Pick Withers Live - 78 and 81. A Musical Analysis.

[Brunno Nunes]

The whole thing was a farce and an embarrassment.

The only band ever who had to induct themselves because no one else would do it.

Yes, we know, it was embarrassing and unnecessary, since MK showed zero interest in participating in this event. Again, I only alluded to RARHF to point out that the committee chose the founding members for the honor, in addition to Alan and Guy, which I believe would be a coherent choice for any relevant time and occasion. I believe many would agree that for this type of tribute, these would be the most appropriate members to represent the band, certainly due to their historical significance.

[Robson]

The whole thing was a farce and an embarrassment.

The only band ever who had to induct themselves because no one else would do it.

Yes, we know, it was embarrassing and unnecessary, since MK showed zero interest in participating in this event. Again, I only alluded to RARHF to point out that the committee chose the founding members for the honor, in addition to Alan and Guy, which I believe would be a coherent choice for any relevant time and occasion. I believe many would agree that for this type of tribute, these would be the most appropriate members to represent the band, certainly due to their historical significance.

I agree, but the historical significance is debatable. Terry Williams and Chris Whitten, for example, were just as important as Alan and Guy. I understand that chronology (in time) is important here.

[Chris W]

Well I definitely wouldn't be an appropriate attendee. Just one tour, a year and a half. I was with McCartney for three years and that seems like a blip in his timeline.
The problem with the RRHOF is trying to force bands to reform. It would be better to induct Mark, for his contribution over several decades.
Ed knows the people, I don't, but if you have been kicked out, or hurt by comments in the past, why should you agree to put it all aside for a somewhat meaningless museum on the other side the world?
Also, music is creative, artistic, it isn't a competition. Reason I never watch The Grammies, Oscars or the BAFTAS.

[Brunno Nunes]

Well I definitely wouldn't be an appropriate attendee. Just one tour, a year and a half. I was with McCartney for three years and that seems like a blip in his timeline.
The problem with the RRHOF is trying to force bands to reform. It would be better to induct Mark, for his contribution over several decades.
Ed knows the people, I don't, but if you have been kicked out, or hurt by comments in the past, why should you agree to put it all aside for a somewhat meaningless museum on the other side the world?
Also, music is creative, artistic, it isn't a competition. Reason I never watch The Grammies, Oscars or the BAFTAS.

I agree with you, actually, most fans would like a reason, an opportunity to see the band perform again, this became stronger after Pink Floyd's unlikely reunion at Live 8 in 2008. But, being quite realistic, this award could be in London, who believes Mark would show up and reunite with the other guys to play Sultans of Swing? He didn't do it in 2018, he never will. It's 2025 and if there was something similar to his solo career this year, my guess is he wouldn't go... she doesn't care about that, we fans who sometimes dream big, but it's good to keep both feet on the ground.

[Brunno Nunes]

The whole thing was a farce and an embarrassment.

The only band ever who had to induct themselves because no one else would do it.

Yes, we know, it was embarrassing and unnecessary, since MK showed zero interest in participating in this event. Again, I only alluded to RARHF to point out that the committee chose the founding members for the honor, in addition to Alan and Guy, which I believe would be a coherent choice for any relevant time and occasion. I believe many would agree that for this type of tribute, these would be the most appropriate members to represent the band, certainly due to their historical significance.

I agree, but the historical significance is debatable. Terry Williams and Chris Whitten, for example, were just as important as Alan and Guy. I understand that chronology (in time) is important here.

I completely agree, Terry and saxophonist Chris White were very important to Dire Straits' live sound, both participated in two legendary tours, Terry-LOG tour and BIA tour, Chris-BIA tour, and OES tour.

[Robson]

The whole thing was a farce and an embarrassment.

The only band ever who had to induct themselves because no one else would do it.

Yes, we know, it was embarrassing and unnecessary, since MK showed zero interest in participating in this event. Again, I only alluded to RARHF to point out that the committee chose the founding members for the honor, in addition to Alan and Guy, which I believe would be a coherent choice for any relevant time and occasion. I believe many would agree that for this type of tribute, these would be the most appropriate members to represent the band, certainly due to their historical significance.

I agree, but the historical significance is debatable. Terry Williams and Chris Whitten, for example, were just as important as Alan and Guy. I understand that chronology (in time) is important here.

I completely agree, Terry and saxophonist Chris White were very important to Dire Straits' live sound, both participated in two legendary tours, Terry-LOG tour and BIA tour, Chris-BIA tour, and OES tour.

I mentioned Chris W. But I agree Chris White was important too

[Robson]

Ed:

That first lineup was a moment/mark  in time ( ha! ) and we all know what happened, David left. It was INEVITABLE.
If he hadn’t Pick likely would have earlier than he did and they would have collapsed. No question. M would have resurfaced for sure ..who knows what would have happened, it’s not worth bothering about.
At one point he wanted to join The Stones.
There you are, something new , trouble was they already had Keith and he had hair.

Even today, this information sounds sensational. Unless it's Ed's joke

[qjamesfloyd]

The whole thing was a farce and an embarrassment.

The only band ever who had to induct themselves because no one else would do it.

Yes, we know, it was embarrassing and unnecessary, since MK showed zero interest in participating in this event. Again, I only alluded to RARHF to point out that the committee chose the founding members for the honor, in addition to Alan and Guy, which I believe would be a coherent choice for any relevant time and occasion. I believe many would agree that for this type of tribute, these would be the most appropriate members to represent the band, certainly due to their historical significance.

The funny thing was, that there was someone there who could have inducted them, Jon Bon Jovi, he is a fan, I think he has even said he wished he had written Romeo & Juliet.

[dustyvalentino]

The rumour was that someone had agreed to induct them but then pulled out when they heard MK wasn't there, wouldn't surprise me if it was JBJ.

Like you say, big fan, admits to stealing a line from R&J in his song Always. I believe he was a studio gopher at the Power Station before he hit the big time.

[wayaman]

The rumour was that someone had agreed to induct them but then pulled out when they heard MK wasn't there, wouldn't surprise me if it was JBJ.

Like you say, big fan, admits to stealing a line from R&J in his song Always. I believe he was a studio gopher at the Power Station before he hit the big time.

Barry Bongiovi, cousin of Jon, was working at the Power Station.

[dustyvalentino]

https://www.radiox.co.uk/news/music/jon-bon-jovi-awe-bob-dylan-queen-bowie-stones-as-power-station-studio-gofer/

[dustyvalentino]

https://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=134206

[dustyvalentino]

Response below from Ed Bicknell, thank you again Ed.

[dustyvalentino]

PICK YOUR NOSE. ROLL IT. FLICK IT.

I just cant resist the sheer thrill of these posts so….
Reply 109 to 131
THE HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING.
I re read my email file on the HOF debacle.
I'm suffering from insomnia at the moment brought on by discussing Pick’s nickname and his tub thumping technique and DK’s status as the single most important person ever to grace DS in his role as Court Jester.

Anyway, lack of sleep took me to the HOF stuff.
Re reading was like having a hot poker shoved up my nether regions.
I had forgotten just how ridiculous the run up to it was and because it extends to maybe  40 emails of varying lengths I can't be bothered to explain the nonsense in detail.. Sorry. It defined the word “STUPID”.

I will say what happened was a result of
1. The HOF rules. They invite the ORIGINAL LINEUP and “significant others eg Guy/Alan. Not live players only.
2. They pressure the original lineup to perform. In the absence of that because they hate each other they try to get some other act to perform songs by…..while the original act is sitting there masturbating with joy at hearing it's songs being destroyed.
3. When the invites went out both John and Mark were away on holiday so didn't see until after Pick, David, Guy and Alan had initially accepted.
4 Then Alan and David started politicking.
5. Then Crockford started politicking with the HOF about who would or wouldn’t do what.
6. Then I got involved and refused to politic because I knew a main person at HOF and I said I resigned 18 years ago!  Which he knew.
7. Then John reappeared and said he’d go.
8. Then Mark reappeared and John and PC and I think Guy tried to get him to go.
9. Then it got silly. I mean SPINAL TAP silly. That's for the book if….
10. Old wounds seeping. Conspiracy theories emerging. The brothers …NO!  I cannot go there.
11 The Pick pulled out for personal reasons which I completely get.
12. Then David pulled out because the HOF wouldn’t pay his cab fare to the airport!!!!!!  But that was after M had a meltdown involving a candle.
13. MK refused to go because…GUESS?  Go on. GUESS? Entries on a postcard please.
14. Brunno. There was never ANY possibility of them playing together again or EC, HM , BD “opening”. STOP DREAMING it will make you ill.
15. I will not swallow my tongue. I need it for numerous reasons.

Tommy Mandel is a champ. Lovely guy. Why is he in here?

Chris W is right about the HOF outside US.

In the US it IS significant and I said they should go for the US fans. They got a terrible reaction to not going. Really bad.
I wasn’t invited THANK THE LORD.
Dusty is right. Embarrassing.
They were set to be inducted by Keith Urban NOT JBJ. KU pulled out when MK said he wouldn’t go. No one else would do hence John. Think about that…NO ONE.
The Committee member who proposed them was Lenny Kaye.
One other person was going to nominate MK alone but didn't when DS got the vote.
Ive explained HOF rules. CW is correct re why he wouldn’t qualify.
ALL awards shows are a disgrace aimed at marketing product. WAKE UP! THEY ARE MEANINGLESS.

MK and PW would not reunite even in Barbados. WHY would they?:  DS is over. Finito. Done. Wiped from the history of pop and replaced by Coldplay.

The HOF takes no account of LIVE players.

The Stones. Not joking AT ALL but it was just musings when his piles were itching. (That bit's a joke). Why is it sensational?  He once told me he wanted to join Guns and Roses. So? I wanted to join The Buddy Rich Big Band. So?

Jon B J told me he used to put DS albums on to fall asleep. SERIOUSLY ( good guy). He was nephew of Power St owner Tony Bonjovi. He used to sweep up there.

There was one good thing from all this.
There was so much pulling out nobody got pregnant.

[Brunno Nunes]

Back to the original thread, I was thinking of examples of songs where you can hear the change prominently in Pick's approach to drumming.  Single Handed Sailor is a good example I think:

1979 - Rockpalast.  A pretty much replicate version of the version that features on the album, delicate drums from Pick:

https://youtu.be/E36JaBiYI0g?si=GCaANltT5Mi_s3DF

Move forward to Boston 1980 and from the word go you have a straight, and harder 4 4 beat kicking off the song and then been backed, presumably by Joop, on tambourine. 

https://youtu.be/yhdMvUZ8KBc?si=9aRaWxx92L6-3Qn2

Note also the addition of keys from Alan.

Very interesting comparison!
... so many differences between the two versions. This is a song that got many different ways to be played, in the Boston one - apart from keyboards - there are many differences in the way Mark plays the guitar, the rhythm, and also in the vocal part.
Same as Boston is the New York version, same tour:

For some reason, this topic has had several ramifications, but this was the direction I initially wanted the topic to go; it was this kind of analysis I was looking for: the changes in Pick's approach between the 1978 and 1981 live sessions.

That said, that said, as an avid fan of the band, it's been a while since I've had the illusion of seeing the band reunite to play together. The last time this crossed my mind was in 2018 (and many others), when the band's participation was still unknown. I remember speculation: Who will introduce the band at the event? I remember the names I mentioned: Bob Dylan, Hank Marvin, Eric Clapton... that's why I mentioned them, but this is all a waste of time; it was simply destined not to happen. I'm happy with the official material, the band's legacy. We have the bootlegs (the idea for this thread was only possible because of the bootlegs). Even today, unreleased recordings emerge, which is always a pleasant surprise. We have the honorable participation of "Colonel" Ed in this wonderful forum, shedding light on many gaps that have existed over time for many of us, giving us a more realistic overview, which is always very welcome and, of course, shattering old paradigms, which I include myself in and am grateful for.

The only thing I regret is not having had the opportunity to see the band live when they were active. I wasn't even old enough, and they never came to Brazil, but that's life.

Swallowing your tongue is a regional joke, a mere euphemism. 😛