Alan Clark - new interview

[superval99]

I have just booked to see Alchemy Live at my local theatre in June.  I saw them last year and they were very enjoyable, so I'm really looking forward to seeing them again. The venue is very intimate - 127 seats.  I much prefer seeing a real tribute band than any of the ex-DS bands who play in much larger venues.

[Chris W]

I much prefer seeing a real tribute band than any of the ex-DS bands who play in much larger venues.

Why if it is much lower quality?

[Chris W]

Out of all the people being mentioned the only person that plays sessions outside the Dire Straits envelope is Danny Cummings.
People make their life seem uber busy and successful on Facebook and Instagram, but even Trevor Horn spends much of his time playing tribute gigs to his own productions.

[superval99]

I much prefer seeing a real tribute band than any of the ex-DS bands who play in much larger venues.

Why if it is much lower quality?

They were excellent and had lots of energy and the singer didn't have a heavy continental accent like Marco Caviglia has.  Have you seen Alchemy Live btw? 

[quizzaciously]

I still would take a good independent DS tribute band like Great Straits over DSL any time.

I would take the one band that does the music and the legacy justice, and that very clearly means DSE.
99% of the tribute bands have no energy and as soon as someone starts singing in a heavy continental accent the illusion is lost.

It's funny how our views can't be more opposed. I view DSE as a lower-quality product as it sort of claims to be superior to regular fans-formed bands BECAUSE they have Dire Straits pizza delivery guy in their lineup. Somehow having an ex-band member makes them extra-confident in what they do when it's not the point.

If we're brutally honest here, if these musicians are so brilliant and play with this outstanding energy, why do they play in a tribute band anyway? Don't they have better things to do? I'm not trying to offend anybody, it's just an interesting discussion of the psychology and philosophy of being a professional musician.

[Love Expresso]

I much prefer seeing a real tribute band than any of the ex-DS bands who play in much larger venues.

Why if it is much lower quality?

They were excellent and had lots of energy and the singer didn't have a heavy continental accent like Marco Caviglia has.  Have you seen Alchemy Live btw?

Continental accent...  you couldn't stress out better that you are Brits.       (no continental offence meant)

LE

[superval99]

I much prefer seeing a real tribute band than any of the ex-DS bands who play in much larger venues.

Why if it is much lower quality?

They were excellent and had lots of energy and the singer didn't have a heavy continental accent like Marco Caviglia has.  Have you seen Alchemy Live btw?

Continental accent...  you couldn't stress out better that you are Brits.       (no continental offence meant)

LE

Sorry, LE - I was just reiterating Chris W's words!   The singer in Alchemy Live was British!   

[Chris W]

If we're brutally honest here, if these musicians are so brilliant and play with this outstanding energy, why do they play in a tribute band anyway? Don't they have better things to do? I'm not trying to offend anybody, it's just an interesting discussion of the psychology and philosophy of being a professional musician.

Well I have clashed with you many times. You seem to excel in being brutally rude and about things you understand very little of. You were brutally critical of Pick Withers in a previous thread. You aren't trying to 'offend anyone' but you are calling a superb musician a 'pizza delivery guy'.
What is it that YOU DO that enriches society and makes thousands of people feel better every week??

[Chris W]

These are the kind of discussions and posts that make 'A Mark In Time' an acquired taste when it comes to discussing Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler.
Too much fantasy and not enough reality.

[quizzaciously]

Out of all the people being mentioned the only person that plays sessions outside the Dire Straits envelope is Danny Cummings.
People make their life seem uber busy and successful on Facebook and Instagram, but even Trevor Horn spends much of his time playing tribute gigs to his own productions.

Trevor Horn playing with DLS is one of the strangest things I ever witnessed in my whole life. Again, talking about legacy. It's all going to be written in your obituary. Imagine you're a legendary English record producer and musician, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and at the age of 70 you're playing in a Dire Straits tribute band with a singer with a heavy continental accent.

[dustyvalentino]

Out of all the people being mentioned the only person that plays sessions outside the Dire Straits envelope is Danny Cummings.
People make their life seem uber busy and successful on Facebook and Instagram, but even Trevor Horn spends much of his time playing tribute gigs to his own productions.

Chris, do you think Trevor actually NEEDS to work or does he just enjoy it? Maybe he doesn't have MK's publishing but he still surely makes a pretty penny from all the great records he was involved in?

[Chris W]

I presume he enjoys it.
Musicians want to make music.
I might check out of this conversation because it's taken a nasty turn over a few recent posts.

[Love Expresso]

These are the kind of discussions and posts that make 'A Mark In Time' an acquired taste when it comes to discussing Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler.
Too much fantasy and not enough reality.

Hello Chris, nothing wrong about fantasy. This forum is made by fans for fans and not "official" in any way. Your posts imply you are a very realistic guy but not a fan or supporter of MK in any way, apart from money related things that you often mention. No problem with you not being a fan but it feels difficult to discuss with you as you seem to have totally other motivation to hang around here. I wonder if you in the meantime have listened to any of MK's solo works, have an opinion about Chad Cromwell for example or the drum department on these solo albums and many other things. If Quizzy triggers you, ignore him would be my advice. I suggest to have a look at his YouTube channel where he, as a Russian guy under the most difficult circumstances, gives a lot of pleasure and joy to many people who love being educated about guitar playing in MK's work. I would bet he knows more about (classical) music than you. Music, not music business. So give him a break in being enthusiastic. I guess as a man of clear and direct speech you will understand that this is not meant as an offence but on the other hand, I am not a fan of kissing anyones ass only because he once was touring with Dire Straits.

What themes would you like to discuss? Feel free to open a new thread anytime.

LE

[Chris W]

Hello Chris, nothing wrong about fantasy.

The type of fantasy on this forum where people peddle fantasy as fact is toxic.

I would bet he knows more about (classical) music than you. Music, not music business. So give him a break in being enthusiastic. I guess as a man of clear and direct speech you will understand that this is not meant as an offence but on the other hand, I am not a fan of kissing anyones ass only because he once was touring with Dire Straits.

Well firstly this comment is absolute BS on many, many levels. I assume you don't now very much about me, my education, my background.
Again, more fantasy than reality.
Secondly, no matter what ANYONE does in the real world, there is absolutely NO excuse to abuse people personally on a frickin' music forum, just chit chatting about Dire Straits and it's members.
No excuse. And 'Quizzy' indulges in this repeatedly. Which I'm afraid makes him seem a much lesser authority on music and more of a bully.
I was once told on this forum that I should seek 'psychological help' based on my playing in Dire Straits. That kind of thing, along with calling an extremely good hearted person and an absolutely outstanding musician a 'dire straits pizza delivery guy' is at best childish, at worst out and out personal abuse that has no place on a discussion forum.
I'm afraid it makes me see that kind of person as much lower value to the forum than someone who can discuss Mark and the music of Dire Straits in a sensible, realistic and polite way.

[Love Expresso]

Well, thanks for calling my comment "absolute bullshit on many, many levels". Speaking of toxic.

And it would be easier to know more about your "education and background" if you told us a little bit more about it, don't you think?

LE