia Brundu
Not as far as I know. I know a proffesional translator in Spain that had been trying to get the rights to do it in Spanish, but nobody, not the agency, not the publisher, only John has answered, saying he knows nothing about a possible translation in Spanish and sending the mails ofthe agents and publishers, the same that are not answering...
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I asked John. He did not answer.
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I asked John. He did not answer.
I don't suppose he'd know what editions are published to be honest - down to the publishers I guess...
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Certainly so. I counted on every answer.
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I did not want to start a new topic.
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-illsley-dire-straits-interview-2021
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I did not want to start a new topic.
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-illsley-dire-straits-interview-2021
Great article thanks for sharing with us and yes MK is a humble man and doesn't like blowing his own trumpet!!
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There’s a lengthy extract from John’s book in the UK The Times newspaper, Saturday 6th November. I’ve screen shots but need to try and extract the article from my computer. Interesting read. One para below.
“Cup of tea?” I asked. When I came back, he had cleared up the fags and the beer bottles and I heard him splashing his face in the bathroom. I picked up his guitar, a Gibson Les Paul Junior. Nice. He came back in and I handed the tea to him. He held out his hand and, in a mellow Geordie accent, he said: “Mark, by the way. Mark Knopfler, David’s brother.
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There’s a lengthy extract from John’s book in the UK The Times newspaper, Saturday 6th November. I’ve screen shots but need to try and extract the article from my computer. Interesting read. One para below.
“Cup of tea?” I asked. When I came back, he had cleared up the fags and the beer bottles and I heard him splashing his face in the bathroom. I picked up his guitar, a Gibson Les Paul Junior. Nice. He came back in and I handed the tea to him. He held out his hand and, in a mellow Geordie accent, he said: “Mark, by the way. Mark Knopfler, David’s brother.
Ooooh, what a tease of a paragraph! looking forward to getting the book now
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Must be a great read. I can't wait!
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Me too. The most anticipated book of the year.
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Me too. The most anticipated book of the year.
I should say.....
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The times article.
Not sure if the link works (please ignore the pic descriptions between the paragraphs).
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/7f894b28-3cd6-11ec-a9ce-48a11f44f00d?shareToken=a67d9d8b0d8aa797990209372689305c&fbclid=IwAR2eOH-t1OzYcadouZL6M5hKX8rVwmgp5O8PZ8bscomYChS6Ku6MKvAElQE
Such a humble and classy person. Makes sense he managed to stay Mark’s pal for such a long time.
Brother in arms — my life in Dire Straits
November 29 2020, 12.01am GMT
John Illsley: “I was trapped between a failing marriage and my part in a successful band”
John Illsley: “I was trapped between a failing marriage and my part in a successful band”
JOBY SESSIONS/GETTY IMAGES
Meeting Mark Knopfler
There was a man lying on the cement floor of our Deptford flat fast asleep — the promised carpet had never materialised — and his head, propped against the only chair, was at right angles to his body. The guy had an electric guitar across his chest. To one side of him, the giant square ashtray spilt over with a thousand butts; on the other sat a couple of empty bottles of Newcastle Brown. His face, sheet-white, revealed a hint of my flatmate David. This must have been the brother he had mentioned. He stirred and groaned, and an eyelid unstuck itself.
“Cup of tea?” I asked. When I came back, he had cleared up the fags and the beer bottles and I heard him splashing his face in the bathroom. I picked up his guitar, a Gibson Les Paul Junior. Nice. He came back in and I handed the tea to him. He held out his hand and, in a mellow Geordie accent, he said: “Mark, by the way. Mark Knopfler, David’s brother.”
“I guessed as much. Heard a lot about you. John — John Illsley. Nice one.”
Dire Straits, from left: Guy Fletcher, Jack Sonni, Terry Williams, John Illsley, Mark Knopfler and Alan Clark
Dire Straits, from left: Guy Fletcher, Jack Sonni, Terry Williams, John Illsley, Mark Knopfler and Alan Clark
DEBORAH FEINGOLD/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES
He sat down on the only chair and I perched on the old sofa bed I had found in a builder’s skip a few weeks earlier. We fell into an easy chat about this and that. I took to him at once. There was a natural air and softness about him, and you could see him thinking hard before he answered a question. The conversation drifted towards music and he picked up his Gibson and started playing. He plucked a few strings and twisted the tuning pegs. Then he really started playing, messing around with riffs and snatches of tunes. He had a curious finger-picking style. I had never seen anyone play a guitar like that, but even just fooling around, it was a great sound — a bit country, a bit rock — but fresh and original. Dave was right — his brother could play. After a while, I asked: “Fancy a fry-up?” “Sure.” We went up to the greasy spoon on the High Street and had the full English with a side of liver.
I want my MTV
I remember one afternoon when we were recording Money for Nothing. The “I want my MTV” line at the end was inspired by Mark seeing the Police talking on an advert for MTV and simply saying: “I want my MTV.” He’d mated that with a few notes from Sting’s composition Don’t Stand So Close to Me. In the studio, Mark happened to remark: “I wish Sting was here to sing this part.” And someone said; “Well, he is. He’s here on holiday!”
The Police had recorded on Montserrat for a couple of years and it turned out Sting loved to come to the island to windsurf. He’d been spotted out jogging, pounding the dirt lanes in the mornings. We had played quite a few gigs with the Police, mainly in Germany, and got to know them quite well, so — a phone call later — Sting came and joined us for supper one evening. We played some of the tracks from the album and he loved Money for Nothing, so Mark popped the question: “Why not come and sing on it?”
So the next morning, warming up, Sting started singing, “I want my MTV,” over and over. And that was it. His work was done. It’s what you hear on the song. It was a small contribution, but it really added something — and it meant that Sting was credited as co-writer. The song was released in June 1985 and it became our most commercially successful single, topping the US Billboard 100 for three weeks and reaching No 4 in Britain — a success we were all delighted with.
Illsley performing with Mark Knopfler
Illsley performing with Mark Knopfler
EBET ROBERTS/REDFERNS/GETTY IMAGES
We were staying out of the country for most of the year to avoid the punitive tax back home, so we went straight from Montserrat to New York to mix and put the final touches to the album at the Power Station. We had moved quickly to replace Hal Lindes on guitar, bringing Jack Sonni, a friend of Mark, over to Montserrat from New York. It was a speculative move that paid off handsomely for all concerned. Jack worked in Rudy’s guitar store, our favourite haunt, a few blocks away from the Power Station in Lower Manhattan, where Mark had met him. He could certainly play, and we all got along, so it was decided that Jack was going to join us to play on one of the biggest-selling tours in rock history. I remember Mark saying; “Sometimes it’s nice to play Father Christmas.”
We brought in a number of other top session musicians to the Power Station, including bassists Tony Levin, who played on Why Worry, and Neil Jason, who helped out on the song One World. This needed a funk bass sound, which I don’t do but Neil does very well. Tony played a bass instrument called a Chapman Stick that looks like a large version of a guitar fretboard and is held almost vertically. He was highly experienced and had played with a host of top acts such as King Crimson and Peter Gabriel. He was a bit rusty at first after six months away from music, but soon found his groove.
We were only in New York for a couple of weeks so there was no point renting an apartment and we stayed in the Mayflower Hotel on Central Park, a well-known rock’n’roll hotel that you might describe as bohemian if you were in a good mood, or cheap and seedy in a bad one. There was an irritating game you had to play with the hotel reception which involved the guest making several trips up and down in the ancient elevator to complain about their room. Up and down we went, politely requesting one that was not looking out on to a brick wall or the kitchen extraction fan and that boasted a toilet that actually flushed and a shower from which water, preferably hot, came out in something more powerful than a dribble. The hotel was half-empty, but between us we made about a dozen trips to the lobby before being given half-decent rooms on the street side, there being little point staying in the Mayflower unless you get that stunning view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
It was sad when they bulldozed the hotel a few years back, punching out a tooth in that famous row of buildings, and built 15 Central Park West, one of the fanciest addresses in New York. The apartments in it are occupied by the great and the good and the extremely wealthy.
Prince’s Trust 10th birthday: Paul McCartney, Tina Turner and John Illsley (right)
Prince’s Trust 10th birthday: Paul McCartney, Tina Turner and John Illsley (right)
BRIAN COOKE/REDFERNS/GETTY IMAGES
During this incredible period with the band, it was not going so great with my wife Pauline and we both knew it was going to be very difficult to recover the happy times, that it was all but over. While in New York, I made that area of my life that much more complicated by getting entangled with a Norwegian girl, so when the band members eventually flew home to see our wives, girlfriends and kids, it was probably just as well it was only for a couple of weeks. I had barely set foot in the door at home, kissed Pauline and our son James hello and unpacked my bags . . . when I was packing them again, kissing Pauline and James goodbye, pulling the door behind me and climbing into the car to take me back to Heathrow. I was probably at home for a week or so, but it didn’t feel like that.
Then we were on the road for a year and a day: 248 concerts in 118 cities in 23 countries. No wonder the wheels on our magic music bus were starting to wobble by the time it was over. A great deal in our lives was about to change.
Double booked! Being asked to top the bill at Live Aid
I was trapped between a failing marriage and my part in a successful band. This is the stuff of personal tragedies. What was I to do? I couldn’t, and didn’t want to, trade in one for the other. It could only continue as it was, and I would have to pray it worked out somehow. What would be would have to be. There was no way out. It was heartening to see Money for Nothing climb up the charts.
This is a fact, not a boast, but it was now being said, though never by us, that we had become the biggest band in the world, and it was for this reason that we were faced with a very awkward moral dilemma. Bob Geldof was manically organising Live Aid, the now famous benefit concert, to raise money for the victims of a dreadful famine in Ethiopia. It was scheduled to take place at Wembley Stadium, a short walk from the Arena, on July 13 [1985] , but he was struggling to persuade many of the big acts and artists to take part, pulling his hair out and banging phones. Bob was very keen — “I absolutely focking insist” — that the Straits headlined the concert, arguing that if he got us on board, all the others would follow.
It was an honour to be asked to top the bill when there were so many other huge names on the British music scene at the time. The problem was that we were contracted to play the Arena the same night and all the 12,500 tickets had been sold months before. Did we let down our loyal fans, or did we fail to meet an arguably more powerful moral imperative and decline to add our voices to a global appeal aimed at alleviating widespread suffering? As with my marriage, there seemed to be no answer. Geldof was on our case like a rottweiler in a cattery, first with our manager Ed Bicknell, then with Mark, and I ended up in the final discussions too.
Bob Geldof is an extremely hard man to say no to. His tenacity and passion for the cause was demonic and angelic all at once. Live Aid was an astonishing feat of organisation, the music industry’s equivalent of planning for D-Day, the main elements of it being carried out in just a few weeks, and most of it by one very insistent Irishman. The talks went back and forth and, eventually, Bob had to concede that it was impossible for us to headline, so we agreed to perform in the late afternoon. We understood what was at stake, and it was good to hear that other big acts joined the line-up once we were confirmed on the bill. It was a major breakthrough for Bob, and it’s pleasing to know that we played our part in the success of the enterprise.
Illsley: “It was now being said, though not by us, that we had become the biggest band in the world”
Illsley: “It was now being said, though not by us, that we had become the biggest band in the world”
JOBY SESSIONS/GETTY IMAGES
If we helped save some lives and raise some awareness, then that is an achievement as gratifying as any in the success we enjoyed as a band. It was an extraordinary day, of course, vividly remembered by all who took part and watched it. There was a wonderful informal amateurishness to the proceedings, like a massive school concert, most of the egos of the great names of music deflated for the day.
After our sound check at the Arena, we walked across the car park to Wembley Stadium and went on in between U2 and Queen, playing Money for Nothing with Sting and then Sultans of Swing. We may not have been headlining, but we played the longest of all the acts, about 20 minutes in all, in an atmosphere as electrifying as any we had ever played in and in the knowledge that there were close to a billion people watching on television. A billion! That was about a fifth of the Earth’s population. Of course we were nervous walking out on that stage, not least because no one got a sound check. We just walked on, plugged in, and I had barely pulled the strap of my guitar over my shoulder when Sting started singing: “I want my MTV . . .”
Every band had different settings and the crew that day did an extraordinary job in pulling it off. On top of everything else, Live Aid was a logistical feat of the highest order. Our performance didn’t let us down but, in retrospect, I’m just very glad we came on before rather than after Queen. Their performance stole the show. Aware that we had just taken part in a great historical event, it was an odd sensation when, half an hour later, we were out the rear and crossing the car park back to the Arena, with the security guy there hassling us for our passes.
My marriage breakdown — and new partner
Christmas down at Telscombe (our home in East Sussex) brought few tidings of joy. Pauline and I tried to make it as festive as possible for James, by now three and a half, but things were difficult between the two of us. There were long walks over the South Downs in the unseasonably mild and wet weather. It’s hard to accept that your marriage is struggling when you have brought a child into the world, James playing with his toys by the tree while his mother and father headed towards their separation.
So it was with a heavy heart, mixed with some relief, that I flew up to Edinburgh to team up with the band at the Playhouse for three shows, the last on New Year’s Eve. Knowing I had a big Illsley family holiday in Montserrat coming up — booked many months earlier — I flew to Oslo straight after Edinburgh to stay with a friend and escape the tension at home. My parents, my brother Will and his wife, Chris, and their daughter, Corin, joined James and me in Montserrat, but Pauline didn’t come. It was a spoiling holiday. We stayed in George Martin’s beautiful plantation house, waited upon by the lovely house staff.
It was while we were in Sydney that the end of my marriage was sealed. It was there that I met Louise, who was to become the mother of my second child, Jess. Our paths crossed as I headed on to the tennis court she was vacating. We dated, hit it off straight away and she joined me for much of the rest of the tour, though not in Perth, where Pauline’s family were coming to see us play.
In spite of all the troubles back home — or maybe because of them — I loved the whole tour to Australia and New Zealand. The scale of the tour was phenomenal, almost overwhelming. Ordinarily, we’d bounce from one city to the next, night after night, but with most of Australia’s population concentrated in just half a dozen cities we got to lay our hats for long periods in the same place. It was rare to be able to unpack and get to the bottom of a suitcase.
Extracted from My Life in Dire Straits by John Illsley, published on November 11 by Bantam Press. © John Illsley 2021
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!!! Thank you marki:)
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This was the original book cover chosed for the book, but in the end it was changed in what we know now.
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This was the original book cover chosed for the book, but in the end it was changed in what we know now.
I like this much better.
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words + 32 minute audio interview (audio has more stuff)
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018819498/john-illsley-my-life-in-dire-straits
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This was the original book cover chosed for the book, but in the end it was changed in what we know now.
I like this photo more.
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Much prefer the piccie on the cover as it is now...
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I prefer that original photo as it show a band in Dire Straits, in the monetary sense, their faces look like it to, for me, it shows the band at the start of a journey that they all had no idea of what it would become.
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While I of course am looking forward to reading the book, I can't say I have high literary hopes. The excerpts are pretty drily and matter-of-factly written, almost like a report. I hope the rest is more engaging. Now, Ed's version, that would have been something.
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While I of course am looking forward to reading the book, I can't say I have high literary hopes. The excerpts are pretty drily and matter-of-factly written, almost like a report. I hope the rest is more engaging. Now, Ed's version, that would have been something.
I am looking forward to reading it none the less...
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On the theme of dear John, here are some articles from some local rags with regards John unveiling the new MRI scanner at Lymington Hospital in September...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/19595845.amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/amp/lymington-hospital-hits-high-note-as-dire-straits-bassist-un-9217349/
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Get your tickets for @John_Illsley in conversation with @CommonHeath
Sat 13 Nov 2.30pm #Louder2021Join us in person
@innsideuk #Manchester or via livestream wherever you are around the globe!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-life-in-dire-straits-john-illsley-in-conversation-with-heath-common-tickets-168096742883
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My signed book is expected tomorrow....John is also playing my local theatre in Wimborne, Dorset in April 2022 too...
https://www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk/event/john-illsley/
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The cover of the audiobook is now fixed, too.
It's the same than the print version.
Hopefully the audio will be read by John himself.
I don't dare to dream that Mark will read the foreword.
My wish came true today, Mark indeed reads his foreword to the audiobook version of John's book read by John himself!
Unfortunately it's only 2 minutes long...
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Today is the premiere. Write please more.
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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.
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The cover of the audiobook is now fixed, too.
It's the same than the print version.
Hopefully the audio will be read by John himself.
I don't dare to dream that Mark will read the foreword.
My wish came true today, Mark indeed reads his foreword to the audiobook version of John's book read by John himself!
Unfortunately it's only 2 minutes long...
Great, I'm going to enjoy the audiobook then. Only 2 minutes is a pity considering it's the first official biography of that sort, Mark does it again :lol
We should say thanks he recorded these 2 minutes at all, especially since he's the owner of a recording studio.
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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.
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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.
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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.
:o
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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.
:o
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.
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I do not understand. Does John thank someone in the book?
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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 !!!???
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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...
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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
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Today's arrival...
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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.
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I'm really disappointed with the foreword.
In France we say something like "trade-unionist bare minimum"...
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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
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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.
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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...
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Please don't spoil any details!
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Please don't spoil any details!
I’ve put a spoiler tag on the thread, people should stay away until they have read it.
It’s a short book so won’t take long.
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Please don't spoil any details!
I’ve put a spoiler tag on the thread, people should stay away until they have read it.
It’s a short book so won’t take long.
Not long at all!!!
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Please don't spoil any details!
There is no way to spoil as we know more or less the 90% of the story John tells, and some of the things in the book are not really what happened but his view, or the interpretation that made the person who wrote the book after the conversation with John.
For example, the "reason" why Terry wasn't on OES is not true, according to Terry. And I'm not telling what the book says, but what the book says is not the truth according to Terry.
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Please don't spoil any details!
There is no way to spoil as we know more or less the 90% of the story John tells, and some of the things in the book are not really what happened but his view, or the interpretation that made the person who wrote the book after the conversation with John.
For example, the "reason" why Terry wasn't on OES is not true, according to Terry. And I'm not telling what the book says, but what the book says is not the truth according to Terry.
Huh ? The book does not actually state any reason for it... I was curious about that too, I have the book in electronic format, I searched all the occurences of "Terry" and could not find any reason stated..
By the way what did Terry say the reason was ? Can't remember. Just remember Guy stating on his forum that "Terry did not meet the grade for OES" which I find it hard to swallow. Terry would have been a much better choice than Chris Withen IMHO.
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Please don't spoil any details!
There is no way to spoil as we know more or less the 90% of the story John tells, and some of the things in the book are not really what happened but his view, or the interpretation that made the person who wrote the book after the conversation with John.
For example, the "reason" why Terry wasn't on OES is not true, according to Terry. And I'm not telling what the book says, but what the book says is not the truth according to Terry.
Huh ? The book does not actually state any reason for it... I was curious about that too, I have the book in electronic format, I searched all the occurences of "Terry" and could not find any reason stated..
By the way what did Terry say the reason was ? Can't remember. Just remember Guy stating on his forum that "Terry did not meet the grade for OES" which I find it hard to swallow. Terry would have been a much better choice than Chris Withen IMHO.
Terry not "jazzy" enough? To be honest, I'm not interested a lot in relationships within a band, I hope to read more about lifestyle, songs, etc. But I'm not expecting much, in fact, I expect to learn nothing new.
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Please don't spoil any details!
There is no way to spoil as we know more or less the 90% of the story John tells, and some of the things in the book are not really what happened but his view, or the interpretation that made the person who wrote the book after the conversation with John.
For example, the "reason" why Terry wasn't on OES is not true, according to Terry. And I'm not telling what the book says, but what the book says is not the truth according to Terry.
Huh ? The book does not actually state any reason for it... I was curious about that too, I have the book in electronic format, I searched all the occurences of "Terry" and could not find any reason stated..
By the way what did Terry say the reason was ? Can't remember. Just remember Guy stating on his forum that "Terry did not meet the grade for OES" which I find it hard to swallow. Terry would have been a much better choice than Chris Withen IMHO.
The book says that Terry left the band after the Mandela concert, which is wrong because Terry was at the Newcastle 89 charity gig and according to him, he never left the band, he heard that DS were back in the press and then he realised that, apparently, he wasn't part of the band anymore... and he wasn't. He called his manager, his manager called Bicknell, and they knew that way that DS had a new drummer and he won't be part of the last years of the band.
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Please don't spoil any details!
There is no way to spoil as we know more or less the 90% of the story John tells, and some of the things in the book are not really what happened but his view, or the interpretation that made the person who wrote the book after the conversation with John.
For example, the "reason" why Terry wasn't on OES is not true, according to Terry. And I'm not telling what the book says, but what the book says is not the truth according to Terry.
I don't intend to read the book for now or at least I don't mind being spoiled so, if spoilers are allowed here, what was the "real" reason why both Terry and Hal left the band?
And also, admitting that John Illsley didn't write the book, why is the book under his name? It's true though that I can't see any mention of the book on John's site.
It could well have been something like : "My life in Dire Straits" by XXX with the help of John Illsely so I don't quite get it here :hmm
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The book says that Terry left the band after the Mandela concert, which is wrong because Terry was at the Newcastle 89 charity gig and according to him, he never left the band, he heard that DS were back in the press and then he realised that, apparently, he wasn't part of the band anymore... and he wasn't. He called his manager, his manager called Bicknell, and they knew that way that DS had a new drummer and he won't be part of the last years of the band.
Well, if it's true it's harsh, to say the least. I don't know MK and co so I can't comment for sure but, would it be true, I wouldn't be too surprised. There are a lot of band members departures that have remained a complete mystery over the years : David, Hal, Terry, Jack, Chad, as good as it gets. Not to mention the eviction of musicians like Bobby Valentino, Danny C. or Chris White who was still on the KTGC record. And then…?
Have I forgotten someone?
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Please don't spoil any details!
There is no way to spoil as we know more or less the 90% of the story John tells, and some of the things in the book are not really what happened but his view, or the interpretation that made the person who wrote the book after the conversation with John.
For example, the "reason" why Terry wasn't on OES is not true, according to Terry. And I'm not telling what the book says, but what the book says is not the truth according to Terry.
Huh ? The book does not actually state any reason for it... I was curious about that too, I have the book in electronic format, I searched all the occurences of "Terry" and could not find any reason stated..
By the way what did Terry say the reason was ? Can't remember. Just remember Guy stating on his forum that "Terry did not meet the grade for OES" which I find it hard to swallow. Terry would have been a much better choice than Chris Withen IMHO.
The book says that Terry left the band after the Mandela concert, which is wrong because Terry was at the Newcastle 89 charity gig and according to him, he never left the band, he heard that DS were back in the press and then he realised that, apparently, he wasn't part of the band anymore... and he wasn't. He called his manager, his manager called Bicknell, and they knew that way that DS had a new drummer and he won't be part of the last years of the band.
I see, thanks. If that's true that's really bad...
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Please don't spoil any details!
There is no way to spoil as we know more or less the 90% of the story John tells, and some of the things in the book are not really what happened but his view, or the interpretation that made the person who wrote the book after the conversation with John.
For example, the "reason" why Terry wasn't on OES is not true, according to Terry. And I'm not telling what the book says, but what the book says is not the truth according to Terry.
I don't intend to read the book for now or at least I don't mind being spoiled so, if spoilers are allowed here, what was the "real" reason why both Terry and Hal left the band?
And also, admitting that John Illsley didn't write the book, why is the book under his name? It's true though that I can't see any mention of the book on John's site.
It could well have been something like : "My life in Dire Straits" by XXX with the help of John Illsely so I don't quite get it here :hmm
About Terry, I mentioned in a previous post.
About Hal, is too surreal to explain without reading.
Biographies are usually not written by the person, are usually made through a conversatio and the writer takes notes and record it to then type it into what would be the book. It's not like writing really but transcribing the notes and recordings, and that sometimes leds to write things that are not exactly what the person said, as usually what is written has to follow a "style" that can be readable. Who does that usually works for the book company who publish it.
Also, the person usually takes a read to correct mistakes. That didn't happen this time, so there are mistakes in the book and also some things written in a way that John doesn't like, but it was too late to correct.
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Please don't spoil any details!
There is no way to spoil as we know more or less the 90% of the story John tells, and some of the things in the book are not really what happened but his view, or the interpretation that made the person who wrote the book after the conversation with John.
For example, the "reason" why Terry wasn't on OES is not true, according to Terry. And I'm not telling what the book says, but what the book says is not the truth according to Terry.
Huh ? The book does not actually state any reason for it... I was curious about that too, I have the book in electronic format, I searched all the occurences of "Terry" and could not find any reason stated..
By the way what did Terry say the reason was ? Can't remember. Just remember Guy stating on his forum that "Terry did not meet the grade for OES" which I find it hard to swallow. Terry would have been a much better choice than Chris Withen IMHO.
The book says that Terry left the band after the Mandela concert, which is wrong because Terry was at the Newcastle 89 charity gig and according to him, he never left the band, he heard that DS were back in the press and then he realised that, apparently, he wasn't part of the band anymore... and he wasn't. He called his manager, his manager called Bicknell, and they knew that way that DS had a new drummer and he won't be part of the last years of the band.
Well, if it's true it's harsh, to say the least.
Jack Sonni knew he was out of the band in a similar way, after not being able to attend the Mandela concert as he was having their twin girls born, he knew MK was in town and was expecting his calling, but he didn't call him, so Jack call MK and he was not available for his old friend, and then nothing. In Jack's case, it was really hard as Mk and him were friends. Terry was a hired musician after all, but Jack was a friend.
That was MK.
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The book says that Terry left the band after the Mandela concert, which is wrong because Terry was at the Newcastle 89 charity gig and according to him, he never left the band, he heard that DS were back in the press and then he realised that, apparently, he wasn't part of the band anymore... and he wasn't. He called his manager, his manager called Bicknell, and they knew that way that DS had a new drummer and he won't be part of the last years of the band.
If MK wanted to record the OES record with other drummers -- which actually happened -- well, fair enough. Considering the fact that neither Jeff Porcaro nor Manu Katche wanted to go on tour, I don't understand why Mark didn't asked Terry W. to re-join the band in the first place. And I'm saying this not being a huge fan of Terry's style.
But I think it would have been honest form Mark and management to proceed that way.
I'm saying this but once again none of us (to my knowledge) knew what really happened in the band. Even today we don't really know…
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The book says that Terry left the band after the Mandela concert, which is wrong because Terry was at the Newcastle 89 charity gig and according to him, he never left the band, he heard that DS were back in the press and then he realised that, apparently, he wasn't part of the band anymore... and he wasn't. He called his manager, his manager called Bicknell, and they knew that way that DS had a new drummer and he won't be part of the last years of the band.
If MK wanted to record the OES record with other drummers -- which actually happened -- well, fair enough. Considering the fact that neither Jeff Porcaro or Manu Katche wanted to go on tour, I don't understand why Mark asked Terry W. to re-join the band in the first place. And I'm saying this not being a huge fan of Terry's style.
But I think it would have been honest form Mark and management to proceed that way.
I'm saying this but once again none of us (to my knowledge) knew what really happened in the band. Even today we don't really know…
Sometimes things just happen, not always for a particular reason. I've had numerous relationships in my life that just "ended", no reasons, no nothing, so it's safe to say sometimes even the parties involved don't know the reason for the breakup. Mark seems like the guy who would not always care about getting overly sentimental about and thinking too much about some people around since he's quite busy. And I believe some people are simply expecting too much from MK, this including his fans, haha :lol
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I won't be buying the book, especially with so many inaccuracies and the fact that John may not have written it himself, which is disappointing.
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Is the copywrite given to John Illsley?
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I won't be buying the book, especially with so many inaccuracies and the fact that John may not have written it himself, which is disappointing.
Maybe get the audiobook version. Apart from the contents and inaccuaries it is worth to listen to Mark's and John's voices.
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I won't be buying the book, especially with so many inaccuracies and the fact that John may not have written it himself, which is disappointing.
Maybe get the audiobook version. Apart from the contents and inaccuaries it is worth to listen to Mark's and John's voices.
Robby Krieger whom I mentioned before already, wrote the book with this guy, and he has mentioned him on the cover also: https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/robby-krieger/set-the-night-on-fire/9780316243544/ (https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/robby-krieger/set-the-night-on-fire/9780316243544/)
What bugs me, is that if John narrated the book for the audio version, that means he read it at least once and hence proofread it, so inaccuracies are unacceptable to me. Why any fan can read it and go "that's not true", and a band member write it, read it, narrate it and get it wrong? I don't understand.
By the way, in The British Grove Broadcast to my knowledge, Mark never made a single factual mistake. It's an extremely well-written show.
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I won't be buying the book, especially with so many inaccuracies and the fact that John may not have written it himself, which is disappointing.
Maybe get the audiobook version. Apart from the contents and inaccuaries it is worth to listen to Mark's and John's voices.
Robby Krieger whom I mentioned before already, wrote the book with this guy, and he has mentioned him on the cover also: https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/robby-krieger/set-the-night-on-fire/9780316243544/ (https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/robby-krieger/set-the-night-on-fire/9780316243544/)
What bugs me, is that if John narrated the book for the audio version, that means he read it at least once and hence proofread it, so inaccuracies are unacceptable to me. Why any fan can read it and go "that's not true", and a band member write it, read it, narrate it and get it wrong? I don't understand.
By the way, in The British Grove Broadcast to my knowledge, Mark never made a single factual mistake. It's an extremely well-written show.
good point: in preparation for the recording of the audiobook John must have "studied" the book.
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But what mistakes? About Terry Willimas? A little oblivion. Examples?
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I won't be buying the book, especially with so many inaccuracies and the fact that John may not have written it himself, which is disappointing.
I insist that none of the autobiographies are written by the people in the cover.
The book has inaccuracies, but lot of great stories. David's departure is covered very nicely, in my opinion, it shows how much John cared for David, actually John talks very well about David along the book.
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I won't be buying the book, especially with so many inaccuracies and the fact that John may not have written it himself, which is disappointing.
Maybe get the audiobook version. Apart from the contents and inaccuaries it is worth to listen to Mark's and John's voices.
What bugs me, is that if John narrated the book for the audio version, that means he read it at least once and hence proofread it, so inaccuracies are unacceptable to me. Why any fan can read it and go "that's not true", and a band member write it, read it, narrate it and get it wrong? I don't understand.
Because it was too late to correct it, the machinery was already going on, probably the books were already printed, or in the process. It's true that he should had checked it before.
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Something funny for me, in this kind of biographies, is how much and apparently with so many details, people remember things that happened way back in time, but tend to forget or explain very quickly, things in the near present or near past.
John's book it's not an exception, it's very detailed about everything more or less until the BIA tour, then the OES one goes quite fast, and suddenly, the book has reached the end.
However, I like the stories about the very first DS tour and that gig they did for just two people, and also the process of recording Making Movies.
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Is the copywrite given to John Illsley?
There are no other names mentioned!
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(https://i.postimg.cc/HsXsQgBd/JohnI.jpg)
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I have to admitt being a little disappointed that John hasn't written the book himself. If that is true, we have to take it as it is.
If we want to hear the real story about the band there is only one person who can tell. But he never will!
So, I will appreciate John's book because there is not much written word about the biggest band in the world.
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Again, as Julio has said, most rock biographies are written by a ghost writer based on conversations with the subject.
Everyone here should buy the book, you will enjoy it. Even if John had written it himself, he will have forgotten things that happened 40 years ago, or got things mixed up.
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Again, as Julio has said, most rock biographies are written by a ghost writer based on conversations with the subject.
Everyone here should buy the book, you will enjoy it. Even if John had written it himself, he will have forgotten things that happened 40 years ago, or got things mixed up.
Ghosts are everywhere
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Fantastic read, really enjoyed every moment.
Could not put it down and just read it straight through in 6 hours..
Was a very honest, funny and insightful read...
John was direct and frank, but was also diplomatic when addressing the spicy parts of Dire Straits' history..
:)
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Again, as Julio has said, most rock biographies are written by a ghost writer based on conversations with the subject.
Everyone here should buy the book, you will enjoy it. Even if John had written it himself, he will have forgotten things that happened 40 years ago, or got things mixed up.
Ghosts are everywhere
Someone call the Ghostbusters, please. I'm getting a little tired of this.
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OK - Ordered! ;)
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I thought this was written in lockdown? wouldn't that have given John enough time to write it himself? someone could ask him if he wrote it when he tours next year.
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It’s not really about having time to do it, it’s about hiring a professional to do a job.
If my telly broke during lockdown I would have had time to fix it but wouldn’t have had a clue how to do it.
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Ok, fair enough. Are you the ghostwriter dusty ;)
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Nope, all I write is derivative country songs. :)
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I thought this was written in lockdown? wouldn't that have given John enough time to write it himself? someone could ask him if he wrote it when he tours next year.
Your post implies that it would be no problem at all to write a book. It's not like writing long posts in forums, it follows many rules which are not even obvious to the average reader who doesn't know exactly why he keeps on reading and doesn't lose interest after a couple of pages. So Dusty is right about professional writing.
I followed the thread about the mistakes. It came to my mind that we already detected the same with the Guitar Documentary (cannot remember the exact name right now) in which John was also involved.
Pavel detected not a single mistake in Mark's radio show which says a lot. Accuracy and being absolutely meticulous was always something that I fully admired about MK referring his work, his lyrics and his shows.
LE
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I think us "get a lifers" often "remember" more of the details than the band members. We have read the same details several times over the years, but for them it is vague memories. The interview with Glenn Worf comes to mind, where he can't remember which album Speedway is on. I have heard interviews with artists who describe it as being inside a tornado; the world spins heavily for them, but for people outside it is calm. Then again, it is as easy for them as it is for us to check facts before it is written in a book ::)
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I think us "get a lifers" often "remember" more of the details than the band members. We have read the same details several times over the years, but for them it is vague memories. The interview with Glenn Worf comes to mind, where he can't remember which album Speedway is on. I have heard interviews with artists who describe it as being inside a tornado; the world spins heavily for them, but for people outside it is calm. Then again, it is as easy for them as it is for us to check facts before it is written in a book ::)
Much like the story of a member of a Beatles tribute being told by Paul Mc (I think) that he knows the songs better than the actual band do.
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Rockonteurs podcast new episode S1E60 on line featuring John Illsley
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Anyone had bought the audibook, read by Mark Knopfler (the foreword) and John Illsley (the rest of the book)?
I'm curious if it is just an audio digital file or if it is some cds with its case etc.
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I heard that the foreword is quite short. Is it interesting anyway?
LE
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I heard that the foreword is quite short. Is it interesting anyway?
LE
Not really.
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I heard that the foreword is quite short. Is it interesting anyway?
LE
Not really.
It is actually very disappointing. I don't think Mark spent more than 2 minutes on it...
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Okay! Thank you!
Not very surprising but there's always hope :lol
LE
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He maybe didn’t even write it, just approved it. It implies he read the book, would be hilarious if MK read the book but John didn’t…
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PS it’s nice to hear him read it on the audiobook version.
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I heard that the foreword is quite short. Is it interesting anyway?
LE
Not really.
It is actually very disappointing. I don't think Mark spent more than 2 minutes on it...
Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
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Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
The lattest tours are almost fully available in audio format. This is not an empty glass.
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I am eagerly waiting for Blu-rays myself, but honestly I think you can't compare that. If he is willing to deliver something for John's book, I just expect him to deliver something good and worthy or he should have said No. I guess it's his humbleness that made him write it so short. He knows of course that his foreword gives the book more value, so it's a narrow path for him between ego and humbleness.
LE
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Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
The lattest tours are almost fully available in audio format. This is not an empty glass.
That is true as a fact and on paper, but the sound quality of the last tour recordings was not that good that you could compare them with official releases, wasn't it? Don't know too much about the last tour but 2013 and 2015 needed a very long time till the recordings got at least a decent sound. More than half the tour I would say.
LE
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Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
The lattest tours are almost fully available in audio format. This is not an empty glass.
That is true as a fact and on paper, but the sound quality of the last tour recordings was not that good that you could compare them with official releases, wasn't it? Don't know too much about the last tour but 2013 and 2015 needed a very long time till the recordings got at least a decent sound. More than half the tour I would say.
LE
A short foreword is just pure MK. I think fans need to accept the fact that Mark is just not your typical modern star. He doesn't post on Instagram and TikTok, or Twitter, he rarely gives interviews, he doesn't do Wired Google Autocomplete interviews, Reddit's AMA, he doesn't go to Graham Norton Show, he's out of the spotlight. He doesn't even write books, he only writes obituaries occasionally that are the most boring and plain obituaries in the world, so a foreword a little bit longer that is already a miracle. Expectancies and Mark Knopfler are not the words that go together well.
P.S. Never listened to a single live recording, not even shows I attended. Just not my format at all... I'm more inclined into production, maybe even a couple of fixed mistakes, why not? You make something that will last, that's what Mark said about his own songs. With live recordings, he makes not something that last, he makes live recordings with all the mistakes, weird sounds and oddities, him shouting to the crew, etc.. I'm sure live recordings bring a decent amount of money though! A Live album is something thought through, that will last. I remember all the great live albums, A Black & White Night, Eagles Live, and even Marks live albums, they're all great. I don't care about mixing and even fixing something, as long as it sounds good, I'm in!
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Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
The lattest tours are almost fully available in audio format. This is not an empty glass.
oh please, those crap soundboards with horrible sounds and mixing are laughable at best,
they are in another dimension just like MK, the guitar god who tours with a computer simulation of his own amps (kemper)
everything is in decay, what's next? he tours with an ibanez and not a gibson or a pensa ?
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A bit off topic?
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Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
The lattest tours are almost fully available in audio format. This is not an empty glass.
oh please, those crap soundboards with horrible sounds and mixing are laughable at best,
they are in another dimension just like MK, the guitar god who tours with a computer simulation of his own amps (kemper)
everything is in decay, what's next? he tours with an ibanez and not a gibson or a pensa ?
Mike Rutherford is touring with a £100 Squier...
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Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
The lattest tours are almost fully available in audio format. This is not an empty glass.
oh please, those crap soundboards with horrible sounds and mixing are laughable at best,
they are in another dimension just like MK, the guitar god who tours with a computer simulation of his own amps (kemper)
everything is in decay, what's next? he tours with an ibanez and not a gibson or a pensa ?
Mike Rutherford is touring with a £100 Squier...
Squier is my favourite guitar brand on the planet. Easily the best value for money! I think Mark doesn't live in a different dimension, but rather embrace 21st-century technology. I think he'd kill to get this set up back in the 80s or something! Mark lives in a normal dimension, it's just nobody knows him and that's all. Who knows what else he's doing not the way we do it!
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Not to derail things but 99.999999% of people who saw the last tour wouldn't have thought there was anything different about his guitar tone.
Even us cork sniffers, were people complaining about his sound on the early shows, before we found out he was using Kemper?
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Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
The lattest tours are almost fully available in audio format. This is not an empty glass.
oh please, those crap soundboards with horrible sounds and mixing are laughable at best,
they are in another dimension just like MK, the guitar god who tours with a computer simulation of his own amps (kemper)
everything is in decay, what's next? he tours with an ibanez and not a gibson or a pensa ?
Mike Rutherford is touring with a £100 Squier...
I remember attending a Peter Frampton concert in Madrid about 15 years ago more or less, he plays usually with the best Gibson and Fender guitars, and when playing his mega hit (which I dislike a lot) "baby I love your way" he played it with a very cheap copy of Fender, curiously one my brother have, I think it was Saeltan or something like that, I was quite amazed that he was using a very cheap copy of Fender to play his mega hit...
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MK used mexican strats at the 2002 shows and sounded great.
The Silvertone he uses for Boom Like That and some others was a mail order catalogue guitar.
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Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
The lattest tours are almost fully available in audio format. This is not an empty glass.
oh please, those crap soundboards with horrible sounds and mixing are laughable at best,
they are in another dimension just like MK, the guitar god who tours with a computer simulation of his own amps (kemper)
everything is in decay, what's next? he tours with an ibanez and not a gibson or a pensa ?
Mike Rutherford is touring with a £100 Squier...
ok, let's go with a £100 Squier and a £100 amplifier, what a nice tour
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Not to derail things but 99.999999% of people who saw the last tour wouldn't have thought there was anything different about his guitar tone.
Even us cork sniffers, were people complaining about his sound on the early shows, before we found out he was using Kemper?
Most people I talked to noticed there was something wrong, it's still overall enjoyable but that doesn't mean it's a perfect 10/10 as using a real amp
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MK used mexican strats at the 2002 shows and sounded great.
The Silvertone he uses for Boom Like That and some others was a mail order catalogue guitar.
A cheap/decent Fender/Squier is still much better than an Ibanez for DS/MK songs
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Are there interesting and original photos ?
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Are there interesting and original photos ?
Not really
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Does John dedicate this book to someone? Who is he thanking?
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I‘m very curious about the JI book. Unfortunately my ordered signed copy has Not arrived yet. I’m wondering how long the shipment will take to Germany. :think :hmmWaterstones shipped it on Wednesday. Has anyone experiences with shipment from Uk to Germany?
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I will be collecting mine from Waterstone's tomorrow. :)
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It's easy in England :)
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Waiting for the shipment from Waterstone's in subarctic Canada. Should get here by Christmas... :think
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Does John dedicate this book to someone? Who is he thanking?
5 people, his wife and kids I guess.
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Thank you Dusty:)
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I‘m very curious about the JI book. Unfortunately my ordered signed copy has Not arrived yet. I’m wondering how long the shipment will take to Germany. :think :hmmWaterstones shipped it on Wednesday. Has anyone experiences with shipment from Uk to Germany?
I had some books shipped and they arrived quickly, but since summer they changed some custom rules, so you might have to pay extra fees and it will take longer.
That is why I cancelled my order with Waterstones and bought it with Amazon.de and received it in two days.
Missed my signature though.
https://geizr.de/brexit-online-bestellungen-aus-uk-zollgebuehren/
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Yes but what do you expect from someone who is not even interested
in releasing his own bluray concerts from so many tours ?
He lives in another dimension
The lattest tours are almost fully available in audio format. This is not an empty glass.
oh please, those crap soundboards with horrible sounds and mixing are laughable at best,
they are in another dimension just like MK, the guitar god who tours with a computer simulation of his own amps (kemper)
everything is in decay, what's next? he tours with an ibanez and not a gibson or a pensa ?
Mike Rutherford is touring with a £100 Squier...
ok, let's go with a £100 Squier and a £100 amplifier, what a nice tour
Mike was in lockdown in South Africa and at the time could only get hold of a £100 squire, but he found he really enjoyed it, so carried on using it. he was practicing the songs for the Genesis tour, he got it because he forgot to take his Clapton Signature Strat, maybe he thought he wouldn't be staying in Cape Town long, but that changed.
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Does John dedicate this book to someone? Who is he thanking?
For Steph, James, Jess, Harry and Dee Dee, with love
His wife and sons/daughters.
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Anyone had bought the audibook, read by Mark Knopfler (the foreword) and John Illsley (the rest of the book)?
I'm curious if it is just an audio digital file or if it is some cds with its case etc.
Anyone?
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I don't know but I think audiobooks are usually just a digital file these days.
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Anyone had bought the audibook, read by Mark Knopfler (the foreword) and John Illsley (the rest of the book)?
I'm curious if it is just an audio digital file or if it is some cds with its case etc.
Anyone?
Jbaent, unfortunatelly it seems that the audiobook is only available as a download:
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1120779/my-life-in-dire-straits/9781787634350.html
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Anyone had bought the audibook, read by Mark Knopfler (the foreword) and John Illsley (the rest of the book)?
I'm curious if it is just an audio digital file or if it is some cds with its case etc.
Anyone?
I heard that the book came out as a limited edition with exclusive high-def DVDs of Madrid 2001, London 2002 and the 2015 documentary ;D
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Picked up the book this morning from Waterstone's - looking forward to a good read! ;)
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Picked up the book this morning from Waterstone's - looking forward to a good read! ;)
Excellent, it is very interesting....
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I don't know but I think audiobooks are usually just a digital file these days.
And CDs as well....
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I didn’t realise Kaiser Cheifs come out to MFN. I like them so was pleased with that. I had to hear it live so found it on youtube.
https://youtu.be/8ZLDRAv-wZw
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I didn’t realise Kaiser Cheifs come out to MFN. I like them so was pleased with that. I had to hear it live so found it on youtube.
https://youtu.be/8ZLDRAv-wZw
Cool!
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My copy is on its way :)
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My copy is on its way :)
Once you get it, you'll be well away reading it!
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I will read very slowly :)
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My signed book arrived finally today :) :clap I‘m very excited
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My signed book arrived finally today :) :clap I‘m very excited
Nice! enjoy...
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Mine, I guess will arrive late thanks to Brexit. Ordered the waterstones signed edition that comes from the UK, so it will remain in customs until they decide how much I should pay, before they let it arrive my home.
I avoid buying from the UK for that reason, last items I ordered from there I have to pay in customs almost the same that I paid for the items (that's paying twice for the same) but I let myself go with the signing edition, so, my fault to be caught again in this Brexit nightmare.
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Started to "read" an audiobook and can already say I love it. Looking forward to finishing it! So far I heard no mistakes, and If I'll hear any, it's a long book so quite excusable actually. If you're worried about mistakes, don't worry, the book has a lot more to offer. You'll enjoy it!
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Mine, I guess will arrive late thanks to Brexit. Ordered the waterstones signed edition that comes from the UK, so it will remain in customs until they decide how much I should pay, before they let it arrive my home.
I avoid buying from the UK for that reason, last items I ordered from there I have to pay in customs almost the same that I paid for the items (that's paying twice for the same) but I let myself go with the signing edition, so, my fault to be caught again in this Brexit nightmare.
Good old Brexit squeezes in again and NO you won't have to pay any Customs charges for the book! 0% for books...
Mind you that's no different than me having to pay customs to get Bonamassa items from America - and no that's not a Brexit thing.
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Let’s keep the politics off the Knopfler forum guys, no good ever comes of it.
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Let’s keep the politics off the Knopfler forum guys, no good ever comes of it.
Damn good idea!
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Let’s keep the politics off the Knopfler forum guys, no good ever comes of it.
Damn good idea!
:thumbsup
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Mine, I guess will arrive late thanks to Brexit. Ordered the waterstones signed edition that comes from the UK, so it will remain in customs until they decide how much I should pay, before they let it arrive my home.
I avoid buying from the UK for that reason, last items I ordered from there I have to pay in customs almost the same that I paid for the items (that's paying twice for the same) but I let myself go with the signing edition, so, my fault to be caught again in this Brexit nightmare.
Good old Brexit squeezes in again and NO you won't have to pay any Customs charges for the book! 0% for books...
Mind you that's no different than me having to pay customs to get Bonamassa items from America - and no that's not a Brexit thing.
I'm glad to hear that and I hope you're right and have to pay zero in customs for it.
I don't buy from NA except for extra rare promo items or only released stuff there, luckily. In the contrary, I used to buy a lot in British shops through eBay or discogs, now I avoid them, and it's a pity, but it's what it is. It's not political but the way it affects people's lifes and it's because of Brexit, customers from outside the UK have to pay extra money in customs for items bought there.
Also, it makes the order to arrive later than usual.
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I notice on Alan Clark's web page that he is 'correcting' a mistake in the book in that he actually came up with 'I want my MTV' rather than MK.
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I notice on Alan Clark's web page that he is 'correcting' a mistake in the book in that he actually came up with 'I want my MTV' rather than MK.
And here's me thinking it was Sting! :lol
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I notice on Alan Clark's web page that he is 'correcting' a mistake in the book in that he actually came up with 'I want my MTV' rather than MK.
And here's me thinking it was Sting! :lol
Actually there was an MTV spot where The Police said 'I want my mtv' so it might be idea of Alan to use that sentence, as it was Guy's idea the synth and drum intro to the song.
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
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From http://www.alanclarkmusic.com/bio
(https://i.postimg.cc/G2Q1Z7w4/Alan.jpg)
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
Alan says John is forgivable after 36 years, how exactly do we know Alan is right after 36 years ?
how do we know John really apologized ?
even if it 'happened', maybe John 'apologized' just to avoid any further discussion with Alan The Child
There's no way Mark wants to reunite DS with this child
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
Alan says John is forgivable after 36 years, how exactly do we know Alan is right after 36 years ?
how do we know John really apologized ?
even if it 'happened', maybe John 'apologized' just to avoid any further discussion with Alan The Child
There's no way Mark wants to reunite DS with this child
And at the end of the day who really cares??!!!
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
Alan says John is forgivable after 36 years, how exactly do we know Alan is right after 36 years ?
how do we know John really apologized ?
even if it 'happened', maybe John 'apologized' just to avoid any further discussion with Alan The Child
There's no way Mark wants to reunite DS with this child
L O L
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
Alan says John is forgivable after 36 years, how exactly do we know Alan is right after 36 years ?
how do we know John really apologized ?
even if it 'happened', maybe John 'apologized' just to avoid any further discussion with Alan The Child
There's no way Mark wants to reunite DS with this child
And at the end of the day who really cares??!!!
exactly
If you (Alan) really wrote that, you should have asked for official mention/credits in 1985 36 years ago
if you didn't ask or didn't get it for whatever reason, just shut up, especially after such a long time
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Excuse me? "I want my MTV" was set to Sting's music anyway, Money For Nothing was written by Mark Knopfler, so for what exactly Alan want a credit for? For an idea? LOL! Idea is nothing without the result. I can have as many ideas as I want, but without the result it's nothing. Some people really overestimate their ideas.
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
Alan says John is forgivable after 36 years, how exactly do we know Alan is right after 36 years ?
how do we know John really apologized ?
even if it 'happened', maybe John 'apologized' just to avoid any further discussion with Alan The Child
There's no way Mark wants to reunite DS with this child
And at the end of the day who really cares??!!!
exactly
If you (Alan) really wrote that, you should have asked for official mention/credits in 1985 36 years ago
if you didn't ask or didn't get it for whatever reason, just shut up, especially after such a long time
That's not that easy, because there is a very thin line between "contribute" and "have a credit" and when that line is passed you have to choose between have your credit and probably loose your job, or don't say a thing and keep your job.
I'm friend with a bassist and a drummer who plays with some of the most important bands in Spain and always tell me about this things.
But also there is a big difference between saying the "I want my MTV" was its idea and claim for a credit. Alan is just stating something that happened, an idea he had that contributed to the song. Nothing more.
As MK is our idol, sometimes we see anything the others say like MK is being attacked and we have to defend him against the others.
Sometimes it's we who are THE CHILD.
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I notice on Alan Clark's web page that he is 'correcting' a mistake in the book in that he actually came up with 'I want my MTV' rather than MK.
And here's me thinking it was Sting! :lol
Actually there was an MTV spot where The Police said 'I want my mtv' so it might be idea of Alan to use that sentence, as it was Guy's idea the synth and drum intro to the song.
I think it was a catchphrase that lots of bands said on the channel?
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
Alan says John is forgivable after 36 years, how exactly do we know Alan is right after 36 years ?
how do we know John really apologized ?
even if it 'happened', maybe John 'apologized' just to avoid any further discussion with Alan The Child
There's no way Mark wants to reunite DS with this child
And at the end of the day who really cares??!!!
exactly
If you (Alan) really wrote that, you should have asked for official mention/credits in 1985 36 years ago
if you didn't ask or didn't get it for whatever reason, just shut up, especially after such a long time
That's not that easy, because there is a very thin line between "contribute" and "have a credit" and when that line is passed you have to choose between have your credit and probably loose your job, or don't say a thing and keep your job.
I'm friend with a bassist and a drummer who plays with some of the most important bands in Spain and always tell me about this things.
But also there is a big difference between saying the "I want my MTV" was its idea and claim for a credit. Alan is just stating something that happened, an idea he had that contributed to the song. Nothing more.
As MK is our idol, sometimes we see anything the others say like MK is being attacked and we have to defend him against the others.
Sometimes it's we who are THE CHILD.
You must be blind, I attack MK myself often when it is appropriate, for example when he tours with a kemper which is really ridiculous or when he doesn't release any Bluray concert after 26 years of solo career
Did you see MK interviewed by Brian Johnson ? MK explicitly says he copied the 'I want my MTV' little melody from Sting,
now Alan Clark out of nothing after 36 years says it's his idea, zero credibility
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I notice on Alan Clark's web page that he is 'correcting' a mistake in the book in that he actually came up with 'I want my MTV' rather than MK.
And here's me thinking it was Sting! :lol
Actually there was an MTV spot where The Police said 'I want my mtv' so it might be idea of Alan to use that sentence, as it was Guy's idea the synth and drum intro to the song.
I think it was a catchphrase that lots of bands said on the channel?
Maybe, I only watched that one by The Police in some documentaries. Never had the MTV when it was a music channel, and not the shitty shit programs it's nowadays.
And obviously, not MTV at all in Spain in the 80's.
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
Alan says John is forgivable after 36 years, how exactly do we know Alan is right after 36 years ?
how do we know John really apologized ?
even if it 'happened', maybe John 'apologized' just to avoid any further discussion with Alan The Child
There's no way Mark wants to reunite DS with this child
And at the end of the day who really cares??!!!
exactly
If you (Alan) really wrote that, you should have asked for official mention/credits in 1985 36 years ago
if you didn't ask or didn't get it for whatever reason, just shut up, especially after such a long time
That's not that easy, because there is a very thin line between "contribute" and "have a credit" and when that line is passed you have to choose between have your credit and probably loose your job, or don't say a thing and keep your job.
I'm friend with a bassist and a drummer who plays with some of the most important bands in Spain and always tell me about this things.
But also there is a big difference between saying the "I want my MTV" was its idea and claim for a credit. Alan is just stating something that happened, an idea he had that contributed to the song. Nothing more.
As MK is our idol, sometimes we see anything the others say like MK is being attacked and we have to defend him against the others.
Sometimes it's we who are THE CHILD.
You must be blind, I attack MK myself often when it is appropriate, for example when he tours with a kemper which is really ridiculous or when he doesn't release any Bluray concert after 26 years of solo career
Did you see MK interviewed by Brian Johnson ? MK explicitly says he copied the 'I want my MTV' little melody from Sting,
now Alan Clark out of nothing after 36 years says it's his idea, zero credibility
You are talking about the melody, not the sentence.
MK used the "don't stand so close to me" Police's melody to sing the "I want my MTV" sentence, and to include that sentence in the song was Alan's idea. Fit perfectly.
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
Alan says John is forgivable after 36 years, how exactly do we know Alan is right after 36 years ?
how do we know John really apologized ?
even if it 'happened', maybe John 'apologized' just to avoid any further discussion with Alan The Child
There's no way Mark wants to reunite DS with this child
And at the end of the day who really cares??!!!
exactly
If you (Alan) really wrote that, you should have asked for official mention/credits in 1985 36 years ago
if you didn't ask or didn't get it for whatever reason, just shut up, especially after such a long time
That's not that easy, because there is a very thin line between "contribute" and "have a credit" and when that line is passed you have to choose between have your credit and probably loose your job, or don't say a thing and keep your job.
I'm friend with a bassist and a drummer who plays with some of the most important bands in Spain and always tell me about this things.
But also there is a big difference between saying the "I want my MTV" was its idea and claim for a credit. Alan is just stating something that happened, an idea he had that contributed to the song. Nothing more.
As MK is our idol, sometimes we see anything the others say like MK is being attacked and we have to defend him against the others.
Sometimes it's we who are THE CHILD.
You must be blind, I attack MK myself often when it is appropriate, for example when he tours with a kemper which is really ridiculous or when he doesn't release any Bluray concert after 26 years of solo career
Did you see MK interviewed by Brian Johnson ? MK explicitly says he copied the 'I want my MTV' little melody from Sting,
now Alan Clark out of nothing after 36 years says it's his idea, zero credibility
You are talking about the melody, not the sentence.
MK used the "don't stand so close to me" Police's melody to sing the "I want my MTV" sentence, and to include that sentence in the song was Alan's idea. Fit perfectly.
Don't twist words
Alan Clark wrote there was NO intro at all, there was NO I want my MTV soundbite and out of nothing he created it
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There is also a book :)
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Mine, I guess will arrive late thanks to Brexit. Ordered the waterstones signed edition that comes from the UK, so it will remain in customs until they decide how much I should pay, before they let it arrive my home.
I avoid buying from the UK for that reason, last items I ordered from there I have to pay in customs almost the same that I paid for the items (that's paying twice for the same) but I let myself go with the signing edition, so, my fault to be caught again in this Brexit nightmare.
Good old Brexit squeezes in again and NO you won't have to pay any Customs charges for the book! 0% for books...
Mind you that's no different than me having to pay customs to get Bonamassa items from America - and no that's not a Brexit thing.
I'm glad to hear that and I hope you're right and have to pay zero in customs for it.
I don't buy from NA except for extra rare promo items or only released stuff there, luckily. In the contrary, I used to buy a lot in British shops through eBay or discogs, now I avoid them, and it's a pity, but it's what it is. It's not political but the way it affects people's lifes and it's because of Brexit, customers from outside the UK have to pay extra money in customs for items bought there.
Also, it makes the order to arrive later than usual.
I had to pay € 6 here in The Netherlands and received the book after 5 days.
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It’s not even the same melody…
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According to Alan, John recognized that mistake and apologized for it, as it was too late to correct that.
We already mentioned there were some mistakes in the book, didn't we?
Alan says John is forgivable after 36 years, how exactly do we know Alan is right after 36 years ?
how do we know John really apologized ?
even if it 'happened', maybe John 'apologized' just to avoid any further discussion with Alan The Child
There's no way Mark wants to reunite DS with this child
And at the end of the day who really cares??!!!
exactly
If you (Alan) really wrote that, you should have asked for official mention/credits in 1985 36 years ago
if you didn't ask or didn't get it for whatever reason, just shut up, especially after such a long time
That's not that easy, because there is a very thin line between "contribute" and "have a credit" and when that line is passed you have to choose between have your credit and probably loose your job, or don't say a thing and keep your job.
I'm friend with a bassist and a drummer who plays with some of the most important bands in Spain and always tell me about this things.
But also there is a big difference between saying the "I want my MTV" was its idea and claim for a credit. Alan is just stating something that happened, an idea he had that contributed to the song. Nothing more.
As MK is our idol, sometimes we see anything the others say like MK is being attacked and we have to defend him against the others.
Sometimes it's we who are THE CHILD.
You must be blind, I attack MK myself often when it is appropriate, for example when he tours with a kemper which is really ridiculous or when he doesn't release any Bluray concert after 26 years of solo career
Did you see MK interviewed by Brian Johnson ? MK explicitly says he copied the 'I want my MTV' little melody from Sting,
now Alan Clark out of nothing after 36 years says it's his idea, zero credibility
You are talking about the melody, not the sentence.
MK used the "don't stand so close to me" Police's melody to sing the "I want my MTV" sentence, and to include that sentence in the song was Alan's idea. Fit perfectly.
Don't twist words
Alan Clark wrote there was NO intro at all, there was NO I want my MTV soundbite and out of nothing he created it
It is you who is twisting it, but congrats, you really bored me with this to death, so, whatever you want.
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It is you who is twisting it, but congrats, you really bored me with this to death, so, whatever you want.
bored to death after just 3 messages says it all
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It’s not even the same melody…
I think it is. It's the same line as the ones in verses in Police' song
for example at 0:40
https://youtu.be/EuuX_t3c_2A?t=40
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It’s not even the same melody…
I think it is. It's the same line as the ones in verses in Police' song
for example at 0:40
https://youtu.be/EuuX_t3c_2A?t=40
Yes same melody, as MK said in the Brian Johnson interview
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It is you who is twisting it, but congrats, you really bored me with this to death, so, whatever you want.
bored to death after just 3 messages says it all
What says it all is that you have very clear and strong prejudice against Alan, and you showed it everytime you can, so it doesn't make sense that I try to make clear why you are wrong, because whatever I say, you are gonna read it through the glass of your prejudice, so, why bother?
That, says it all.
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It’s not even the same melody…
I think it is. It's the same line as the ones in verses in Police' song
for example at 0:40
https://youtu.be/EuuX_t3c_2A?t=40
I know they SAY it’s the same melody, and it has the same number of syllables.
But listen to the two of them, sing in your head, play on a guitar or a piano.
Similar, but not the same…
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It’s not even the same melody…
I think it is. It's the same line as the ones in verses in Police' song
for example at 0:40
https://youtu.be/EuuX_t3c_2A?t=40
I never found the similarity. I know both songs very well and, well, whatever.
As far as I recall, Sting was embarrassed by sharing credits in MFN for that, but his manager insisted, and also his lawyer, asked by his manager. I don't know why MK accepted that, probably they get on well but I wouldn't say they were friends enough to share a credit for the first time (what's the matter baby was officially released in 1995, the only other song with shared credits in DS), or maybe because of they were not friends enough, he had to allow that...
For me it's stupid, the melody is similar in a way, but not as much for that.
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Agree 100%.
It’s more like the melody in the verse, which is in a minor key, but the chorus where it actually says don’t stand so close to me is in a major key.
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It is you who is twisting it, but congrats, you really bored me with this to death, so, whatever you want.
bored to death after just 3 messages says it all
What says it all is that you have very clear and strong prejudice against Alan, and you showed it everytime you can, so it doesn't make sense that I try to make clear why you are wrong, because whatever I say, you are gonna read it through the glass of your prejudice, so, why bother?
That, says it all.
I have a strong prejudice against anyone who has ZERO evidence, very simple, in this case Alan Clark
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It’s not even the same melody…
I think it is. It's the same line as the ones in verses in Police' song
for example at 0:40
https://youtu.be/EuuX_t3c_2A?t=40
I know they SAY it’s the same melody, and it has the same number of syllables.
But listen to the two of them, sing in your head, play on a guitar or a piano.
Similar, but not the same…
oh my god
it's NOT the same melody of the song
it's the same melody of those few notes 'I want my MTV', 6 notes, exactly the same melody with how the police song is sung, nothing to do with the music behind what's sung
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I may be in a minority here, it seems, but I think it's 100% the same melody on Sting's song and "I want my MTV". And yes, sharing credits was a pretty interesting decision... I think Mark just loved the idea so much he'd put money and his ego (probably?) on the table if only the song will be released. That was probably the ultimate seal of approval for this idea.
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I may be in a minority here, it seems, but I think it's 100% the same melody on Sting's song and "I want my MTV". And yes, sharing credits was a pretty interesting decision... I think Mark just loved the idea so much he'd put money and his ego (probably?) on the table if only the song will be released. That was probably the ultimate seal of approval for this idea.
yes, the other guys haven't understood it's just the same melody of the voice
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The melody that is sung to don’t stand so close to me is not the same melody that is sung to I want my MTV.
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Alan should sue for co authorship, like Bobby Valentino did to The Bluebells.
MK stopped hiring Bobby after that, but Alan doesn’t have anything to lose.
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Alan should sue for co authorship, like Bobby Valentino did to The Bluebells.
MK stopped hiring Bobby after that, but Alan doesn’t have anything to lose.
And nothing to win either. However, why he should sue him anyway? When he mentions his contributions, he never say he wrote or cowrote the song, just that he contributed. He had to clarify that in Facebook for example in Facebook as many people were insulting him about saying he wrote TR, and he made clear that he didn't, just contributed.
It's amazing how much some people are under everything he says to start throwing stones.
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The melody that is sung to don’t stand so close to me is not the same melody that is sung to I want my MTV.
We don't understand.
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The melody that is sung to don’t stand so close to me is not the same melody that is sung to I want my MTV.
We don't understand.
It’s not exactly the same melody just very close to it.
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The melody when they sing "I want my MTV" is the same as the verse of Don't Stand So Close to Me, not the chorus, where they actually sing the words "Don't stand so close to me".
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The melody when they sing "I want my MTV" is the same as the verse of Don't Stand So Close to Me, not the chorus, where they actually sing the words "Don't stand so close to me".
Exactly
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The melody that is sung to don’t stand so close to me is not the same melody that is sung to I want my MTV.
We don't understand.
MK himself told you in the interview he copied it but ... nothing, it's not a big enough clue 8) ;D
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The melody when they sing "I want my MTV" is the same as the verse of Don't Stand So Close to Me, not the chorus, where they actually sing the words "Don't stand so close to me".
Exactly
Yeah, I said that.
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The melody when they sing "I want my MTV" is the same as the verse of Don't Stand So Close to Me, not the chorus, where they actually sing the words "Don't stand so close to me".
Exactly
Yeah, I said that.
I know both songs from many years ago and never saw the resemblance. I still don't. Should I believe MK when he said that? It's a question of faith. If he says so...
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Anyone has finished the book and wants to comment anything?
I'm looking forward to read what you all think about Hal's departure, for example, or Pick's, or Jack's, or Terry 's...
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I look forward to read opinions, and to read it myself..Got a "sent today" message from Waterstones two weeks ago, but no book yet.
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I think John is the happies guy in the world because he has a lot of perks Mark has, e.g. moneys from DS days, passive income, no need to compose anything and yet no that level of being "famous" to be bothered everywhere. Truly the luckiest guy on Earth right there!
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He does still release albums, without pressure. Plus, he owns a pub :)
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Well, he's not so millionaire as MK but close, because when DS started, they made various companies with the name DS, and the members of those companies were MK, John and Ed Bicknell. Ed resigned on 1998, so everything that the DS trademark obtains, it goes to MK and John, without having to do anything at all.
Obviously MK gets more money as he has publishing companies apart dealing with copyrights for the lyrics, thats why MK is richer than John.
All the rest of DS members are out from those companies, so they don't get any of that money, except if their contracts with the DS companies stablised anything about it, but that would be a small percentage anyway. As far as I recall, the DS companies stablished that both MK and JI have "more than the 25% and less of the 50%" which is weird.
All that information is public:
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01334993
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01399705
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MK will make a lot more than John because of the publishing.
But John seems like a sensible guy and I’m sure he invested wisely.
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MK will make a lot more than John because of the publishing.
But John seems like a sensible guy and I’m sure he invested wisely.
Yes, I'm sure that John doesn't need to anything for living, all that he does is just for having something to do, owning the pub, painting, the exhibitions of their paintings, his records and his live shows, and now his book. And also have fun.
As he kind of says in the book, it's hard to pass from being a rock star moving around the world to be at home with nothing to do.
He's just keep himself busy.
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Many years ago John used to make The Times rich list. MK was about £60 million and JI was about £20 million. I know they are wildy inaccurate but I’m sure he is minted.
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Just finished reading John's book and I enjoyed it immensely. :)
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I don't know if I want to know the details because I will have the book on December 6th but there are some surprising moments?
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And for me it will be a christmas present, so I'll have to wait a little longer. I can't wait. ;)
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And for me it will be a christmas present, so I'll have to wait a little longer. I can't wait. ;)
:thumbsup Me too.
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And for me it will be a christmas present, so I'll have to wait a little longer. I can't wait. ;)
Seems a few of us are getting Knopfler related goodies for Christmas!!
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Many years ago John used to make The Times rich list. MK was about £60 million and JI was about £20 million. I know they are wildy inaccurate but I’m sure he is minted.
Absolutely no doubt that they are both 'comfortable'!!
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He does still release albums, without pressure. Plus, he owns a pub :)
And part owns two other hotels too....
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Being the easygoing guy John is he probably apologized to Alan because he didn’t want to get himself into that kind of discussion - a polite ‘woteva’… Mark said it was his idea and John said it was Mark’s idea. The story has been told a thousand times over the years and only now, 36 years later, Alan has the urge to claim his creation? I stopped taking him seriously when I read on his website he was one of the most influential musicians of the 1980’s or something along those lines. I mean, how egocentric is that.
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Being the easygoing guy John is he probably apologized to Alan because he didn’t want to get himself into that kind of discussion - a polite ‘woteva’… Mark said it was his idea and John said it was Mark’s idea. The story has been told a thousand times over the years and only now, 36 years later, Alan has the urge to claim his creation? I stopped taking him seriously when I read on his website he was one of the most influential musicians of the 1980’s or something along those lines. I mean, how egocentric is that.
It's really strange to me somebody is really trying to argue in this environment. I mean MK's environment. I'm sure if that was that epic of a suggestion like Alan think it is, everybody would remember it like this. Nobody says the cover for Brothers In Arms album was Mark's idea or something. Or even the name Dire Straits wasn't Mark's idea either. Where it's known for sure nobody makes such mistakes, and here goes AC and makes people like John Illsley apologize, for what probably was a spontaneous idea and could be born at any time at that moment. I'd say, Alan, next time you will work with Dire Straits on a big hit, make sure your suggestions will be universally acclaimed.
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Alan should sue for co authorship, like Bobby Valentino did to The Bluebells.
MK stopped hiring Bobby after that, but Alan doesn’t have anything to lose.
care to detail that story a bit more? never heard it
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Alan should sue for co authorship, like Bobby Valentino did to The Bluebells.
MK stopped hiring Bobby after that, but Alan doesn’t have anything to lose.
care to detail that story a bit more? never heard it
Bobby Valentino played a violin fill that was what made one of the Bluebells songs (I think it was a cover) famous, and he asked for his credit as he thought his violin fill was a hook for the song.
I think he won.
And MK suddenly stopped calling him. Maybe it's a coincidence. But, who knows?
https://swanturton.com/bobby-valentino-wins-share-of-copyright-in-the-bluebells-young-at-heart-beckingham-v-hodgens/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S7soROyUKU
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Alan should sue for co authorship, like Bobby Valentino did to The Bluebells.
MK stopped hiring Bobby after that, but Alan doesn’t have anything to lose.
care to detail that story a bit more? never heard it
Bobby Valentino played a violin fill that was what made one of the Bluebells songs (I think it was a cover) famous, and he asked for his credit as he thought his violin fill was a hook for the song.
I think he won.
And MK suddenly stopped calling him. Maybe it's a coincidence. But, who knows?
https://swanturton.com/bobby-valentino-wins-share-of-copyright-in-the-bluebells-young-at-heart-beckingham-v-hodgens/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S7soROyUKU
I think it's a coincidence and Mark is known to call whole bunch of musicians anyway. And I'm on Bobby's side here actually! It's like if Aan would compose Money For Nothing riff and not just suggested idea of a melody in the intro. Money For Nothing would go on to be a hit anyway, with intro or without it. Same with some other songs, by the way...
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Can't talk about lawsuits and not mention Clare Torry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_Torry#Lawsuit (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_Torry#Lawsuit)
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That's why i said in an earlier post that, why would Alan sue MK just for a contribution? He never claimed to had written the intro (I think Guy said once he more or less did, the synth part), but said he had the idea if doing an intro. I'm sure he has contributed that way to many others DS songs, actually, I'm sure Alchemy is full of his contributions, but that doesn't means they are their compositions.
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That's why i said in an earlier post that, why would Alan sue MK just for a contribution? He never claimed to had written the intro (I think Guy said once he more or less did, the synth part), but said he had the idea if doing an intro. I'm sure he has contributed that way to many others DS songs, actually, I'm sure Alchemy is full of his contributions, but that doesn't means they are their compositions.
Alan doesn't want to sue anyone, I think it was just random speculation here, he just wanted to correct John about facts in his book. The lawsuit part is a part of the discussion here and of course a pretty far-fetched idea. Nobody would sue somebody over that, that's just a regular contribution and part of a session musician's job, nothing that would build up to a songwriting credit. Heck, even Sting's songwriting credit was questionable, let alone Alan's contributions! I thought Money For Nothing would be credited as "Tunnel Of Love" with Oscar Hammerstein II credit for the intro. But not for the whole song!
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Just finished reading John's book and I enjoyed it immensely. :)
I'm glad you like it!
I think it's very nice to have an inside view from the history of the band, and it's from MK right hand, so it is almost from MK himself, lol
I found very nice the way he talks about David, from the period they were flat mates before MK arrived, and also during the firsts years of the band, he truly liked him and understood all he was going throught.
I don't know if Hal would be very happy with the way John describes how he left the band, it makes him look quite vain, in my opinion.
I always find funny when in this books, the writers try to talk about the "girls" on tour, specially about infidelities, Phil also talked the same way in his own book about that issue, something like "I've been a Saint almost all the time", LOL
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And for me it will be a christmas present, so I'll have to wait a little longer. I can't wait. ;)
Seems a few of us are getting Knopfler related goodies for Christmas!!
Great thing for me is that the book is going to be in Spanish in the end, so I would end having the book twice, lol
The English version is on its way in the mess of international shipments from the UK to Spain, hope it arrive soon! I also have the pdf version but reading on a screen is not something I like!
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That's why i said in an earlier post that, why would Alan sue MK just for a contribution? He never claimed to had written the intro (I think Guy said once he more or less did, the synth part), but said he had the idea if doing an intro. I'm sure he has contributed that way to many others DS songs, actually, I'm sure Alchemy is full of his contributions, but that doesn't means they are their compositions.
Alan doesn't want to sue anyone, I think it was just random speculation here, he just wanted to correct John about facts in his book. The lawsuit part is a part of the discussion here and of course a pretty far-fetched idea. Nobody would sue somebody over that, that's just a regular contribution and part of a session musician's job, nothing that would build up to a songwriting credit. Heck, even Sting's songwriting credit was questionable, let alone Alan's contributions! I thought Money For Nothing would be credited as "Tunnel Of Love" with Oscar Hammerstein II credit for the intro. But not for the whole song!
I think it's an interesting discussion, where does the sideman's contribution end and composition begin?
Bobby was able to argue successfully in a court of law that his contribution amounted to composition.
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"I also have the pdf version...
There is an official pdf version?
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That's why i said in an earlier post that, why would Alan sue MK just for a contribution? He never claimed to had written the intro (I think Guy said once he more or less did, the synth part), but said he had the idea if doing an intro. I'm sure he has contributed that way to many others DS songs, actually, I'm sure Alchemy is full of his contributions, but that doesn't means they are their compositions.
Alan doesn't want to sue anyone, I think it was just random speculation here, he just wanted to correct John about facts in his book. The lawsuit part is a part of the discussion here and of course a pretty far-fetched idea. Nobody would sue somebody over that, that's just a regular contribution and part of a session musician's job, nothing that would build up to a songwriting credit. Heck, even Sting's songwriting credit was questionable, let alone Alan's contributions! I thought Money For Nothing would be credited as "Tunnel Of Love" with Oscar Hammerstein II credit for the intro. But not for the whole song!
I think it's an interesting discussion, where does the sideman's contribution end and composition begin?
Bobby was able to argue successfully in a court of law that his contribution amounted to composition.
Phil Palmer talks about this in his book, that there is a grey line between contribution and composition, and from the sideman's part, is a big risk. He says that when you are recording and your part is really more a composition of you own than a contribution, you have two choices:
1/ Ask inmediatly for the credit, if you let it go for a day or two, is lost battle
2/ Don't say a thing, because if you ask for a credit and you deserve it, you might get it, but that artist won't call you anymore, and probably would spread the word and you would be in danger of no loosing jobs
He says in the book he always opted for not saying a thing, and keep getting jobs. He mentions some sessions where he wrote the main riffs for the songs, or creating a great and catchy solo that made the song famous or reconizable, but he chose to be proud of his work, and keep working, than have a credit and not work anymore.
Looks tricky, and Bobby Valentino took a big risk with this. Other artists that might hire him maybe would choose another one just in case and not take the risk he might ask for credit.
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"I also have the pdf version...
There is an official pdf version?
The electronical book I mean. Its all pdf to me, LOL
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Phil Palmer talks about this in his book, that there is a grey line between contribution and composition, and from the sideman's part, is a big risk. He says that when you are recording and your part is really more a composition of you own than a contribution, you have two choices:
1/ Ask inmediatly for the credit, if you let it go for a day or two, is lost battle
2/ Don't say a thing, because if you ask for a credit and you deserve it, you might get it, but that artist won't call you anymore, and probably would spread the word and you would be in danger of no loosing jobs
He says in the book he always opted for not saying a thing, and keep getting jobs. He mentions some sessions where he wrote the main riffs for the songs, or creating a great and catchy solo that made the song famous or reconizable, but he chose to be proud of his work, and keep working, than have a credit and not work anymore.
Looks tricky, and Bobby Valentino took a big risk with this. Other artists that might hire him maybe would choose another one just in case and not take the risk he might ask for credit.
It's a very interesting discussion! History shows that songwriting credits are a complete mess sometimes and an ever-changing thing. I always found it too confusing with Lennon/McCartney vs. McCartney/Lennon thing, they had songs clearly written by one, credited to both, etc., I don't think that Mike Love deserved some of the writing credits for The Beach Boys songs and so on. I don't think that coming up with a couple of words to a finished song or an instrumental line is enough to earn credit.
I think if you compose an integral part of the song, or the main riff, or all the lyrics, then it deserves credit. But for a lot of stuff, I don't know... Would "Rüdiger" be the same without an acoustic guitar intro? I don't think so, but the song would be amazing even without it. Can the idea change the song's feel completely? Sure, but that would not change the song. Allegedly, Ed Bicknell suggested the unique rhythm drums part for "Your Latest Trick", which arguably made the whole song so iconic. But should he earn writing credit for that? I don't think so...
A lot of times you have a direct influence on the songs, like Ringo Starr coining the term "a hard day's night" or Paul McCartney's driver saying "eight days a week" that would result in a song. But this idea on its own would certainly not write the song, it's just an idea floating in the air. The idea is nothing without a result.
How does it translate to Alan’s situation? I think without MK, he won’t be on Montserrat recording an album and without Mark writing the song Money For Nothing, he won’t be suggesting to put Sting’s melody in it. I think Mark did the most work there and any idea would be nothing compared to his contributions. Like, it’s not even comparable. Who knows, maybe he would eventually come up with an even better solution. Like the iconic Brothers In Arms intro lick!
I think it's a generally stupid idea to go fishing for credits if you're a session musician. If the artist you work with is not dumb, I don’t think he would argue about giving you the credit. Most of the time it’s just not worth it! And a session musician may come across as a selfish, greedy a-hole and hence get fewer job later on. If that’s polite and arguments are strong, it's not a problem. In Bobby’s case, arguments were strong, but only in court! Just don’t leave this decision for a court is what I'd say.
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I'm fan of Toto and I always liked the way they handle the credits. Any song in which any of the members had an input, there was a credit. Jeff Porcaro, the drummer, has a lot of credits in Toto's songs!
Also Genesis and Pink Floyd members shared credits in many songs.
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About Dire Straits, besides the MFN intro idea, who wrote the intro, etc, there are songs that we know must had more than contributions.
For example, we know TR was developed by MK and Alan, hand by hand, during the soundchecks of the On Location tour, it's MK song but, where Alan's contributions ends as such and develope into co-composing? A grey line.
Also, we know that Paul Franklin was playing some steel guitar warm up licks, Jeff Porcaro followed him, and MK liked so much that he included that in "Calling Elvis". Does it means that Franklin and Porcaro deserve credits for creating one of the main rythmic parts of the song? Or it was just a contribution?
I'm sure that there are lot of more examples, as Quizzy mentioned the Richard Bennett intro for "Rüdiger".
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About Dire Straits, besides the MFN intro idea, who wrote the intro, etc, there are songs that we know must had more than contributions.
For example, we know TR was developed by MK and Alan, hand by hand, during the soundchecks of the On Location tour, it's MK song but, where Alan's contributions ends as such and develope into co-composing? A grey line.
Also, we know that Paul Franklin was playing some steel guitar warm up licks, Jeff Porcaro followed him, and MK liked so much that he included that in "Calling Elvis". Does it means that Franklin and Porcaro deserve credits for creating one of the main rythmic parts of the song? Or it was just a contribution?
I'm sure that there are lot of more examples, as Quizzy mentioned the Richard Bennett intro for "Rüdiger".
Hmmmmm, a good example would be Larry Knechtel writing an amazing, astonishingly good piano arrangement for “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. I mean, the demo Paul Simon did is completely different, it's not the same song at all, and yet, no credits for Larry. Because I think what we have here is the situation of a well-established songwriter.
You can do anything for such a songwriter but he’s not going to provide you with any credits regardless of your input. Because I think he understands that it’s a fair game. He gives you the platform, advertise you if you want, and it’s your job to do something with it next. Either you’ll grow and do even more, or cry like a baby asking for credits, it’s your choice.
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Just finished reading John's book and I enjoyed it immensely. :)
I'm glad you like it!
I think it's very nice to have an inside view from the history of the band, and it's from MK right hand, so it is almost from MK himself, lol
I found very nice the way he talks about David, from the period they were flat mates before MK arrived, and also during the firsts years of the band, he truly liked him and understood all he was going throught.
I don't know if Hal would be very happy with the way John describes how he left the band, it makes him look quite vain, in my opinion.
I always find funny when in this books, the writers try to talk about the "girls" on tour, specially about infidelities, Phil also talked the same way in his own book about that issue, something like "I've been a Saint almost all the time", LOL
Of course, the book is about John's time in DS, but something that wasn't mentioned is how and when Mark met Lourdes - I wonder when that happened, especially when they were so busy travelling around the world so much. Did she work at The Power Station, perhaps? :think
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Of course, the book is about John's time in DS, but something that wasn't mentioned is how and when Mark met Lourdes - I wonder when that happened, especially when they were so busy travelling around the world so much. Did she work at The Power Station, perhaps? :think
That all is going to be in Mark's own autobiography, let's just wait another thousand years! :lol
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Just finished reading John's book and I enjoyed it immensely. :)
I'm glad you like it!
I think it's very nice to have an inside view from the history of the band, and it's from MK right hand, so it is almost from MK himself, lol
I found very nice the way he talks about David, from the period they were flat mates before MK arrived, and also during the firsts years of the band, he truly liked him and understood all he was going throught.
I don't know if Hal would be very happy with the way John describes how he left the band, it makes him look quite vain, in my opinion.
I always find funny when in this books, the writers try to talk about the "girls" on tour, specially about infidelities, Phil also talked the same way in his own book about that issue, something like "I've been a Saint almost all the time", LOL
Of course, the book is about John's time in DS, but something that wasn't mentioned is how and when Mark met Lourdes - I wonder when that happened, especially when they were so busy travelling around the world so much. Did she work at The Power Station, perhaps? :think
Yes, she worked at Power Station when they got there to record Making Movies, and that's when they met.
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I haven't read the book yet, but, does John mention Holy Vincent?
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I haven't read the book yet, but, does John mention Holy Vincent?
Not directly.
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About Dire Straits, besides the MFN intro idea, who wrote the intro, etc, there are songs that we know must had more than contributions.
For example, we know TR was developed by MK and Alan, hand by hand, during the soundchecks of the On Location tour, it's MK song but, where Alan's contributions ends as such and develope into co-composing? A grey line.
Also, we know that Paul Franklin was playing some steel guitar warm up licks, Jeff Porcaro followed him, and MK liked so much that he included that in "Calling Elvis". Does it means that Franklin and Porcaro deserve credits for creating one of the main rythmic parts of the song? Or it was just a contribution?
I'm sure that there are lot of more examples, as Quizzy mentioned the Richard Bennett intro for "Rüdiger".
Hmmmmm, a good example would be Larry Knechtel writing an amazing, astonishingly good piano arrangement for “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. I mean, the demo Paul Simon did is completely different, it's not the same song at all, and yet, no credits for Larry. Because I think what we have here is the situation of a well-established songwriter.
You can do anything for such a songwriter but he’s not going to provide you with any credits regardless of your input. Because I think he understands that it’s a fair game. He gives you the platform, advertise you if you want, and it’s your job to do something with it next. Either you’ll grow and do even more, or cry like a baby asking for credits, it’s your choice.
The guy who did the string arrangement won a geammy (which Paul felt was undeserved) and didn't even listen to the lyrics properly, he typed it up as "Like A Pitcher of Water"!
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I haven't read the book yet, but, does John mention Holy Vincent?
Not directly.
I don't remember any mention at all, but English is not my language so I might had loses that.
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I haven't read the book yet, but, does John mention Holy Vincent?
Not directly.
I don't remember any mention at all, but English is not my language so I might had loses that.
It was related to R&J and the fact that Mark was struggling with his private life and John was surprised that he could write something so beautiful whilst being so distracted.
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I haven't read the book yet, but, does John mention Holy Vincent?
Not directly.
I don't remember any mention at all, but English is not my language so I might had loses that.
It was related to R&J and the fact that Mark was struggling with his private life and John was surprised that he could write something so beautiful whilst being so distracted.
I definitely need the book on paper!
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I have finished it. The book is very nice with great and interesting stories. I was a bit shocked how dangerous some gigs in some southern Europe countries were at that Time. I didn‘t expected that.
Also I wasn‘t aware that John and Dave very regular weet smokers :lol
The last part of the OES tour is a bit short for such a big and long tour.
Overall a nice insight into the band‘s Life. It would ne great to read Mark‘s bio/story. But I think this will never happen :-\
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Book arrived today, almost 10 extra euros in customs, just for a sign!
Looking forward to read it properly.
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John posted this on his FB page
"Four old friends get together at my book launch last night. #mylifeindirestraits"
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Colors
(https://i.postimg.cc/qvnrsjvj/4guys.jpg)
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Thank you JF
Thank you PensaGhost :)
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"Four old friends get together at my book launch last night"
When I saw that sentence I was thinking Mark, David, John, Pick? Impossible. So impossible.
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Who is the one next to John? ??? :-X
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Former DS-guitarist Hal Lindes.
Who is the one next to John? ??? :-X
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Looks like Hal Lindes ;)
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"Four old friends get together at my book launch last night"
When I saw that sentence I was thinking Mark, David, John, Pick? Impossible. So impossible.
It's Hal Lindes.
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Ah cool! :thumbsup
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What a nice picture. Everyone seems to be fine. So glad!
Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup
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It’s not even the same melody…
I think it is. It's the same line as the ones in verses in Police' song
for example at 0:40
https://youtu.be/EuuX_t3c_2A?t=40
You guys need to hear Don't stand so close to me live in 1980, listen to the intro and you'll see where the inspiration for part of the MNF intro came from.
Check out this wonderful version and it shows it clearly
https://youtu.be/QuetTf5m2cE (https://youtu.be/QuetTf5m2cE)
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What a nice picture. Everyone seems to be fine. So glad!
Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup
When I see that photo, I can't help thinking "go on, guys, make some music together!" I so would like Mark and John, in particular, to do something together for one last time.
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I wonder if John also invited David or Pick for the launching of the book
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Good question. But I don't think so.
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I think the relationships between certain people are so srewed up to this point that nobody invites anyone anymore. As you can see, there are only "clear" people on the photo with no history of staling relationships.
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Really nice photo that John posted on his Instagram account...
All looking very well - but that's not the MK that was on the Dion video. That video must of been made a few years ago??!!
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I wonder if John also invited David or Pick for the launching of the book
You'd like to think so wouldn't you...
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Really nice photo that John posted on his Instagram account...
All looking very well - but that's not the MK that was on the Dion video. That video must of been made a few years ago??!!
On the Dion video MK looks like he did in 2016 even though his fingers seem to be playing to the music. In any case he seems to wear specs all the time these days. Definitely an old video!
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With that photo you have: Mark has the least amount of hair, John looking the oldest, Guy with the worst hair, and Hal looking like Richard Wright :)
If those 4 got together for one final Dire Straits song performance, it would have to be Private Investigations, and that would give each player a time to shine.
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With that photo you have: Mark has the least amount of hair, John looking the oldest, Guy with the worst hair, and Hal looking like Richard Wright :)
If those 4 got together for one final Dire Straits song performance, it would have to be Private Investigations, and that would give each player a time to shine.
As someone who has the same hairstyle as MK, I think Guy’s hair looks good!
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Colors
(https://i.postimg.cc/qvnrsjvj/4guys.jpg)
Caption competition?
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Colors
(https://i.postimg.cc/qvnrsjvj/4guys.jpg)
Caption competition?
Four in a Row? ;)
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Really nice photo that John posted on his Instagram account...
All looking very well - but that's not the MK that was on the Dion video. That video must of been made a few years ago??!!
On the Dion video MK looks like he did in 2016 even though his fingers seem to be playing to the music. In any case he seems to wear specs all the time these days. Definitely an old video!
Mark in CGI? :think
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6qR1BdnQ/John.jpg)
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6qR1BdnQ/John.jpg)
Nice photo!!!!
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Colors
(https://i.postimg.cc/qvnrsjvj/4guys.jpg)
Caption competition?
Just look like your really enjoying yourselves!
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6qR1BdnQ/John.jpg)
Big John can be proud of his book, it is well done. :clap
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Colors
(https://i.postimg.cc/qvnrsjvj/4guys.jpg)
Caption competition?
No more in Dire Straits
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6qR1BdnQ/John.jpg)
Nice photo!!!!
I have to say though, he looks absolutely shattered. If John can't handle a book launch, a reunion tour is probably a bit beyond him.....
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I have to say though, he looks absolutely shattered. If John can't handle a book launch, a reunion tour is probably a bit beyond him.....
Let's settle for a couple of concerts
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6qR1BdnQ/John.jpg)
Nice photo!!!!
I have to say though, he looks absolutely shattered. If John can't handle a book launch, a reunion tour is probably a bit beyond him.....
Maybe pissed after the book launch.
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I'm the only one who doesn't understand what's so shattered and pissed about John on these photos? Looks like a normal 72 y old after a couple of pints of beer.
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As I'm reading the book I can't help but think how hard it would be for them to "make it" today, if not impossible. They're so lucky to be in that moment in that country, in this environment. So I agree with Mark, who was talking about that in his opening statement.
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I'm the only one who doesn't understand what's so shattered and pissed about John on these photos? Looks like a normal 72 y old after a couple of pints of beer.
Perhaps tired of signing books and telling people how Mark came up with Sting’s lines for MFN lol
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As I'm reading the book I can't help but think how hard it would be for them to "make it" today, if not impossible. They're so lucky to be in that moment in that country, in this environment. So I agree with Mark, who was talking about that in his opening statement.
Yes, that's true, that was in the golden era of pop-rock music, also singers are bands were given at least a three records deal to show their potential and evolve, now if you don't have a hit with your first single, the industry throws you out.
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As I'm reading the book I can't help but think how hard it would be for them to "make it" today, if not impossible. They're so lucky to be in that moment in that country, in this environment. So I agree with Mark, who was talking about that in his opening statement.
Yes, that's true, that was in the golden era of pop-rock music, also singers are bands were given at least a three records deal to show their potential and evolve, now if you don't have a hit with your first single, the industry throws you out.
True, but DS did have a hit with their first single! Still their most popular song. Sultans has nearly double the Spotify plays of the next most popular track (WoL).
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Making my way through the book and it's been really enjoyable so far. So many details! I like how John appreciates so many people they met on this incredible journey. Great read.
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Making my way through the book and it's been really enjoyable so far. So many details! I like how John appreciates so many people they met on this incredible journey. Great read.
I noticed that too. John seemed to have good things to say about most people in music who he met along the way. He seems a very nice person. :)
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Imagine listening various new bands on soundclouds and then the SOS demo starts playing... :wave
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Imagine listening various new bands on soundclouds and then the SOS demo starts playing... :wave
Yes, but at the same time, if not Mark, probably by this time somebody would rediscover this kind of sound already, though even some pre-Dire Straits JJ Cale songs sounds like MK played on it, I even had a little collection of JJ Cale songs with most "MK" playing, but I lost it somewhere. My point is, Sultans could only emerge in this time and from that band, so as always, it's a great example of some major luck.
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Your own sound in the era of punk rock? They were champions. Unique.
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Your own sound in the era of punk rock? They were champions. Unique.
Not just punk rock, which was culturally significant but not a big seller.
Disco. The whole world was disco crazy. The Rolling Stones and even Pink Floyd went disco.
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Yes, but the UK was dominated by punk rock music when the band Dire Straits started. I think so.
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Yes, but the UK was dominated by punk rock music when the band Dire Straits started. I think so.
I would have to check but I would guess that ABBA alone were selling more records in the UK than the whole UK punk scene.
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That's possible. I am thinking of cultural change here. Punk rock in 1977, 78 was everywhere. At the first Cafe Racers concert on June 26, 1977, too.
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_in_British_music
Top selling records of 1977 at the end of this page.
No punk, unless you count Tom Robinson.
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_in_British_music
Top selling records of 1977 at the end of this page.
No punk, unless you count Tom Robinson.
No.2 20 Golden Greats - The Shadows.....by Jove :clap
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What is the first song in the book John mentions?
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Down to the waterline.
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Thank you Dusty :)
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What is the first song in the book John mentions?
Why you're asking that tho :lol
Just finished reading the book and got to say, it's great! Some mistakes were a pity, but overall it's such a big story that mistakes are negligible, as I expected. Totally recommended!
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I was very curious. I don't know why I was thinking of Eastbound Train:) My copy will be on December 6 :)
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What I found pretty amusing about Mark is the guy can test 100 guitars for 6 hours for a riff on a song, and yet, with people, he pretty much just randomly pick the first choice. At least, that's what I got from the book. The guy in the Pathway Studios wants to do the lighting? He'll do the lighting for us. We need to replace David, here's Hal Lindes — let's take him. And so on, as if he almost doesn't care. At least they went to a whole lot of trouble choosing label and manager!
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A couple of my thoughts after reading the book:
1) I don't think we really need a book from MK after that, for one thing, because their lives with John are pretty similar, in my view, growing up and such, and since MK is not going to give away too much personal information or inspiration for songs, and a lot of his biography is out there on the internet anyway, I don't think we'd ever see his book. And all the rest would be the same, minus, again, some personal information.
2) I'm pretty sure all the major turning points and deportations were discussed beforehand with MK or maybe even with heroes themselves, it helps that John speaks with everybody, unlike MK. Besides, the reasoning John provided is extremely plausible and believable, can't argue with facts basically. Every departure is well presented and explained.
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These are important observations. Thank you Pavel. I'm looking forward to my book.
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I think it would be better for a lyrics book like Paul McCartney has just released, but I just don't think writing any book is something Mark would want to do.
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I think it would be better for a lyrics book like Paul McCartney has just released, but I just don't think writing any book is something Mark would want to do.
Yes, I also would prefer a lyrics book. That would be great. I have one by Tom Russell, who is one of the greatest storytellers of our time.
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I think it would be better for a lyrics book like Paul McCartney has just released, but I just don't think writing any book is something Mark would want to do.
Yes, I also would prefer a lyrics book. That would be great. I have one by Tom Russell, who is one of the greatest storytellers of our time.
Highly doubt about a lyrics book, it doesn't feel "MK" at all. Of course, the publisher may do something like this one day. The first song will be "The Bug" :lol
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I am the only one who doesn't understand why they did 1.5-year tours at all? Why? I feel like it's really a drug, and they just couldn't stop. I get that playing live is great and emotional, but why do it 300 times a year? Obviously, you'll end up with broken marriages, no time to see your kids, everybody leaving the band, complete chaos, and a year to recover afterwards. Just to say that your tour was the biggest?
In the retrospect, it doesn't matter how many people came to shows, 7 million or 3 million, it will always be a relatively small number. Besides, should the band exist longer, smaller tours would sum up to 2-3 bigger ones anyway. Call me an idiot, but I think doing such big tours is a dumb idea. Of course, should Dire Straits invite me on tour I would probably agree because I'm an idiot, but still I'd think it's dumb.
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I am the only one who doesn't understand why they did 1.5-year tours at all? Why? I feel like it's really a drug, and they just couldn't stop. I get that playing live is great and emotional, but why do it 300 times a year? Obviously, you'll end up with broken marriages, no time to see your kids, everybody leaving the band, complete chaos, and a year to recover afterwards. Just to say that your tour was the biggest?
In the retrospect, it doesn't matter how many people came to shows, 7 million or 3 million, it will always be a relatively small number. Besides, should the band exist longer, smaller tours would sum up to 2-3 bigger ones anyway. Call me an idiot, but I think doing such big tours is a dumb idea. Of course, should Dire Straits invite me on tour I would probably agree because I'm an idiot, but still I'd think it's dumb.
I think Mark enjoys touring at the beginning of tour, then gets sick of it. Compare his energy in 1985 to his exhaustion in 1986, or his good mood of 1991 to his grumpy, moody, bored to death attitude of 1992. I think John said that after a while, you have no idea where you are and you completely don't care anyway. That's why 1996 was a "baby tour", 4 months seems the right period to enjoy it till the end...
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I am the only one who doesn't understand why they did 1.5-year tours at all? Why? I feel like it's really a drug, and they just couldn't stop. I get that playing live is great and emotional, but why do it 300 times a year? Obviously, you'll end up with broken marriages, no time to see your kids, everybody leaving the band, complete chaos, and a year to recover afterwards. Just to say that your tour was the biggest?
In the retrospect, it doesn't matter how many people came to shows, 7 million or 3 million, it will always be a relatively small number. Besides, should the band exist longer, smaller tours would sum up to 2-3 bigger ones anyway. Call me an idiot, but I think doing such big tours is a dumb idea. Of course, should Dire Straits invite me on tour I would probably agree because I'm an idiot, but still I'd think it's dumb.
I think Mark enjoys touring at the beginning of tour, then gets sick of it. Compare his energy in 1985 to his exhaustion in 1986, or his good mood of 1991 to his grumpy, moody, bored to death attitude of 1992. I think John said that after a while, you have no idea where you are and you completely don't care anyway. That's why 1996 was a "baby tour", 4 months seems the right period to enjoy it till the end...
Yes, exactly. And it's funny since they created this themselves and Dire Straits got "too big" in Mark's word, but nobody was standing beside him with a gun telling he need to tour for so long as he did. And as I understand they barely broke even with big tours, right? So it doesn't even makes sense from financial perspective, a complete nonsense.
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I am the only one who doesn't understand why they did 1.5-year tours at all? Why? I feel like it's really a drug, and they just couldn't stop. I get that playing live is great and emotional, but why do it 300 times a year? Obviously, you'll end up with broken marriages, no time to see your kids, everybody leaving the band, complete chaos, and a year to recover afterwards. Just to say that your tour was the biggest?
In the retrospect, it doesn't matter how many people came to shows, 7 million or 3 million, it will always be a relatively small number. Besides, should the band exist longer, smaller tours would sum up to 2-3 bigger ones anyway. Call me an idiot, but I think doing such big tours is a dumb idea. Of course, should Dire Straits invite me on tour I would probably agree because I'm an idiot, but still I'd think it's dumb.
I think Mark enjoys touring at the beginning of tour, then gets sick of it. Compare his energy in 1985 to his exhaustion in 1986, or his good mood of 1991 to his grumpy, moody, bored to death attitude of 1992. I think John said that after a while, you have no idea where you are and you completely don't care anyway. That's why 1996 was a "baby tour", 4 months seems the right period to enjoy it till the end...
Yes, exactly. And it's funny since they created this themselves and Dire Straits got "too big" in Mark's word, but nobody was standing beside him with a gun telling he need to tour for so long as he did. And as I understand they barely broke even with big tours, right? So it doesn't even makes sense from financial perspective, a complete nonsense.
I think there were pushed by Ed. Look at Mark interview prior to Sydney 1986. He says that the tour "just grew", and you feel that it has grown way too much for his taste. He refered later to DS as "the beast", something controlling him more than he was controlling it. The break-up between Mark and Ed in 2000 (the infamous helmet story) was the ultimate episode of that: Ed considered that 1996 was just a childish small break. The STP album was supposed, in Ed's mind, to carry the DS sticker on it (it would have been a natural DS album btw) and the 2001 tour was intended to restore DS to its full glory. Mark said a big no to that, pretty harshly.
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"Ed considered that 1996 was just a childish small break. The STP album was supposed, in Ed's mind, to carry the DS sticker on it (it would have been a natural DS album btw) and the 2001 tour was intended to restore DS to its full glory. Mark said a big no to that, pretty harshly"
Really?
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Yes. Ed considered the 1996 tour as a childish diva move, and took Mark literally when he said that he didn't want to hear about DS for 10 years. Ed thought that 9 years was more than enough...well, he has been waiting for almost 30 years now, and no sign of a DS reunion !
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For me, this is sensational news. Mark began his solo career in 1996 and officially announced it to the world.
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I had another thought: these big tours may actually be handy as a great advertisment. As John said in the book, when the band is in town, there are posters everywhere, news, and such. A lot of people knew about DS because of that. So probably, without big tours, Mark and John may not be as comfortable as they right now. Would need to play in tribute bands like Trevor Horn, and not recording radio shows in your own studio drinking coffee and writing books. So hard work, in a way, paid off really.
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The big tours were basically album promotions.
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The big tours were basically album promotions.
Before Internet ;D
However, MK still tours (or toured) like crazy with too many shows as if it's 1986 all over again.
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The big tours were basically album promotions.
Before Internet ;D
However, MK still tours (or toured) like crazy with too many shows as if it's 1986 all over again.
I think his solo tours have been very "reasonable". They probably could have had more days off, but then suddenly the tour starts to drag on and feel a lot longer.
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The big tours were basically album promotions.
Before Internet ;D
However, MK still tours (or toured) like crazy with too many shows as if it's 1986 all over again.
I think his solo tours have been very "reasonable". They probably could have had more days off, but then suddenly the tour starts to drag on and feel a lot longer.
His expensive musicians are paid by weeks, no matter if they play 7 concerts or just 3, they are getting paid exactly the same, so MK always tried to play minimum 6 concerts per week if possible, if not 5, whatever the schedules allows, but always trying to play 6 concerts per week to make the costs worth.
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VIII, my 8th studio album will be released 11th February 2022.
Pre-ordered signed CD and limited purple vinyl are available to pre-order now:
https://store.100-percent.co.uk/collections/john-illsley
The first single from the album ‘Which Way Is Up’ is out now on all digital platforms.
Enjoy! I can’t wait to hear what you think x
(https://i.postimg.cc/sxxb1hBT/VIII.jpg)
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VIII, my 8th studio album will be released 11th February 2022.
Pre-ordered signed CD and limited purple vinyl are available to pre-order now:
https://store.100-percent.co.uk/collections/john-illsley
The first single from the album ‘Which Way Is Up’ is out now on all digital platforms.
Enjoy! I can’t wait to hear what you think x
(https://i.postimg.cc/sxxb1hBT/VIII.jpg)
Wow! That was unexpected and deserves a separate topic actually. The song sound extremely DS, as expected ;D
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It sounds more like Eric Clapton than DS, I think. Nice track, and cool guitar playing. Robbie?
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Where can i listen ?
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I use Tidal.
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Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2cvjV6tm8gB3IX2wsSPcA1
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Thank you.
John will release the album faster than Mark.
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John has written and published a book, then written, recorded and released a new album, before Mark has even had a full band in the studio :think Guy wrote that the album has no timeline, so I should do as Mark sings, Let it all go...
Johns new song is nice! Go John! :clap :D
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It sounds more like Eric Clapton than DS, I think. Nice track, and cool guitar playing. Robbie?
It just has to be Robbie doesn't it?!
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It sounds more like Eric Clapton than DS, I think. Nice track, and cool guitar playing. Robbie?
It just has to be Robbie doesn't it?!
Sounds like it.
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John has written and published a book, then written, recorded and released a new album, before Mark has even had a full band in the studio :think Guy wrote that the album has no timeline, so I should do as Mark sings, Let it all go...
Johns new song is nice! Go John! :clap :D
Van Morrison released 2 or 3 albums by this time :lol
But of course, with Mark, you'll get an album with a completely different level of quality over the rest.
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John has written and published a book, then written, recorded and released a new album, before Mark has even had a full band in the studio :think Guy wrote that the album has no timeline, so I should do as Mark sings, Let it all go...
Johns new song is nice! Go John! :clap :D
Van Morrison released 2 or 3 albums by this time :lol
But of course, with Mark, you'll get an album with a completely different level of quality over the rest.
I do sometimes wonder how many folk who purchase his solo albums appreciate the quality. I suspect I don’t for one. My ears are not as good as Mark and Guy’s and so I wouldn’t be as “fussy” (for want of a better word.)
Part of me questions whether they take this much time mainly for their benefit or to get good feedback from others with excellent ears (Glyn Johns etc)
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It’s not just the sound quality though, it’s the whole package.
The arrangements, choice of personnel, choice of instrumentation etc
At the end of the day you can’t polish a doo do and if the song isn’t good this stuff doesn’t matter, but a tremendous amount of care goes into an MK album clearly.
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My idea is that MK and co could record the same album in half the time if they wanted -- covid appart. Thing is, MK likes to take his time and it's perfectly fine I suppose. But we all have albums (big names or not) recorded much faster and which sound as good as Mark's. Just my opinion. ::)
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Everybody works differently.
Sorry to bring it back to The Beatles again, but they were recording two albums a year in the 60s!
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John has written and published a book, then written, recorded and released a new album, before Mark has even had a full band in the studio :think Guy wrote that the album has no timeline, so I should do as Mark sings, Let it all go...
Johns new song is nice! Go John! :clap :D
I'm not taking anything away from Dear John, but personally his music is not as crafted as MKs so of course John can churn out a few more albums than MKs. MKs albums are complete work of arts and are not just an album of ornate tunes, they actually all tell a story...just my thoughts..
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To me, it's pretty obvious a lack of inspiration which takes him so long. It's not good for Mark's output to lock in with Guy alone for months, fiddle around with all kind of nonsense gear and and try to find inspiration that way. Also his song writing has become more of a habit than real art during the last decade, it seems he doesn't know what else to do with his time. Sometimes time frames are good for creativity. When he was in rented studios, the work was much more concentrated and therefore the output was better - from my point of view of course. He should change Guy, change the band, change the studio. Ragpicker was recorded in a very short time compared to everything after and seems to be his best one still.
That last wherever album was testament to an artist not having new ideas, polished by a Guy (pun intended) who dreams of doing his own stuff but lacking creativity. It was never so clear to me that MK has lost interest after that last album.
I really don't even expect anything from this new effort. I used to hope for surprises but today it's just fear that it gets even more cringe. For me, Tracker was a good album with some outstanding tracks. I loved listen to it complete and enjoyed it very much. With the tour things were already getting worse. He should have stopped after that.
LE
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To get back to the topic more, I listened to the track Toe The Line yesterday and wondered if John really played that guitar? Do we know who played it?
I also found out that I like his compositions and the nod to Dire Straits sound very much but cannot stand his vocal style. I appreciate it very much that he keeps going on recording though.
LE
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I agree with you wholeheartedly LE, although some not all tracks on the last few albums are good and are really quite classic MK. It will be very interesting to see what does appear on the latest offering from British Grove. I hope it's not too Guy orientated but I suspect it will be...
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To get back to the topic more, I listened to the track Toe The Line yesterday and wondered if John really played that guitar? Do we know who played it?
I also found out that I like his compositions and the nod to Dire Straits sound very much but cannot stand his vocal style. I appreciate it very much that he keeps going on recording though.
LE
Toe the line is indeed a great track and have always presumed John did play the guitar part....
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To me, it's pretty obvious a lack of inspiration which takes him so long. It's not good for Mark's output to lock in with Guy alone for months, fiddle around with all kind of nonsense gear and and try to find inspiration that way. Also his song writing has become more of a habit than real art during the last decade, it seems he doesn't know what else to do with his time. Sometimes time frames are good for creativity. When he was in rented studios, the work was much more concentrated and therefore the output was better - from my point of view of course. He should change Guy, change the band, change the studio. Ragpicker was recorded in a very short time compared to everything after and seems to be his best one still.
That last wherever album was testament to an artist not having new ideas, polished by a Guy (pun intended) who dreams of doing his own stuff but lacking creativity. It was never so clear to me that MK has lost interest after that last album.
I really don't even expect anything from this new effort. I used to hope for surprises but today it's just fear that it gets even more cringe. For me, Tracker was a good album with some outstanding tracks. I loved listen to it complete and enjoyed it very much. With the tour things were already getting worse. He should have stopped after that.
LE
It's a bit harsh but I understand what you mean. To his credit, Mark has been doing music for the last, what, 50 years ? It's really difficult to reinvent oneself over the years… I can't imagine myself doing the same stuff for 50 years and keep it fresh all the time, even if what I do for a living is my passion (and I'd be lucky if it were the case).
Mark still produces quality albums, whether we like them or not. What he's done after Get lucky is not quite my cup of tea but it's still quality music, especially when you consider the tons of sh*t on air these days.
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Does John ever mention anything in the book about him having written a song back in the DS days, that was close to becoming a track on one of the DS albums ?
I mean John published Never Told a Soul (1984) and Glass (1988) before the end of DS.
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To me, it's pretty obvious a lack of inspiration which takes him so long. It's not good for Mark's output to lock in with Guy alone for months, fiddle around with all kind of nonsense gear and and try to find inspiration that way. Also his song writing has become more of a habit than real art during the last decade, it seems he doesn't know what else to do with his time. Sometimes time frames are good for creativity. When he was in rented studios, the work was much more concentrated and therefore the output was better - from my point of view of course. He should change Guy, change the band, change the studio. Ragpicker was recorded in a very short time compared to everything after and seems to be his best one still.
That last wherever album was testament to an artist not having new ideas, polished by a Guy (pun intended) who dreams of doing his own stuff but lacking creativity. It was never so clear to me that MK has lost interest after that last album.
I really don't even expect anything from this new effort. I used to hope for surprises but today it's just fear that it gets even more cringe. For me, Tracker was a good album with some outstanding tracks. I loved listen to it complete and enjoyed it very much. With the tour things were already getting worse. He should have stopped after that.
LE
I think this is true to some extent. I believe Mark is very lucky since he discovered his main talent and still develop it after 50 years. You can do it for the rest of your life as many people did, leaving their newest works unfinished when they died, so I don't think what's happening with MK is a lack of inspiration. I think the guy never had a single day of writing block and is the most consistent songwriter I know.
He's just in an extremely peculiar position right now, I can imagine how he feels. A couple of his closest relatives recently died, as well as some of his friends, his touring is either dead or alive, nobody knows, he struggles with playing, yet he obviously wants more time to spend with his family but also writing songs, time moves away faster and faster. Everybody expects another brilliant album from him, filled with great songs, another staple of great recording and mixing, so the pressure on him is going all over the place from every conceivable angle.
As I'm not a fan of Guy's overproduction, I wish they would turn back to simpler recording but I don't this is even possible in Mark's own studio because they have everything in this world. Everything, except time! So, given these extreme conditions, I reckon the next album will be Mark's best one, or at least as best as he is able to do at the moment, so I'd rather wait for as long as needed, even if it will be out in 2025.
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To me, it's pretty obvious a lack of inspiration which takes him so long. It's not good for Mark's output to lock in with Guy alone for months, fiddle around with all kind of nonsense gear and and try to find inspiration that way. Also his song writing has become more of a habit than real art during the last decade, it seems he doesn't know what else to do with his time. Sometimes time frames are good for creativity. When he was in rented studios, the work was much more concentrated and therefore the output was better - from my point of view of course. He should change Guy, change the band, change the studio. Ragpicker was recorded in a very short time compared to everything after and seems to be his best one still.
That last wherever album was testament to an artist not having new ideas, polished by a Guy (pun intended) who dreams of doing his own stuff but lacking creativity. It was never so clear to me that MK has lost interest after that last album.
I really don't even expect anything from this new effort. I used to hope for surprises but today it's just fear that it gets even more cringe. For me, Tracker was a good album with some outstanding tracks. I loved listen to it complete and enjoyed it very much. With the tour things were already getting worse. He should have stopped after that.
LE
No inspiration? I cannot agree with that. It's always worth waiting for the new MK album
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"Also his song writing has become more of a habit than real art during the last decade"
I can't believe you wrote this. Really?
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"Also his song writing has become more of a habit than real art during the last decade"
I can't believe you wrote this. Really?
Really. I must agree with the majority of LE's post. Surely this is a fact?
I also think spending all that time in the studio playing the songs over and over will make them stale and the arrangements will become overthought and dull instead of spontaneous and edgy. That's just my opinion.
Of course I'm hoping Mark and Guy aren't going to be judging the SQ due to high frequency deafness, especially on Mark's part! I'm pretty sure the majority can hear better than both of them.
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Not for me.
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And that's perfectly fine, Robson :)
I don't have too much time on my hands daily so that I can only come back occasionally here and read it all. Writing my opinion (plus language barrier) takes its time, too! So if it sounds harsh for some people it's maybe just because of that, rush.
LE
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My language barrier is bigger :)
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On topic again :lol any word on the book being published in other languages or still not the case?
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On topic again :lol any word on the book being published in other languages or still not the case?
Not answering your question I'm afraid, but if buying in English I got a copy yesterday in the bargain bin with £8 off from Tesco. ;D
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On topic again :lol any word on the book being published in other languages or still not the case?
Not answering your question I'm afraid, but if buying in English I got a copy yesterday in the bargain bin with £8 off from Tesco. ;D
Oh dear - that doesn't bode well! I suppose it was unsigned?
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To me, it's pretty obvious a lack of inspiration which takes him so long. It's not good for Mark's output to lock in with Guy alone for months, fiddle around with all kind of nonsense gear and and try to find inspiration that way. Also his song writing has become more of a habit than real art during the last decade, it seems he doesn't know what else to do with his time. Sometimes time frames are good for creativity. When he was in rented studios, the work was much more concentrated and therefore the output was better - from my point of view of course. He should change Guy, change the band, change the studio. Ragpicker was recorded in a very short time compared to everything after and seems to be his best one still.
That last wherever album was testament to an artist not having new ideas, polished by a Guy (pun intended) who dreams of doing his own stuff but lacking creativity. It was never so clear to me that MK has lost interest after that last album.
I really don't even expect anything from this new effort. I used to hope for surprises but today it's just fear that it gets even more cringe. For me, Tracker was a good album with some outstanding tracks. I loved listen to it complete and enjoyed it very much. With the tour things were already getting worse. He should have stopped after that.
LE
I do agree with you about Ragpicker's and Tracker. Both of those are in my top four albums, the other two being KTGC and Shangri-La.
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On topic again :lol any word on the book being published in other languages or still not the case?
Not answering your question I'm afraid, but if buying in English I got a copy yesterday in the bargain bin with £8 off from Tesco. ;D
This is common now dmg, all new release books are sold at a much reduced price at various supermarkets these days...
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On topic again :lol any word on the book being published in other languages or still not the case?
Not answering your question I'm afraid, but if buying in English I got a copy yesterday in the bargain bin with £8 off from Tesco. ;D
Oh dear - that doesn't bode well! I suppose it was unsigned?
Signed copies were only available at Waterstones I believe...
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On topic again :lol any word on the book being published in other languages or still not the case?
Not answering your question I'm afraid, but if buying in English I got a copy yesterday in the bargain bin with £8 off from Tesco. ;D
Oh dear - that doesn't bode well! I suppose it was unsigned?
Yes, but if anyone buys a Tesco copy I'll happily sign it for <£8 :lol
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My idea is that MK and co could record the same album in half the time if they wanted -- covid appart. Thing is, MK likes to take his time and it's perfectly fine I suppose. But we all have albums (big names or not) recorded much faster and which sound as good as Mark's. Just my opinion. ::)
Inclined to agree with this one.
The funny thing about the Beatles and their speed is that they would do 50+ takes on a song. Whereas Guy frequently tells us how many of MK’s songs were done in one take.
Too much microphone choice perhaps??
In regards to John, there is no doubt that’s he’s not a polished lyricist in the same way MK is. Compare Young Girl (which just seems to me the most basic of songs and rhyming schemes) to the brilliance of 5.15am (one of MK’s finest lyrical pieces IMO)
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Every musical artist records music at their own speed, it's no big deal if it's faster or slower than anyone else, it is what it is.
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Every musical artist records music at their own speed, it's no big deal if it's faster or slower than anyone else, it is what it is.
It's what it is now! - sorry couldn't resist!!
Anyway yes you are right artists record & do things at their own speed but at least we know that with MK things are usually worth the wait!
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Everybody works differently.
Sorry to bring it back to The Beatles again, but they were recording two albums a year in the 60s!
not only the Beatles. The stones too for example, and many others bands in 60's and 70's
recently, I took the example of Yes who released "The Yes album" and "Fragile" the same year in 1971 : https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/lalbum-fragile-de-yes-fete-son-demi-siecle/
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Everybody works differently.
Sorry to bring it back to The Beatles again, but they were recording two albums a year in the 60s!
not only the Beatles. The stones too for example, and many others bands in 60's and 70's
recently, I took the example of Yes who released "The Yes album" and "Fragile" the same year in 1971 : https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/lalbum-fragile-de-yes-fete-son-demi-siecle/
The Beatles and the Stones were only in their early 20s in the 60s, not in their 70s. 50 years makes a difference. Mark has a family and maybe he wants spend more time with them at this stage in his life.
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Everybody works differently.
Sorry to bring it back to The Beatles again, but they were recording two albums a year in the 60s!
not only the Beatles. The stones too for example, and many others bands in 60's and 70's
recently, I took the example of Yes who released "The Yes album" and "Fragile" the same year in 1971 : https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/lalbum-fragile-de-yes-fete-son-demi-siecle/
The Beatles and the Stones were only in their early 20s in the 60s, not in their 70s. 50 years makes a difference. Mark has a family and maybe he wants spend more time with them at this stage in his life.
Specially in this stage in his life.
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Everybody works differently.
Sorry to bring it back to The Beatles again, but they were recording two albums a year in the 60s!
not only the Beatles. The stones too for example, and many others bands in 60's and 70's
recently, I took the example of Yes who released "The Yes album" and "Fragile" the same year in 1971 : https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/lalbum-fragile-de-yes-fete-son-demi-siecle/
The Beatles and the Stones were only in their early 20s in the 60s, not in their 70s. 50 years makes a difference. Mark has a family and maybe he wants spend more time with them at this stage in his life.
Specially in this stage in his life.
Definitely. The road ahead is shorter! ;)
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Everybody works differently.
Sorry to bring it back to The Beatles again, but they were recording two albums a year in the 60s!
not only the Beatles. The stones too for example, and many others bands in 60's and 70's
recently, I took the example of Yes who released "The Yes album" and "Fragile" the same year in 1971 : https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/lalbum-fragile-de-yes-fete-son-demi-siecle/
The Beatles and the Stones were only in their early 20s in the 60s, not in their 70s. 50 years makes a difference. Mark has a family and maybe he wants spend more time with them at this stage in his life.
Specially in this stage in his life.
Definitely. The road ahead is shorter! ;)
It certainly is; so he can't hang about! :)
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Everybody works differently.
Sorry to bring it back to The Beatles again, but they were recording two albums a year in the 60s!
not only the Beatles. The stones too for example, and many others bands in 60's and 70's
recently, I took the example of Yes who released "The Yes album" and "Fragile" the same year in 1971 : https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/lalbum-fragile-de-yes-fete-son-demi-siecle/
The Beatles and the Stones were only in their early 20s in the 60s, not in their 70s. 50 years makes a difference. Mark has a family and maybe he wants spend more time with them at this stage in his life.
Specially in this stage in his life.
Definitely. The road ahead is shorter! ;)
It certainly is; so he can't hang about! :)
He's between a rock and a hard place!
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Yes.
"I’m just living with the ringing
Of tomorrow’s ancient rhymes
Through the road ahead may be shorter
Than the one we left behind...
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:thumbsup
Follow The Ribbon is a wonderful song.
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Oh yes. Beautiful song.
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Every musical artist records music at their own speed, it's no big deal if it's faster or slower than anyone else, it is what it is.
It's what it is now! - sorry couldn't resist!!
Anyway yes you are right artists record & do things at their own speed but at least we know that with MK things are usually worth the wait!
I fully agree with you and there is nothing more to add.
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Every musical artist records music at their own speed, it's no big deal if it's faster or slower than anyone else, it is what it is.
It's what it is now! - sorry couldn't resist!!
Anyway yes you are right artists record & do things at their own speed but at least we know that with MK things are usually worth the wait!
I fully agree with you and there is nothing more to add.
I'd say always, not usually.
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Usually/always worth the wait?
I still remember that DTRW was the first album to went out in the MK album I like the lesser poll, and by the comments, people didn't like it.
Was worth the wait for that one?
It was for me. But looks that it wasn't for many.
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For me, DTRW is a very important and beautiful album.
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Usually/always worth the wait?
I still remember that DTRW was the first album to went out in the MK album I like the lesser poll, and by the comments, people didn't like it.
Was worth the wait for that one?
It was for me. But looks that it wasn't for many.
It's all relative, it's maybe not as good as other albums, but still better than 99% of music out there.
Also, nostalgia plays a part in the polls.
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Usually/always worth the wait?
I still remember that DTRW was the first album to went out in the MK album I like the lesser poll, and by the comments, people didn't like it.
Was worth the wait for that one?
It was for me. But looks that it wasn't for many.
It's all relative, it's maybe not as good as other albums, but still better than 99% of music out there.
Also, nostalgia plays a part in the polls.
But... was it worth the wait?
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Usually/always worth the wait?
I still remember that DTRW was the first album to went out in the MK album I like the lesser poll, and by the comments, people didn't like it.
Was worth the wait for that one?
It was for me. But looks that it wasn't for many.
It's all relative, it's maybe not as good as other albums, but still better than 99% of music out there.
Also, nostalgia plays a part in the polls.
But... was it worth the wait?
I think yes, it was well worth the wait. I absolutely can understand why one can't be satisfied with the album. After all, I was THE guy who wrote a big ass forum post about Guy Fletcher's production. I was baffled by the music and hated the too simplistic and banal cover picture. But over time, I'm not a massive fan yet, but I love the album nevertheless.
Most of the songs are strong, with a couple of crazy tracks here and there like "Heavy Up", the cover is still too bland and uninspiring, but Mark never was the guy to impress you with cool album art, many of his albums could do better in this department. But the name itself I liked. See you down the road wherever, a great idea and album name here, no question about it.
Too often I stumble across a new album from somebody old, listen to it once and forget about it. Mark still produces albums that have great songs, ultimate sonic quality (not that I was asking for, but ok), and consistent quality overall. When it comes to MK, the term "new album" is always exciting thanks to that.
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For example, the period betwen the end of Tracker tour, 2015, and the release of DTRW, late 2018, was spent by MK writing the Local Hero musical and the recording of DTRW, for me, it was totally worth that wait, as I loved both, but many many people here didn't liked the musical or didn't (and don't) care at all about it, and didn't liked DTRW. Was that worth the wait for them?
According Guy, the next MK record is going to have an even more varied styles than DTRW, and they have to record and release the musical cd as well, would it be worth the wait, really, for all of us?
It would for me.
Did it worth the wait for John's book?
Despite all the mistaked, it did, at least for me.
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For example, the period betwen the end of Tracker tour, 2015, and the release of DTRW, late 2018, was spent by MK writing the Local Hero musical and the recording of DTRW, for me, it was totally worth that wait, as I loved both, but many many people here didn't liked the musical or didn't (and don't) care at all about it, and didn't liked DTRW. Was that worth the wait for them?
According Guy, the next MK record is going to have an even more varied styles than DTRW, and they have to record and release the musical cd as well, would it be worth the wait, really, for all of us?
It would for me.
Did it worth the wait for John's book?
Despite all the mistaked, it did, at least for me.
I absolutely agree with you!
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For example, the period betwen the end of Tracker tour, 2015, and the release of DTRW, late 2018, was spent by MK writing the Local Hero musical and the recording of DTRW, for me, it was totally worth that wait, as I loved both, but many many people here didn't liked the musical or didn't (and don't) care at all about it, and didn't liked DTRW. Was that worth the wait for them?
According Guy, the next MK record is going to have an even more varied styles than DTRW, and they have to record and release the musical cd as well, would it be worth the wait, really, for all of us?
It would for me.
Did it worth the wait for John's book?
Despite all the mistaked, it did, at least for me.
Yes, yes, yes, yes! ;D
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For example, the period betwen the end of Tracker tour, 2015, and the release of DTRW, late 2018, was spent by MK writing the Local Hero musical and the recording of DTRW, for me, it was totally worth that wait, as I loved both, but many many people here didn't liked the musical or didn't (and don't) care at all about it, and didn't liked DTRW. Was that worth the wait for them?
According Guy, the next MK record is going to have an even more varied styles than DTRW, and they have to record and release the musical cd as well, would it be worth the wait, really, for all of us?
It would for me.
Did it worth the wait for John's book?
Despite all the mistaked, it did, at least for me.
Anything by MK is well worth the wait! Even though of late I'm not a great fan of a few tunes on DTRW, it was still worth the wait......
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My lucky day! The book has arrived ! :D
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Another interview
https://twitter.com/WIYElondon/status/1466479617674465286?s=20
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My lucky day! The book has arrived ! :D
Hope you enjoy it too..... :wave
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My lucky day! The book has arrived ! :D
Hope you enjoy it too..... :wave
:thumbsup :)
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Usually/always worth the wait?
I still remember that DTRW was the first album to went out in the MK album I like the lesser poll, and by the comments, people didn't like it.
Was worth the wait for that one?
It was for me. But looks that it wasn't for many.
I love DTRW
If you remember, I had the chance to listen to it one month before its release, and I gave my impressions here.
It was definitively worth the wait for me
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Fact. There is little about the last DS period.
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Fact. There is little about the last DS period.
All biographies are quite the same, a lot of information of oldest times and when it's reaching the last years, it's all told in a hurry, like if the "writer" was tired and wanted to finish as soon as possible.
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Exactly. And they should remember those times best. Strange.
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Fact. There is little about the last DS period.
All biographies are quite the same, a lot of information of oldest times and when it's reaching the last years, it's all told in a hurry, like if the "writer" was tired and wanted to finish as soon as possible.
Though I think in John's case this was pretty fitting. As the tour itself was almost an afterthought and done in automatic mode, there are not a lot of things to discuss. I think it was pretty similar to BIA tour to begin with, so no need to write same things over and over. I think it drives home the point that OES could've been Mark's first solo album but for some reason they decided to try to jump over their heads after the breakup.
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The road to the first success and the circumstances of how it happened are always fascinating and probably most memorable for authors because they changed their lives dramatically. Decisions which could make it or break it, commitment and dedication, but also pure luck such as "a chance meeting with Mark Knopfler" or the Charlie Gillett thing were all part of it why they made it. The rest, as John says, is history. I am surprised how much he actually remembered from all these tours, sessions etc. After all, it must quickly blur into a one huge gig unless there is something memorable about any particular show. You can tell somebody did research for John as there are obviously errors, but the whole thing is quite impressive really. It was certainly great to hear it from one of the founding members.
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Phil Palmer's book has around 20 pages of that tour and, except being a perfectionist and the sausage incident, there is nothing bad regarding MK.
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
I think John in his book goes to great lengths describing Mark the gentleman, so I'm still sure all the stories about MK the monster are told from the point of view of pessimists, or people who had personal confrontations with him (probably for a reason). I find it strange that the same guy could be so nice towards John and a lot of other people, and be an ogre toward others, I think it solely depends on the person in question. If you're John Illsley, if your playing is great and you're a great team player, why on Earth MK would go hard on you. Of course, some level of craziness is fine after so many years of fame and money. Imagine yourself in Mark's shoes!
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
I think John in his book goes to great lengths describing Mark the gentleman, so I'm still sure all the stories about MK the monster are told from the point of view of pessimists, or people who had personal confrontations with him (probably for a reason). I find it strange that the same guy could be so nice towards John and a lot of other people, and be an ogre toward others, I think it solely depends on the person in question. If you're John Illsley, if your playing is great and you're a great team player, why on Earth MK would go hard on you. Of course, some level of craziness is fine after so many years of fame and money. Imagine yourself in Mark's shoes!
And that's the truth.
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.
I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.
I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!
Which makes it remarkable why him and Guy have allegedly never had an argument.
I wonder how what their relationship is like and what the secret is?!? I wonder if it’s a bit like Penn and Teller who openly state that they’re not particularly close friends. They don’t hang out together outside of work etc and they reckon that’s how they’ve lasted so long and work so well together.
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.
I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!
Which makes it remarkable why him and Guy have allegedly never had an argument.
I wonder how what their relationship is like and what the secret is?!? I wonder if it’s a bit like Penn and Teller who openly state that they’re not particularly close friends. They don’t hang out together outside of work etc and they reckon that’s how they’ve lasted so long and work so well together.
I'm a huge P&T fan, so I love any reference to them! Yes, their duo was built on respect, and not affection, and that enabled them to continue working together for 46 years and still counting. Penn says they are like best friends and relatives now after all these years, but it was built on respect rather than affection. John obviously had had huge respect toward MK from day one. Now, keep in mind respect doesn't mean you agree and say yes to everything, I think it's quite the opposite. You're in a constant positive loop of respectful arguing and coming up with great solutions. If you argue without being respectful, that can lead you into trouble.
I also think about the MythBusters, these guys not only weren't friends but nearly hated each other. But the work they produced together...
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I remember John saying they didn't have a single argument ever, that maybe once they didn't agree on something and probably he had said, ok, and that was the end of that disagrement.
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I remember John saying they didn't have a single argument ever, that maybe once they didn't agree on something and probably he had said, ok, and that was the end of that disagrement.
Guy also stated they never had arguments in so many years. That doesn't mean they can't disagree on smth, I think it's a misconception about having no arguments. It's just they do it with respect, like a good couple, you know. It's stupid to argue, it doesn't take you anywhere, but it's ok to disagree. So the best way is to listen to your "opponent", come up with good solutions that suit all parties. Basically, making it feel it's not an argument when it really is :lol
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I remember John saying they didn't have a single argument ever, that maybe once they didn't agree on something and probably he had said, ok, and that was the end of that disagrement.
Guy also stated they never had arguments in so many years. That doesn't mean they can't disagree on smth, I think it's a misconception about having no arguments. It's just they do it with respect, like a good couple, you know. It's stupid to argue, it doesn't take you anywhere, but it's ok to disagree. So the best way is to listen to your "opponent", come up with good solutions that suit all parties. Basically, making it feel it's not an argument when it really is :lol
In John's case, they were band mates, in Guy's case he's an employee.
That doesn't means Mk and him are not friends, that they are, but probably Guy's approach was always that, he's my boss, he pays me, so he's right, no need to argue, I'm being paid to do what he says.
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I remember John saying they didn't have a single argument ever, that maybe once they didn't agree on something and probably he had said, ok, and that was the end of that disagrement.
Guy also stated they never had arguments in so many years. That doesn't mean they can't disagree on smth, I think it's a misconception about having no arguments. It's just they do it with respect, like a good couple, you know. It's stupid to argue, it doesn't take you anywhere, but it's ok to disagree. So the best way is to listen to your "opponent", come up with good solutions that suit all parties. Basically, making it feel it's not an argument when it really is :lol
In John's case, they were band mates, in Guy's case he's an employee.
That doesn't means Mk and him are not friends, that they are, but probably Guy's approach was always that, he's my boss, he pays me, so he's right, no need to argue, I'm being paid to do what he says.
I think what you've described is generally the way to work when you're working with somebody who's multiple times more successful, famous and powerful than you. Bandmates, friends or not! When Mark says "I'm the guy who wrote the song" and "they let me get away with anything" he means exactly that. And the singer is always right, let alone the writer, let alone the studio owner, let alone the guy who's made it all possible. I think to argue with MK you either need balls the size of the Moon or no brain at all.
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I remember John saying they didn't have a single argument ever, that maybe once they didn't agree on something and probably he had said, ok, and that was the end of that disagrement.
Guy also stated they never had arguments in so many years. That doesn't mean they can't disagree on smth, I think it's a misconception about having no arguments. It's just they do it with respect, like a good couple, you know. It's stupid to argue, it doesn't take you anywhere, but it's ok to disagree. So the best way is to listen to your "opponent", come up with good solutions that suit all parties. Basically, making it feel it's not an argument when it really is :lol
In John's case, they were band mates, in Guy's case he's an employee.
That doesn't means Mk and him are not friends, that they are, but probably Guy's approach was always that, he's my boss, he pays me, so he's right, no need to argue, I'm being paid to do what he says.
I think what you've described is generally the way to work when you're working with somebody who's multiple times more successful, famous and powerful than you. Bandmates, friends or not! When Mark says "I'm the guy who wrote the song" and "they let me get away with anything" he means exactly that. And the singer is always right, let alone the writer, let alone the studio owner, let alone the guy who's made it all possible. I think to argue with MK you either need balls the size of the Moon or no brain at all.
When you are a bandmate, you are part of the band, so you feel yourself like a member, with a say, and then there is a chance of arguments. When you are en emplyee, that's what you are, so just do for what you are being paid for!
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That is most about both personality and creativity.
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.
I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!
Which makes it remarkable why him and Guy have allegedly never had an argument.
I wonder how what their relationship is like and what the secret is?!? I wonder if it’s a bit like Penn and Teller who openly state that they’re not particularly close friends. They don’t hang out together outside of work etc and they reckon that’s how they’ve lasted so long and work so well together.
I'm a huge P&T fan, so I love any reference to them! Yes, their duo was built on respect, and not affection, and that enabled them to continue working together for 46 years and still counting. Penn says they are like best friends and relatives now after all these years, but it was built on respect rather than affection. John obviously had had huge respect toward MK from day one. Now, keep in mind respect doesn't mean you agree and say yes to everything, I think it's quite the opposite. You're in a constant positive loop of respectful arguing and coming up with great solutions. If you argue without being respectful, that can lead you into trouble.
I also think about the MythBusters, these guys not only weren't friends but nearly hated each other. But the work they produced together...
I love Penn and Teller too! My username might just give you a clue as to my other hobby…..
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From Italian Rolling Stone magazine
https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/interviste-musica/john-illsley-se-avessi-avuto-successo-a-20-anni-con-i-dire-straits-oggi-non-sarei-qui/602405/#Part6
Interesting last period JI says that friendship with MK has grown since they didn't play together anymore. They meet, drink a bottle of wine talking about various stuff
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From Italian Rolling Stone magazine
https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/interviste-musica/john-illsley-se-avessi-avuto-successo-a-20-anni-con-i-dire-straits-oggi-non-sarei-qui/602405/#Part6
Interesting last period JI says that friendship with MK has grown since they didn't play together anymore. They meet, drink a bottle of wine talking about various stuff
MK and John are neighbors in the South coast of England, that's where John lives daily and where MK spent lot of time, so chances to see each other are a lot. Actually they both have dogs so when they walk them by the beach they see each other as well as their houses are very close.
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From Italian Rolling Stone magazine
https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/interviste-musica/john-illsley-se-avessi-avuto-successo-a-20-anni-con-i-dire-straits-oggi-non-sarei-qui/602405/#Part6
Interesting last period JI says that friendship with MK has grown since they didn't play together anymore. They meet, drink a bottle of wine talking about various stuff
MK and John are neighbors in the South coast of England, that's where John lives daily and where MK spent lot of time, so chances to see each other are a lot. Actually they both have dogs so when they walk them by the beach they see each other as well as their houses are very close.
And what a lovely place it is to be for them both!!! ;)
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.
I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!
Which makes it remarkable why him and Guy have allegedly never had an argument.
I wonder how what their relationship is like and what the secret is?!? I wonder if it’s a bit like Penn and Teller who openly state that they’re not particularly close friends. They don’t hang out together outside of work etc and they reckon that’s how they’ve lasted so long and work so well together.
I'm a huge P&T fan, so I love any reference to them! Yes, their duo was built on respect, and not affection, and that enabled them to continue working together for 46 years and still counting. Penn says they are like best friends and relatives now after all these years, but it was built on respect rather than affection. John obviously had had huge respect toward MK from day one. Now, keep in mind respect doesn't mean you agree and say yes to everything, I think it's quite the opposite. You're in a constant positive loop of respectful arguing and coming up with great solutions. If you argue without being respectful, that can lead you into trouble.
I also think about the MythBusters, these guys not only weren't friends but nearly hated each other. But the work they produced together...
I love Penn and Teller too! My username might just give you a clue as to my other hobby…..
That's Magic! to quote the late fabulous Mr Daniels!!!
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!
Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.
I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!
Which makes it remarkable why him and Guy have allegedly never had an argument.
I wonder how what their relationship is like and what the secret is?!? I wonder if it’s a bit like Penn and Teller who openly state that they’re not particularly close friends. They don’t hang out together outside of work etc and they reckon that’s how they’ve lasted so long and work so well together.
I'm a huge P&T fan, so I love any reference to them! Yes, their duo was built on respect, and not affection, and that enabled them to continue working together for 46 years and still counting. Penn says they are like best friends and relatives now after all these years, but it was built on respect rather than affection. John obviously had had huge respect toward MK from day one. Now, keep in mind respect doesn't mean you agree and say yes to everything, I think it's quite the opposite. You're in a constant positive loop of respectful arguing and coming up with great solutions. If you argue without being respectful, that can lead you into trouble.
I also think about the MythBusters, these guys not only weren't friends but nearly hated each other. But the work they produced together...
I love Penn and Teller too! My username might just give you a clue as to my other hobby…..
That's Magic! to quote the late fabulous Mr Daniels!!!
I don’t want to hijack this thread so this is the last post on the subject but I got to meet him before he sadly passed. I never thought my two heroes would combine in a conversation but I’m glad I got to meet one of my heroes……the other one is a certain guitar player to whom this forum is devoted to….and we are back on topic.
(If you fancy having a go at an interactive trick, I’ve started a topic in the “unrelated to MK” part.)
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From Italian Rolling Stone magazine
https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/interviste-musica/john-illsley-se-avessi-avuto-successo-a-20-anni-con-i-dire-straits-oggi-non-sarei-qui/602405/#Part6
Interesting last period JI says that friendship with MK has grown since they didn't play together anymore. They meet, drink a bottle of wine talking about various stuff
MK and John are neighbors in the South coast of England, that's where John lives daily and where MK spent lot of time, so chances to see each other are a lot. Actually they both have dogs so when they walk them by the beach they see each other as well as their houses are very close.
And what a lovely place it is to be for them both!!! ;)
I live very close to them, but sadly I am yet to bump into either of them, not sure what I would do if that happened though.
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From Italian Rolling Stone magazine
https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/interviste-musica/john-illsley-se-avessi-avuto-successo-a-20-anni-con-i-dire-straits-oggi-non-sarei-qui/602405/#Part6
Interesting last period JI says that friendship with MK has grown since they didn't play together anymore. They meet, drink a bottle of wine talking about various stuff
MK and John are neighbors in the South coast of England, that's where John lives daily and where MK spent lot of time, so chances to see each other are a lot. Actually they both have dogs so when they walk them by the beach they see each other as well as their houses are very close.
And what a lovely place it is to be for them both!!! ;)
I live very close to them, but sadly I am yet to bump into either of them, not sure what I would do if that happened though.
If you go regularly to th east end arms, you might get lucky
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I am yet to visit that pub, maybe next summer I will
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From Italian Rolling Stone magazine
https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/interviste-musica/john-illsley-se-avessi-avuto-successo-a-20-anni-con-i-dire-straits-oggi-non-sarei-qui/602405/#Part6
Interesting last period JI says that friendship with MK has grown since they didn't play together anymore. They meet, drink a bottle of wine talking about various stuff
MK and John are neighbors in the South coast of England, that's where John lives daily and where MK spent lot of time, so chances to see each other are a lot. Actually they both have dogs so when they walk them by the beach they see each other as well as their houses are very close.
And what a lovely place it is to be for them both!!! ;)
I live very close to them, but sadly I am yet to bump into either of them, not sure what I would do if that happened though.
A friend of mine lived literally next door to them with his parents and it's only now he realises who his neighbours were!!!!
If your like me when I met MK, I froze with excitement!!!
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I am yet to visit that pub, maybe next summer I will
Can't believe you haven't been to the East End Arms - I mean it's on your doorstep!!
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I know, I have just had a look on Google Maps, it's only 17.6 miles from my house, I really should be going!!!
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I know, I have just had a look on Google Maps, it's only 17.6 miles from my house, I really should be going!!!
Oh, I thought you said you lived close!!! ;D :lol :lol
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That is close, to me. still New Forest. Mark is 10 miles away.
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That is close, to me. still New Forest. Mark is 10 miles away.
Oh you've beaten me, I'm exactly 28 Miles away from Mark's home.....
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Phil Palmer's book has around 20 pages of that tour and, except being a perfectionist and the sausage incident, there is nothing bad regarding MK.
I didn't know Phil Palmer has a book! What is the name of it? And this is the second time I have heard of this "sausage incident" so I'm curious!
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Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.
Phil Palmer's book has around 20 pages of that tour and, except being a perfectionist and the sausage incident, there is nothing bad regarding MK.
I didn't know Phil Palmer has a book! What is the name of it? And this is the second time I have heard of this "sausage incident" so I'm curious!
https://philpalmer.com/session-man/
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First 60 pages in and the book is so fun. Also, holy hell John was a heavy weed smoker! :D I wonder what's Mark relationship with drugs
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I finished reading it a few days ago, I had more expectations about John, not about what he was saying but about how. The portrait of a superficial and selfish person is well defined.... copies of albums sold, the concert with several people or the meeting with VIPs or even the presence of a few groupies here and there. The fact that he only became friends with Mark after the band disbanded speaks volumes about the internal climate in the band all the time. of course there are examples in other famous bands, but it's very sad all the same. One thing must be acknowledged to him, however, that he managed to overcome all this unscathed, including leukemia, and make a new life, as he himself says human finally :thumbsup
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I finished reading it a few days ago, I had more expectations about John, not about what he was saying but about how. The portrait of a superficial and selfish person is well defined.... copies of albums sold, the concert with several people or the meeting with VIPs or even the presence of a few groupies here and there. The fact that he only became friends with Mark after the band disbanded speaks volumes about the internal climate in the band all the time. of course there are examples in other famous bands, but it's very sad all the same. One thing must be acknowledged to him, however, that he managed to overcome all this unscathed, including leukemia, and make a new life, as he himself says human finally :thumbsup
He states that plainly?
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I finished reading it a few days ago, I had more expectations about John, not about what he was saying but about how. The portrait of a superficial and selfish person is well defined.... copies of albums sold, the concert with several people or the meeting with VIPs or even the presence of a few groupies here and there. The fact that he only became friends with Mark after the band disbanded speaks volumes about the internal climate in the band all the time. of course there are examples in other famous bands, but it's very sad all the same. One thing must be acknowledged to him, however, that he managed to overcome all this unscathed, including leukemia, and make a new life, as he himself says human finally :thumbsup
He states that plainly?
Yes and talk about him, his wife, Mark and Kitty are now often together for evenings with good bottle of wine... :thumbsup
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Interesting. I always had the impression that they were kind of close friends all along.
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Interesting. I always had the impression that they were kind of close friends all along.
I think it's pretty obvious they were friends from day 1. But I also think they were so busy during DS times that there simply was no time to be friends if you know what I mean. Album after album, tour after tour, so only when the group broke up did they feel the release and that's what the original poster meant I think.
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Interesting. I always had the impression that they were kind of close friends all along.
I think it's pretty obvious they were friends from day 1. But I also think they were so busy during DS times that there simply was no time to be friends if you know what I mean. Album after album, tour after tour, so only when the group broke up did they feel the release and that's what the original poster meant I think.
I agree with that point, they were friends from day one, but after the band disbanded, they continued being friends, just friends, no bandmates, friends.
They live quite close in the South coast of England, and MK is there, closest pub is John's one, so they see each other quite a lot when MK is there, even walking the dogs by the beach, they live so close that they are gonna see each other for sure.
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First 60 pages in and the book is so fun. Also, holy hell John was a heavy weed smoker! :D I wonder what's Mark relationship with drugs
I remember MK saying in interviews that he smoked weed quite a lot in a period of his life, I guess that was at the early days, or maybe during the stressful days of the band.
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Interesting. I always had the impression that they were kind of close friends all along.
I think it's pretty obvious they were friends from day 1. But I also think they were so busy during DS times that there simply was no time to be friends if you know what I mean. Album after album, tour after tour, so only when the group broke up did they feel the release and that's what the original poster meant I think.
closest pub is John's one,
It's very true the East End Arms is close to them but there are also two other pubs in close proximity....
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Interesting. I always had the impression that they were kind of close friends all along.
I think it's pretty obvious they were friends from day 1. But I also think they were so busy during DS times that there simply was no time to be friends if you know what I mean. Album after album, tour after tour, so only when the group broke up did they feel the release and that's what the original poster meant I think.
closest pub is John's one,
It's very true the East End Arms is close to them but there are also two other pubs in close proximity....
I don't think he's going to other than John's one...
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Interesting. I always had the impression that they were kind of close friends all along.
I think it's pretty obvious they were friends from day 1. But I also think they were so busy during DS times that there simply was no time to be friends if you know what I mean. Album after album, tour after tour, so only when the group broke up did they feel the release and that's what the original poster meant I think.
closest pub is John's one,
It's very true the East End Arms is close to them but there are also two other pubs in close proximity....
I don't think he's going to other than John's one...
You never know, MK might like a sneaky pint elsewhere!!!
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Only 4 days to go until I can hold the book in my hands. :)
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I know that feeling :)
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First 60 pages in and the book is so fun. Also, holy hell John was a heavy weed smoker! :D I wonder what's Mark relationship with drugs
I remember MK saying in interviews that he smoked weed quite a lot in a period of his life, I guess that was at the early days, or maybe during the stressful days of the band.
hey, I'd be grateful if you could provide me a link so I can read/watch!
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First 60 pages in and the book is so fun. Also, holy hell John was a heavy weed smoker! :D I wonder what's Mark relationship with drugs
I remember MK saying in interviews that he smoked weed quite a lot in a period of his life, I guess that was at the early days, or maybe during the stressful days of the band.
hey, I'd be grateful if you could provide me a link so I can read/watch!
Can't remember in which one, or ones he said that, so I hope you have free time
https://web.archive.org/web/20010221192909fw_/http://www.knopfler.net/interview_index.html
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Just finished the book a few hours ago and holy hell, what a journey! I had lots of fun reading it and found myself laughing out loud in some cases. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone. The life on tour staff is as tough as is exciting.
A sentence "food for thought": "Pauline (John's ex wife) never did anything wrong, and I am sorry that she had to suffer and sacrifice her happiness for my career".
Just wow. Makes me think it's a zero sum game.
Also, on a brighter note, by far the funniest interaction which got me laughing hard:
Tommy's (live sound engineer) eccentricities were sometimes expressed in his playing. At a concert in Sydney, a werid whooshing noise filled the air during "Sultans of Swing". After the gig, Mark asked politely what he had been doing.
"I thought some Siberian wind might add a little something."
"Siberian wind? Do you mind not doing that again?"
:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
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Just finished the book a few hours ago and holy hell, what a journey! I had lots of fun reading it and found myself laughing out loud in some cases. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone. The life on tour staff is as tough as is exciting.
A sentence "food for thought": "Pauline (John's ex wife) never did anything wrong, and I am sorry that she had to suffer and sacrifice her happiness for my career".
Just wow. Makes me think it's a zero sum game.
Everybody pays to play!
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Just started reading today. It's such a great book. I can't put it down. ;)
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Just finished the book a few hours ago and holy hell, what a journey! I had lots of fun reading it and found myself laughing out loud in some cases. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone. The life on tour staff is as tough as is exciting.
A sentence "food for thought": "Pauline (John's ex wife) never did anything wrong, and I am sorry that she had to suffer and sacrifice her happiness for my career".
Just wow. Makes me think it's a zero sum game.
Also, on a brighter note, by far the funniest interaction which got me laughing hard:
Tommy's (live sound engineer) eccentricities were sometimes expressed in his playing. At a concert in Sydney, a werid whooshing noise filled the air during "Sultans of Swing". After the gig, Mark asked politely what he had been doing.
"I thought some Siberian wind might add a little something."
"Siberian wind? Do you mind not doing that again?"
:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
That Tommy is Tommy Mandel, the second keyboard player on Alchemy
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Oops, something went off..
Also:
"We played a couple of nights at the Concord Pavilion in San Francisco, yet another spectacular outdoor amphitheater facing up over a few rows of seats and beyond a grasssy hill. While there, we got word that J.J. Cale was playing a small late gig on the night of our second show. We had listened to his music incessantly back in early days and it was partly through a common love of his music that my friendship with Mark was forged. We finished our show and hurried over the Gold Gate Bridge to a tiny venue in Sausalito. There were people standing on tables, and we pressed into the throng for a better view of the great man. It was just J.J. with hisguitar and a guy on a Hammond organ playing the bass notes with his feet. It's the simplicity of the music, the easy rhythm, the restrained emotion, the deep humility of a true out-and-out music man that,for me, makes him one of the greats. Toward the end, J.J. invited Mark to play a coupld of tracks with him, and it was touch to see the frontman of what had been called the biggest band in the world looking so delighted as he climbed on to the stage. Sadly, there was no room on stafe for anyone else. Of all the people in the world I'd have loved to play with, it is J.J. Cale."
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It's so amazing that Mark has met lots of his heroes from the past during his career.
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It's so amazing that Mark has met lots of his heroes from the past during his career.
I think he met all of his heroes unless they happen to be dead before he became successful (like Elvis or Hendrix). That's for sure one of the greatest achievements by Mark in my opinion. And I think he built his studio to bring it further and meet with even more heroes down the road.
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Tommy's (live sound engineer) eccentricities were sometimes expressed in his playing. At a concert in Sydney, a werid whooshing noise filled the air during "Sultans of Swing". After the gig, Mark asked politely what he had been doing.
"I thought some Siberian wind might add a little something."
"Siberian wind? Do you mind not doing that again?"
:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
That's hilarious. Not so sure "Do you mind not doing that again" were Mark's exact words ;D
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It's so amazing that Mark has met lots of his heroes from the past during his career.
I think he met all of his heroes unless they happen to be dead before he became successful (like Elvis or Hendrix). That's for sure one of the greatest achievements by Mark in my opinion. And I think he built his studio to bring it further and meet with even more heroes down the road.
You can add Buddy Holly to that list too.
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https://the-shortlisted.co.uk/john-illsley-dire-straits-interview/
John offends the Scots and the Italians!
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Kudos to John for not telling this horribly annoying journalist to fuck off! What a bunch of bad questions, and how rude of her to doubt him. He isn't offending anybody, he is telling what he saw. Phil Palmer writes about the SanRemo fastival too, and I don't doubt they are telling the truth.
I can't believe how bad this journalist is, it is some of the worst I've read!...And this probably is NOT the worst one he has met.. :disbelief
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Kudos to John for not telling this horribly annoying journalist to fuck off! What a bunch of bad questions, and how rude of her to doubt him. He isn't offending anybody, he is telling what he saw. Phil Palmer writes about the SanRemo fastival too, and I don't doubt they are telling the truth.
I can't believe how bad this journalist is, it is some of the worst I've read!...And this probably is NOT the worst one he has met.. :disbelief
He is offending me, saying Scotland couldn't pay its bills, that all we have to offer is "whiskey" (sic) and that we have a language that no one can understand!
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Sorry, I was referring to the Italian thing, where she seems to deny history.
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I was referring to the Italian thing :wave
To be honest, I thought John was pretty harsh on Italy in his book, though he has a point that it was a different country back then. But any country was a different country half a century ago, nothing new here. Russia was a completely different country even 20 years ago, so you have to take that into account. The journalist also has a point, so it's a fair game to me.
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Exactly, every country was different then, and I can't understand how she can question something that he experienced for himself, while she wasn't born yet (as far as I understand from the text). But I am not Italian, and wasn't born either, so I can't say much about it :lol
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I was referring to the Italian thing :wave
To be honest, I thought John was pretty harsh on Italy in his book, though he has a point that it was a different country back then. But any country was a different country half a century ago, nothing new here. Russia was a completely different country even 20 years ago, so you have to take that into account. The journalist also has a point, so it's a fair game to me.
She's not acting like a journalist, but as a mafia bully. She's not asking questions regarding what he wrote about Italy, she is attacking him about it.
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Kudos to John for not telling this horribly annoying journalist to fuck off! What a bunch of bad questions, and how rude of her to doubt him. He isn't offending anybody, he is telling what he saw. Phil Palmer writes about the SanRemo fastival too, and I don't doubt they are telling the truth.
I can't believe how bad this journalist is, it is some of the worst I've read!...And this probably is NOT the worst one he has met.. :disbelief
He is offending me, saying Scotland couldn't pay its bills, that all we have to offer is "whiskey" (sic) and that we have a language that no one can understand!
The way she attacks John, I don't believe a single word that she wrote, maybe she made all up or exagerated to make him looks like an assole, when she was the assole clearly.
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Crikey she sounds like a right charmer.
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Generally a terrible interview, but those were some tough questions, and the journalist just kept hammering them. Pretty disrespectful actually. I'm surprised John agreed to have it published.
As for the Scottish speaking a language no one can understand, I'm sure that was said jokingly. Obviously jokes (irony) don't come across well in writing. That said, Scottish is difficult to understand for foreigners who are not accustomed to the accent. I remember first time I was in Scotland. I took a taxi from Glasgow airport to Greenock. I had to ask the driver to repeat himself constantly LOL Good times.
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Generally a terrible interview, but those were some tough questions, and the journalist just kept hammering them. Pretty disrespectful actually. I'm surprised John agreed to have it published.
As for the Scottish speaking a language no one can understand, I'm sure that was said jokingly. Obviously jokes (irony) don't come across well in writing. That said, Scottish is difficult to understand for foreigners who are not accustomed to the accent. I remember first time I was in Scotland. I took a taxi from Glasgow airport to Greenock. I had to ask the driver to repeat himself constantly LOL Good times.
I agree it was a terrible interview - an interrogation actually!
Regarding accents, the Glasgow accent is something apart from other Scottish accents. Sometimes it is almost impossible to understand and needs subtitles, a bit like the Liverpudlian accent, which even myself, a Liverpudlian, finds difficult to understand at times in dramas on TV! :) I think John was talking about Scottish Gaelic, though, when he said it was "a language nobody can understand".
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Generally a terrible interview, but those were some tough questions, and the journalist just kept hammering them. Pretty disrespectful actually. I'm surprised John agreed to have it published.
As for the Scottish speaking a language no one can understand, I'm sure that was said jokingly. Obviously jokes (irony) don't come across well in writing. That said, Scottish is difficult to understand for foreigners who are not accustomed to the accent. I remember first time I was in Scotland. I took a taxi from Glasgow airport to Greenock. I had to ask the driver to repeat himself constantly LOL Good times.
I agree it was a terrible interview - an interrogation actually!
Regarding accents, the Glasgow accent is something apart from other Scottish accents. Sometimes it is almost impossible to understand and needs subtitles, a bit like the Liverpudlian accent, which even myself, a Liverpudlian, finds difficult to understand at times in dramas on TV! :) I think John was talking about Scottish Gaelic, though, when he said it was "a language nobody can understand".
True, Glaswegian is a lot harder to comprehend compared to the Edinburgh accent or up in the Highlands.
As for English accents, I find people from Leeds rather difficult to understand.
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As for English accents, I find people from Leeds rather difficult to understand.
I have lived in Leeds for 56 years and I have no problem, generally, except for some strange colloquialisms. :)
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As for English accents, I find people from Leeds rather difficult to understand.
I have lived in Leeds for 56 years and I have no problem, generally, except for some strange colloquialisms. :)
Being British and having lived there for 56 years, might have helped you ;D
English is not my native language, and as a foreigner I was mostly exposed to some variant of BBC English, or Standard American English.
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Generally a terrible interview, but those were some tough questions, and the journalist just kept hammering them. Pretty disrespectful actually. I'm surprised John agreed to have it published.
As for the Scottish speaking a language no one can understand, I'm sure that was said jokingly. Obviously jokes (irony) don't come across well in writing. That said, Scottish is difficult to understand for foreigners who are not accustomed to the accent. I remember first time I was in Scotland. I took a taxi from Glasgow airport to Greenock. I had to ask the driver to repeat himself constantly LOL Good times.
I agree it was a terrible interview - an interrogation actually!
Regarding accents, the Glasgow accent is something apart from other Scottish accents. Sometimes it is almost impossible to understand and needs subtitles, a bit like the Liverpudlian accent, which even myself, a Liverpudlian, finds difficult to understand at times in dramas on TV! :) I think John was talking about Scottish Gaelic, though, when he said it was "a language nobody can understand".
True, Glaswegian is a lot harder to comprehend compared to the Edinburgh accent or up in the Highlands.
As for English accents, I find people from Leeds rather difficult to understand.
Some accents up in parts of the highlands and islands are very strong. In the Glasgow area you can travel 5 miles and hear a different accent. Some Aberdonians have the strongest accents in Scotland. Just hope big John isn't playing there any time soon! :lol
I think it's nice to hear an accent because they're dying out now. People are moving around the country a lot more, living in different places and the younger generation generally don't have strong local accents any more.
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What an awful interview! I'm surprised that John didn't get up and leave!
I haven't been to Scotland (yet), but I have been to parts of Nova Scotia, Canada where Scottish Gaelic is spoken in some regions. Road signs are in both English and Gaelic. I can't understand it much either, especially if they are speaking fast.
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Aware I’m late to the party but I have just finished reading it. Took me a few weeks as I’m a slow reader and also find it hard to make time to stop and read (I’m a teacher so bring work home with me, plus my wife is 12 weeks pregnant and so has really struggled with tiredness recently.)
I did the thing of slowing down towards the end as I was enjoying it so much I didn’t want it to finish. I admire his honesty about the ups and downs and his mistakes. I wish there was more detail about the later shows and tours but, as he says, I guess all the shows merge when you’re doing that many of them. Much as I’d have loved more about MK as a character, I do appreciate they’re good mates and so John probably had to be careful about what he shared.
All in all, an interesting read…..and the teacher in me spotted a grammatical error or two.
;D
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https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/interviews/the-one-that-got-away-john-illsley-of-dire-straits-and-the-aston-db5-bought-with-his-first-royalty-cheques/
John on cars.
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It's taken me far too long, but I started reading John's book today. The first two-three chapters about John's childhood and family are, frankly speaking, tedious and could have been condensed a great deal. I'm now at where they have signed the deal with Phonogram. This part of the book I'm really enjoying. I know the story very well, but John (and the writer who helped him) has really managed to capture the atmosphere of that era and bring the story to life.
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The first two-three chapters about John's childhood and family are, frankly speaking, tedious and could have been condensed a great deal.
I love biographies/autobiographies but this is the case with nearly every one I read.
Don't bore us, get to the chorus.
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Opening chapters about childhoods and neighbours are often sleeping pills.
I enjoyed the book, but the heart of it, and where John's heart is clearly in it, is the early years of the band. He deals with the mammoth OES tour in a few pages, giving much the same impression of that tour as a number of key players. A shame, though, considering the quality of the music and the length of the tour.
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I've just finished reading about the Roxy show. The writing now feels very cursory. A very matter-of-factly account of the events. Like a Wiki article written in first person. And John has a tendency to state the obvious and to tell rather than show. I admit I'm skimming through a lot.
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Yes, it's nice to read the story by someone from the inside, but it's quite disappointing in general.
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OK, John. We get it: Chas Herington was good with the lights. LOL
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Yes, it's nice to read the story by someone from the inside, but it's quite disappointing in general.
Just finished it. John's account of the early years of DS is clearly the best, most inspired part. The rest provides some new information and insights, but nothing essential. I understand it was a balancing act to write this book, particularly since Mark is such a private person, but the result is a pretty bland, superficial account of one the world's biggest bands. I think it was a missed opportunity.