Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email


News: - Make sure you know the Forum Rules and Guidelines

Also check out these related sites:

Author Topic: Chris Whitten interview  (Read 27229 times)

Offlinethe visitor

  • Camerado
  • ***
  • Posts: 368
  • Registered: April 2011
Chris Whitten interview
« on: January 27, 2021, 10:19:08 PM »
I found this interview with Chris Whitten where he talks about how he got the gig with Dire Straits and quite candidly about his experience. Sounds like he never really wanted to do the gig and got pushed into it by his manager .. and didn't even like Dire Straits songs. And guess what.. you can tell on the recordings from that tour.

I never understood why they didn't use Terry, he clearly loved the music and played with passion. The interview also confirms what we thought about Mark and drummers....


Listen to Who the hell is Chris Whitten? by Darko.Audio podcast on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/9ZxSu




Offlinekaleo74

  • Camerado
  • ***
  • Posts: 485
  • Location: Montreal
  • Registered: August 2008
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2021, 04:06:48 AM »
Manu Katché said the same thing about Mark during the recording of OES, that he was difficult to work with and that he was so perfectionist that it was exhausting.

I remember reading somewhere an interview with Mark where he said that he would advise anyone who wanted to get involved in this kind of industry to have a great drummer.

I think working with Mark is like working for Ferrari or Bentley, every little detail is important and that's what makes the final product just perfect.
If I realised that the chances were slim,
How come I'm so surprised when the tide rolled in

OfflineKnopfleRick

  • Lady writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 569
  • Location: Germany
  • Registered: March 2020
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2021, 10:23:47 AM »
Manu Katché said the same thing about Mark during the recording of OES, that he was difficult to work with and that he was so perfectionist that it was exhausting.

I remember reading somewhere an interview with Mark where he said that he would advise anyone who wanted to get involved in this kind of industry to have a great drummer.

I think working with Mark is like working for Ferrari or Bentley, every little detail is important and that's what makes the final product just perfect.

I totally agree with you.
Even the smallest detail can change something average into something extraordinary.
And Mark Knopfler is a master of details. This is what makes his work so special.

Thanks for the interview!
This is all the heaven we've got right here where we are in our shangri-la.

Offlinejbaent

  • Honorary Knopfler fans- Editor
  • Mark F. Knopfler
  • **********
  • I'm never happy unless I've sth to complain about.
  • Posts: 13291
  • Location: Tambourine Land
  • Registered: August 2008
    • My book about Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2021, 10:43:22 AM »
I found this interview with Chris Whitten where he talks about how he got the gig with Dire Straits and quite candidly about his experience. Sounds like he never really wanted to do the gig and got pushed into it by his manager .. and didn't even like Dire Straits songs. And guess what.. you can tell on the recordings from that tour.

I never understood why they didn't use Terry, he clearly loved the music and played with passion. The interview also confirms what we thought about Mark and drummers....


Listen to Who the hell is Chris Whitten? by Darko.Audio podcast on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/9ZxSu

wow, almost two hours of interview...

I found he talks about DS between minute 39.54 and 47.50 more or less, I don't know if he talks again about DS.
« Last Edit: January 28, 2021, 10:57:41 AM by jbaent »
You might get lucky, now and then

My book about Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Jbaent

Offlineherlock

  • Juliet
  • ******
  • Posts: 2281
  • Registered: April 2010
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2021, 09:47:51 PM »
Funny that he says the same thing than Pick in his interviews: the sound was too loud, and he couldn't stand it. He talks about the PA system he had to be able to hear his drums when all guitars were roaring, and that he ended almost deaf. Pretty similar that what Picks said about the OL tour. And this was less loud than the OES tour...
Sad that he didn't like DS and confirms that Mark was an ogre.
He said he became a zombie. And we know that even Mark couldn't stand it either in the end. DS had become a monster and had to die.
Paradox of this tour, extreme technicity, world-class musicianship...but little soul.

Offlinequizzaciously

  • Brother in Arms
  • ********
  • Pavel Fomenkov
  • Posts: 4417
  • Location: Saint Petersburg
  • Registered: April 2016
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2021, 07:37:52 PM »

Offlinekoobaa

  • Camerado
  • ***
  • Posts: 329
  • Location: BC, Canada
  • Registered: September 2008
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2021, 10:05:36 PM »
That's pretty awesome playing for somebody who actually doesn't like the music!
...Well, he's a big star now but I've been a fan of his for years. The way he sings and plays guitar still bring me to tears...

Offlinequizzaciously

  • Brother in Arms
  • ********
  • Pavel Fomenkov
  • Posts: 4417
  • Location: Saint Petersburg
  • Registered: April 2016
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2021, 10:25:06 PM »
That's pretty awesome playing for somebody who actually doesn't like the music!

Obviously, he hates it because he's recording videos like this after all these years :lol

I might be biased because I listened to On The Night for days when I was 15 and later on, but I always loved the drumming of this guy. So many times I even played air drums along with him! Certainly, I can't understand how the fact that "he doesn't like the music" can affect the sound of the song. He may not love the song, but damn, he loves what he's doing.

Offlinekoobaa

  • Camerado
  • ***
  • Posts: 329
  • Location: BC, Canada
  • Registered: September 2008
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2021, 11:59:15 PM »
I am no drummer but if I didn't like the music I could not play it with such engagement. Come on Chris, admit it - you love it!
...Well, he's a big star now but I've been a fan of his for years. The way he sings and plays guitar still bring me to tears...

OfflinePensaGhost

  • Banned
  • Romeo
  • *****
  • Posts: 1506
  • Location: Italy
  • Registered: September 2017
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2021, 01:06:19 AM »


same grimaces after 30 years, he liked my youtube comment  :lol :lol
A Pensaboy who later became a Pensaghost http://pensaboy.altervista.org/guitar.html

Offlinejbaent

  • Honorary Knopfler fans- Editor
  • Mark F. Knopfler
  • **********
  • I'm never happy unless I've sth to complain about.
  • Posts: 13291
  • Location: Tambourine Land
  • Registered: August 2008
    • My book about Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2021, 08:54:12 AM »
I am no drummer but if I didn't like the music I could not play it with such engagement. Come on Chris, admit it - you love it!

When play drums is your work and you got a call from a big name you don't like, you should say yes unless you have something better. Usually play for a big name brings you more work as it adds prestige to you as a proffesional drummer.

Same goes with any other proffesional player of whatever instrument.
You might get lucky, now and then

My book about Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Jbaent

OfflinePensaGhost

  • Banned
  • Romeo
  • *****
  • Posts: 1506
  • Location: Italy
  • Registered: September 2017
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2021, 02:41:39 PM »
Chris Whitten commenting the video:

"Yeah, same grimace"

"I liked OES because of Jeff and Manu. Jeff's playing was the main reason I agreed to do the long tour. "

"I was lucky that Danny was so good. He was fun to play with. Robert Collins mixed the out front sound and by all reports he did an amazing job!"
A Pensaboy who later became a Pensaghost http://pensaboy.altervista.org/guitar.html

OfflineNicoMK

  • Camerado
  • ***
  • Posts: 374
  • Registered: September 2008
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2021, 03:50:24 PM »
Chris Whitten commenting the video:

"Yeah, same grimace"

"I liked OES because of Jeff and Manu. Jeff's playing was the main reason I agreed to do the long tour. "

"I was lucky that Danny was so good. He was fun to play with. Robert Collins mixed the out front sound and by all reports he did an amazing job!"

Great!

That's a nice video that he did. I've always wondered, once a musician knows a song, plays it a million times, does he know it for life or does he have to rehearse after some time off? For example, did Chris rehearse the song prior doing this video? Dunno -- will ask him then  ;D
« Last Edit: February 25, 2021, 03:55:27 PM by NicoMK »

OfflinePensaGhost

  • Banned
  • Romeo
  • *****
  • Posts: 1506
  • Location: Italy
  • Registered: September 2017
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2021, 04:59:01 PM »
Chris Whitten commenting the video:

"Yeah, same grimace"

"I liked OES because of Jeff and Manu. Jeff's playing was the main reason I agreed to do the long tour. "

"I was lucky that Danny was so good. He was fun to play with. Robert Collins mixed the out front sound and by all reports he did an amazing job!"

Great!

That's a nice video that he did. I've always wondered, once a musician knows a song, plays it a million times, does he know it for life or does he have to rehearse after some time off? For example, did Chris rehearse the song prior doing this video? Dunno -- will ask him then  ;D

know for life
A Pensaboy who later became a Pensaghost http://pensaboy.altervista.org/guitar.html

Offlinequizzaciously

  • Brother in Arms
  • ********
  • Pavel Fomenkov
  • Posts: 4417
  • Location: Saint Petersburg
  • Registered: April 2016
Re: Chris Whitten interview
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2021, 06:15:45 PM »
Chris Whitten commenting the video:

"Yeah, same grimace"

"I liked OES because of Jeff and Manu. Jeff's playing was the main reason I agreed to do the long tour. "

"I was lucky that Danny was so good. He was fun to play with. Robert Collins mixed the out front sound and by all reports he did an amazing job!"

Great!

That's a nice video that he did. I've always wondered, once a musician knows a song, plays it a million times, does he know it for life or does he have to rehearse after some time off? For example, did Chris rehearse the song prior doing this video? Dunno -- will ask him then  ;D

know for life

It depends solely on the difficulty level. If it's terribly complicated, no way any human being would remember anything after 30 years. However, if that something rather simple, that you can recollect fast in real-time, of course, that's with you forever. I think the basic grooves and ideas Chris could easily remember by heart. Because, as he said, a lot of it is just The Rosanna shuffle and some hi-hat grooves.

 

© 2024 amarkintime.org
This is an unofficial website dedicated to Mark Knopfler developed and maintained by fans.
Top banner design by Dutchessy.
This theme is based on the SMF theme Carbonate by Bloc.
SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
Simple Audio Video Embedder
Simple Audio Video Embedder
Page created in 0.035 seconds with 36 queries.