Why did Mark get DS back together to record OES?

[Jules]

Here's a nice interview I never seen before. It sheds a lot of light on Mark's mindset at the time. This part is interesting:


RS: Is Dire Straits nowadays, let's be realistic about this, is it really a vehicle for Mark Knopfler, or is it still a coherent band?

MK: Oh yeah, I mean, I wouldn't write... if I'd written all those tunes and wanted to record 'em another way I would have done it, I mean no sweat at all, I would have just done it. But I find, I think, with all the other work that I do, hanging around with the Hillbilly thing, with Brendan, people like that, I get plenty of outlets, more than enough for a healthy boy. I'm not looking for anything else at the moment; I mean, certainly I wouldn't be *that* interested in doing solo records - it's more fun in a band anyway. You get all the best jokes. If you're on your own... I just wouldn't like to ride around the world, when it was time to play, with a bunch of hired guns.

https://www.odabasi.net/dsint3.htm

"I just wouldn't like to ride around the world, when it was time to play, with a bunch of hired guns."

LOL

[hunter]

Here's a nice interview I never seen before. It sheds a lot of light on Mark's mindset at the time. This part is interesting:


RS: Is Dire Straits nowadays, let's be realistic about this, is it really a vehicle for Mark Knopfler, or is it still a coherent band?

MK: Oh yeah, I mean, I wouldn't write... if I'd written all those tunes and wanted to record 'em another way I would have done it, I mean no sweat at all, I would have just done it. But I find, I think, with all the other work that I do, hanging around with the Hillbilly thing, with Brendan, people like that, I get plenty of outlets, more than enough for a healthy boy. I'm not looking for anything else at the moment; I mean, certainly I wouldn't be *that* interested in doing solo records - it's more fun in a band anyway. You get all the best jokes. If you're on your own... I just wouldn't like to ride around the world, when it was time to play, with a bunch of hired guns.

https://www.odabasi.net/dsint3.htm

"I just wouldn't like to ride around the world, when it was time to play, with a bunch of hired guns."

LOL

Right?!    With 5 out of 9 members of the touring band being hired guns 

[Jules]

And then touring all his solo career just with hired guns!

[dustyvalentino]

I also never understood the 'produced by Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits'.

Very easy to understand, all about Mark's ego.

[Peter1981]

Here's a nice interview I never seen before. It sheds a lot of light on Mark's mindset at the time. This part is interesting:


RS: Is Dire Straits nowadays, let's be realistic about this, is it really a vehicle for Mark Knopfler, or is it still a coherent band?

MK: Oh yeah, I mean, I wouldn't write... if I'd written all those tunes and wanted to record 'em another way I would have done it, I mean no sweat at all, I would have just done it. But I find, I think, with all the other work that I do, hanging around with the Hillbilly thing, with Brendan, people like that, I get plenty of outlets, more than enough for a healthy boy. I'm not looking for anything else at the moment; I mean, certainly I wouldn't be *that* interested in doing solo records - it's more fun in a band anyway. You get all the best jokes. If you're on your own... I just wouldn't like to ride around the world, when it was time to play, with a bunch of hired guns.

https://www.odabasi.net/dsint3.htm

"I just wouldn't like to ride around the world, when it was time to play, with a bunch of hired guns."

LOL

Right?!    With 5 out of 9 members of the touring band being hired guns 

I would say 7 out of 9 members; under the hood DS at that time to me seems to be Mark & John. Although Alan and Guy are 'part of' DS, I still think they were hired instead of being part of the actually 'firm' (I hate that term when it comes to arts). Probably paid a bit more than the newly hired guys, but still...

[dmg]

I shall not forget that John Illsley did (technically) not match Mark's expectations as a bass player.

By far his best bass player.  Just compare something like the album version of OUATITW for that bass line or later versions of Sultans for how to spoil it.  Probably alone in this opinion because GW is meant to be brilliant just because he has a large instrument.

[rmarques821]

I shall not forget that John Illsley did (technically) not match Mark's expectations as a bass player.

By far his best bass player.  Just compare something like the album version of OUATITW for that bass line or later versions of Sultans for how to spoil it.  Probably alone in this opinion because GW is meant to be brilliant just because he has a large instrument.

I agree! I loved JI's bass lines, they were simple but suited the songs very well. Glenn Worf is a fantastic player, but doesn't suit Mark's music at all. I especially dislike his tendency to play walking bass lines everywhere.

[TheTimeWasWrong]

I shall not forget that John Illsley did (technically) not match Mark's expectations as a bass player.

By far his best bass player.  Just compare something like the album version of OUATITW for that bass line or later versions of Sultans for how to spoil it.  Probably alone in this opinion because GW is meant to be brilliant just because he has a large instrument.

I agree! I loved JI's bass lines, they were simple but suited the songs very well. Glenn Worf is a fantastic player, but doesn't suit Mark's music at all. I especially dislike his tendency to play walking bass lines everywhere.

Mark plays way fewer notes than in the early DS days, so there's more room for others to fill.

[herlock]

Reminds me of the BBC Arena documentary, already in, 1980:
-To which extent DS is just a vehicle for you, MK?
-To no extent. It's all about the group. Collectively we do, collectively we play... This is what we do.

Sure... 🤣

[mschaap]

I think long ago I've read somewhere (possibly the Colin Irwin book) that besides the contractual obligation for another album MK felt like he owed it to the other DS members (and I think in particular John whose father financed their break-through demo) to give them one big final opportunity to capitalize on Dire Straits with a last studio album, big tour and live album. After that he could abandon DS with a clear consious and just only do what he wanted, how he wanted without feeling any moral duties towards the DS team. I suppose in that respect the formalazation of Dire Straits being MK, JI, AC & GF (and EB's position in Dire Straits Overseas Ltd) should also be seen seen.
Of course I don't if this is true, however to me seems plausible and even quite likely for it to at least have played a role in MK's considerations (amongst other things) .

[hunter]

I think long ago I've read somewhere (possibly the Colin Irwin book) that besides the contractual obligation for another album MK felt like he owed it to the other DS members (and I think in particular John whose father financed their break-through demo) to give them one big final opportunity to capitalize on Dire Straits with a last studio album, big tour and live album. After that he could abandon DS with a clear consious and just only do what he wanted, how he wanted without feeling any moral duties towards the DS team. I suppose in that respect the formalazation of Dire Straits being MK, JI, AC & GF (and EB's position in Dire Straits Overseas Ltd) should also be seen seen.

This is interesting and I suppose a plausible explanation. I have read some interviews and articles now where Mark says he was keen to get out there again [do the OES tour], although he knew very well how much and hard work it meant. But I honestly don't really believe him. I think it's just him being professional and trying not to sound totally miserable when touring in support of the new album. Just like no-one believed him when he was asked the "vehicle" question that herlock mentioned.

[nando_5994]

At the tiem i read 2/ articles that said there was Ed Bicknell pressure and they wanted to earn more money . Mark wasnt very happy to do it but agreed for Ed and John. I guess that´s why the album is darker than others, and because Mark`s personal live wasn´t very well.  i´m very glad they did it and give us the tour.

[peterromer]

I am not sure where John said it, probably in a YT video in a small club with an interviewer who was also a musician talking about Johns book with a small audience.
John said something like he was having dinner at some restaturant with Mark sometime after the BIA tour. Mark told him that he had some songs ready for a new DS album, and John replied, that he thought it was over, and Mark asked him if he was interested in doing it and he said yes.

If John could have the idea that it was definately over, I do not think it was contractual. If contractual John would have known about it right ?.


 

[Robson]

MK:

There really was a time when I thought Dire Straits machine would never run again. But now I've changed my mind. I missed her. I realized that it is an inseparable part of my life.

JI:

I remember December 1989. We were eating dinner and suddenly Mark asked me: "Do you want to do it again? What ? -  I said. "Gather the team again". "Do you have any songs? "They will find. We should record them very soon" I smiled. "Like the first album in a month? "Just play and record? Yes - replied Mark. "Of course, let's do it" -  I replied.

[hunter]

?