Alan Clark - new interview

[Jules]

Lol

I generally like that these threads go wherever they go but I'm starting to get frustrated that this particular one is still turning into a tribute band good/bad one when we have (in my eyes) a MUCH more interesting topic to discuss:

Did Alan Clark destroy Dire Straits?! 

No

DS is MK's child, and he was already fed up with it before OES, I read many times that everyone was surprised when MK suggested to do another record and another tour, and I guess he was already regreting it even before the tour started.

I also read, and also could be not true, that the last DS record and tour were made to ensure the rest of members (John, Alan and Guy) had a last big income from the band before it ended, and that's why that record was credited in production to the four of them, but in the end, the two enterprises managing everything, DS Overseas and DS Limited (I think those were the names) were credited to MK, John and Ed.

[rmarques821]

Lol

I generally like that these threads go wherever they go but I'm starting to get frustrated that this particular one is still turning into a tribute band good/bad one when we have (in my eyes) a MUCH more interesting topic to discuss:

Did Alan Clark destroy Dire Straits?! 

No

DS is MK's child, and he was already fed up with it before OES, I read many times that everyone was surprised when MK suggested to do another record and another tour, and I guess he was already regreting it even before the tour started.

I also read, and also could be not true, that the last DS record and tour were made to ensure the rest of members (John, Alan and Guy) had a last big income from the band before it ended, and that's why that record was credited in production to the four of them, but in the end, the two enterprises managing everything, DS Overseas and DS Limited (I think those were the names) were credited to MK, John and Ed.

He has more or less confirmed in the swedish interview from 2008 that he did the OES tour to escape his failing marriage. He probably had no intention of going on such a long tour, but found it was the perfect way to get away from his personal troubles. And I think he also hinted that Lourdes was unhappy with him being away for so long on tour.

[Mossguitar]

Lol

I generally like that these threads go wherever they go but I'm starting to get frustrated that this particular one is still turning into a tribute band good/bad one when we have (in my eyes) a MUCH more interesting topic to discuss:

Did Alan Clark destroy Dire Straits?! 

No

DS is MK's child, and he was already fed up with it before OES, I read many times that everyone was surprised when MK suggested to do another record and another tour, and I guess he was already regreting it even before the tour started.

I also read, and also could be not true, that the last DS record and tour were made to ensure the rest of members (John, Alan and Guy) had a last big income from the band before it ended, and that's why that record was credited in production to the four of them, but in the end, the two enterprises managing everything, DS Overseas and DS Limited (I think those were the names) were credited to MK, John and Ed.

Yes, but why was MK fed up? Because DS wouldn’t allow him to continue his musical career in the direction he wanted to go. What hindered him? I guess it was due to different band members wanting things that wasn’t compatible with MK’s musical visjons.

[quizzaciously]

The stories of bands falling apart are so alike sometimes, likewise with falling marriages I guess. I always compare DS to The Police (they emerged from the same region at the same time and both had prominent singer-songwriters occupying 80% of the exposure). For how different they were as a band, having practically no lineup changes compared to constantly changing DS, but severely battling over mutually written music material, their fate is all the same.

The lead man wants to do it on his own and burn all the bridges. I think compared to Sting, Mark did it better and dealt with his mates better, however, Sting learned earlier he should go his own way, and DS shutting down earlier would benefit its legacy (in my humble opinion). Also, like Sting, Mark resurrected DS for a tour or an album and in my view too early. And doing it again would be a farce as in the famous quote, "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce".

[Robson]

Too early? It's been 6 long years. It was the last moment.

I know the comparison will be weak, but I often look at Robert Plant and Mark Knopfler. They have something in common:)

[quizzaciously]

Too early? It's been 6 long years. It was the last moment.

And so what? The Police were resurrected after more than 20 years. And in my opinion, that was a tragedy as well. It was famously one of the most successful and highest-grossing tours of all time, but Stewart Copeland said he and Sting counted days and seconds until it was all over and they wouldn't need to fight and play together ever again. At least they remain good friends and enjoy the highest-grossing tour for such a band, quite an achievement. Mark has different achievements.

[Robson]

This is not a happy comparison. Dire Straits released a new album, so there was a tour. The Police didn't have a new album.

[quizzaciously]

This is not a happy comparison. Dire Straits released a new album, so there was a tour. The Police didn't have a new album.

Mark always had new material for the band or a solo album (which is the same thing in Mark's case I think). The Police had no any new material to record, nor a desire to write it. Not a good idea to compare such things in general, I just make observations. But this is the kind of fantasy I'd like to live in. BiA is the swan song of DS. OES is Mark's first solo album, instead of touring he's chilling and sorting out his personal life problems, or doing a little European tour. Then, in 2002, after 3 successful solo albums in a row, a small charity DS reunion tour, a truckload of money, and happy colleagues. Ah, dreams, dreams.

[Robson]

This is not a happy comparison. Dire Straits released a new album, so there was a tour. The Police didn't have a new album.

Mark always had new material for the band or a solo album (which is the same thing in Mark's case I think). The Police had no any new material to record, nor a desire to write it. Not a good idea to compare such things in general, I just make observations. But this is the kind of fantasy I'd like to live in. BiA is the swan song of DS. OES is Mark's first solo album, instead of touring he's chilling and sorting out his personal life problems, or doing a little European tour. Then, in 2002, after 3 successful solo albums in a row, a small charity DS reunion tour, a truckload of money, and happy colleagues. Ah, dreams, dreams.

I understand. But for me, the real history of DS/MK does not need fantasy because it is fascinating

[Jules]

Lol

I generally like that these threads go wherever they go but I'm starting to get frustrated that this particular one is still turning into a tribute band good/bad one when we have (in my eyes) a MUCH more interesting topic to discuss:

Did Alan Clark destroy Dire Straits?! 

No

DS is MK's child, and he was already fed up with it before OES, I read many times that everyone was surprised when MK suggested to do another record and another tour, and I guess he was already regreting it even before the tour started.

I also read, and also could be not true, that the last DS record and tour were made to ensure the rest of members (John, Alan and Guy) had a last big income from the band before it ended, and that's why that record was credited in production to the four of them, but in the end, the two enterprises managing everything, DS Overseas and DS Limited (I think those were the names) were credited to MK, John and Ed.

Yes, but why was MK fed up? Because DS wouldn’t allow him to continue his musical career in the direction he wanted to go. What hindered him? I guess it was due to different band members wanting things that wasn’t compatible with MK’s musical visjons.

If anyone didn't share his vision in the band and bother him enough, the solution was easy, fire him.

He went solo, as he says, because the band got to big to cope with it, in musical and logistical terms.

Alan himself said that this Nashville sound seemed inappropriate way to go, but they went that way because MK wanted it. Of course if you go solo you don't have to discuss with anyone about what kind of music you want to do but I don't think the rest of the band, even a creative force like Alan, hesitated to discuss MK further than giving an opinion. I can be wrong of course, but I don't think that happened really.

[Knut]

>That said, the cover bands get the last laugh. Who's on tour, and who's retired from playing live?

Not sure you have nailed the last laugh definition.
They are only playing live because of MK songs.
People are only interested in them because of MK songs.
They have to pay MK every time they perform.
Even when MK dies they will still have to pay.
I laugh whenever I listen to TOTT because I don't take it seriously.

From my understanding after googling the topic, it's the venue that pays the royalties - not the cover bands.

Also, you missed the point. If someone makes a song mocking cover bands, and the artists is unwilling or unable to perform live and the cover band(s) continue on, that IS the last laugh. Literally. They play, the original composer don't.

But that's the circle of life, eh? When everybody from cover bands stops playing/dies, their descendants will play the music and have the last laugh themselves. By their time it will be classical music. Most importantly, I believe it WILL be played as the music is just so great and in high demand anyway.

And don't forget an original song mocking a cover band is still an original song while they are stuck dancing to somebody else's tune. That's WHY you need to be extra cautious and extra considerate and polite with the source material. As far as I'm concerned, they acted as if it's Dire Straits 2.0, so they got a bite from MK.

Even MK has acted like that. So, he can bite his own tail if he wants to ("the voice and guitar from Dire Straits")

[quizzaciously]

>That said, the cover bands get the last laugh. Who's on tour, and who's retired from playing live?

Not sure you have nailed the last laugh definition.
They are only playing live because of MK songs.
People are only interested in them because of MK songs.
They have to pay MK every time they perform.
Even when MK dies they will still have to pay.
I laugh whenever I listen to TOTT because I don't take it seriously.

From my understanding after googling the topic, it's the venue that pays the royalties - not the cover bands.

Also, you missed the point. If someone makes a song mocking cover bands, and the artists is unwilling or unable to perform live and the cover band(s) continue on, that IS the last laugh. Literally. They play, the original composer don't.

But that's the circle of life, eh? When everybody from cover bands stops playing/dies, their descendants will play the music and have the last laugh themselves. By their time it will be classical music. Most importantly, I believe it WILL be played as the music is just so great and in high demand anyway.

And don't forget an original song mocking a cover band is still an original song while they are stuck dancing to somebody else's tune. That's WHY you need to be extra cautious and extra considerate and polite with the source material. As far as I'm concerned, they acted as if it's Dire Straits 2.0, so they got a bite from MK.

Even MK has acted like that. So, he can bite his own tail if he wants to ("the voice and guitar from Dire Straits")

That's very funny until you realise that Mark has more than enough rights to say he's the voice and guitar from Dire Straits, as he IS the voice and guitar from Dire Straits. And songwriter, and producer, and arranger, and talking head in interviews, and talent manager, and... You get the point

[dustyvalentino]

That was just a marketing thing anyway, although we can assume MK didn’t care enough about it to stop it.

[Matchstickman]

That was just a marketing thing anyway, although we can assume MK didn’t care enough about it to stop it.

We know that he hated it - someone here has described Mark peeling off the sticker of, I think, RPD, when signing it for a fan.

[the visitor]

Here is a link to the image I was referring to in my post yesterday:.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2MVucbMs3B/?igsh=MWU2NGI4d2t6ejM3aw==

A picture tells a thousand words