A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Best Brown Baggies on September 06, 2009, 03:52:18 PM
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On Friday night, i went to see 'The Gary Fletcher Blues Band' featuring Pick Withers on drums in my home town of Norwich.
They were very good. A mix of blues, acoustic, rock, in the style of MK/JJ.Cale.
I sat right on the front row, so a great view of Pick. :)
The venue holds about 250 people, but there were probably only about 60-70 people there.
In saying that though, the crowd made alot of noise, and everyone had a great time.
The main singer talked alot between songs, and Pick kept telling jokes about the local football team 'Norwich City' who are having a hard time at the moment in league one.
Towards the end, the main singer played a couple of acoustic songs on his own, which prompted something which i wasn't expecting.
Because there were a few empty seats at the front, Pick and the 2 other musicians jumped off the stage and came and sat next to me. :o :oSo there i was, for 2 songs, the one and only PW sitting next to BBB. :)
After the gig, the lead singer was signing copies of his cd. I had bought along with me the 1st 2 DS album covers, so i asked if Pick might be able to come out and sign them. 2 minutes later he came out. :)
I must admit though, for some reason i thought that if he came out i may be able to have a quick chat, because there was no one else waiting to see him. But how wrong i was. He was very abrupt, and i got the feeling that he thought of me as a bit of a nuisance.
He signed my album covers, which was great, but i made the fatal mistake of saying that i was going to see Mark in London next week. He dodged the comment completely and walked off.
Ok, of course i was very appreciative of him signing my albums, but thought he could have made a bit more of an effort, which leads me to the question. How did Mark and Pick leave things when Pick left after the LOG album?
It feels like he'd rather talk of anything but MK, which is fair enough i suppose, but on ALL the promo leaflets etc.... promoting THIS gig, he was billed as 'THE DRUMMER FROM DIRE STRAITS' So surely he should expect a question or two relating to this.
Well worth a trip to see this band though if they are in your area.
Cheers BBB
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Oh well, BBB - you win some.......! ::) Glad you had a good time though! :)
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About Pick's reaction, well, I don't know, it seems like he doesn't want to be reminded of his days with DS, but then on the other hand he doesn't mind using it to advertise his current band (although it might not be his idea and it didn't attract huge crowds anyway).
Glad you enjoyed the gig though! Any pics (of Pick ;D) ?
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Pics of Pick?
No i forgot my bloody camera.! >:(
Cheers BBB
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I'll bet he's happy enough to take the royalties from DS though. :-\
He sounds like a bit of an arse. Still the best drummer DS ever had though.
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Interesting how many "long-time-fellows" or temporarily companions rarely put in a good word for Mark Knopfler, f.e. Phil Palmer, David Knopfler, now Pick Withers, Ed Bicknell, Willy de Ville and so on.
Nevertheless, the more I read stuff like this, the more I can appreciate what Guy Fletcher does for the fans. MK did sign a lot of items with his autograph I am sure, and Pick Withers is obviously not so very much booked out these days that he couldn
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Interesting how many "long-time-fellows" or temporarily companions rarely put in a good word for Mark Knopfler, f.e. Phil Palmer, David Knopfler, now Pick Withers, Ed Bicknell, Willy de Ville and so on.
Nevertheless, the more I read stuff like this, the more I can appreciate what Guy Fletcher does for the fans. MK did sign a lot of items with his autograph I am sure, and Pick Withers is obviously not so very much booked out these days that he couldn
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Interesting to know how much Pick (and the rest of the band for that matter) still get from royalties from their DS days?
Cheers BBB
Their answer would probably be "not as much as we should" - I remember DK being pissed off a while back because the DS albums went to "Mid Price" and his royalty was halved.
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One would think that people get over these kind of things over time...
MK must have been a bit of an arse sometimes I guess, when former member(s) act like this 30 years later.
Still the best drummer DS ever had though.
dusty I can't agree with you on this one :) Imho the best was Terry Williams.
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funny, just today i read a cd review on a Bert Jansch cd and there they mentioned a certain Pick Withers playing on an album of is.
anyone know the real store (if there is any) behind pick leaving??
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Interesting how many "long-time-fellows" or temporarily companions rarely put in a good word for Mark Knopfler, f.e. Phil Palmer, David Knopfler, now Pick Withers, Ed Bicknell, Willy de Ville and so on.
That what happens when people are jealous of Marks tallent ;)
No, seriously why on earth would Ed Bicknell have anything bad to say about Mark? Not only did he manage DS and MK for years he was also the drummer for The Notting Hillbillies too.
Oh and why I'm at it Phil Palmer can go and kiss my butt! I mean really, he goes on tour with one of the biggest bands for a couple of years and has the cheek to call Knopfler an ogre!!! If I spent 2 years day in day out with the same people (barring family members) it would pee me off no end, what cheek has he got too?
As far as Pick goes perhaps he should not of gone off to live his Jazz drumming dream and stayed with the Straits..... he might not be so bitter now!!!!!!!!
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funny, just today i read a cd review on a Bert Jansch cd and there they mentioned a certain Pick Withers playing on an album of is.
anyone know the real store (if there is any) behind pick leaving??
A Rare Conundrum was the album from Bert Jansch that Pick used to play with. The year was 1977 and a year later Pick went to play with DS.
From wikipedia I read that Withers left the band (DS) to spend more time with his family and to pursue jazz music. He reportedly told an interviewer that he had succumbed to a growing feeling that there was nothing left in the music for him, that he was in danger of "becoming a rock drummer."
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Glad you had a great time! As for Pick's reaction-maybe he had indigestion or the chair wasn't comfortable... who knows. What surprises me, when MK comments on his bandmates (if at all), he sais good things. Even about David he only said "oh, you know, he didn't like touring". While Ed & Dave tore him to pieces in the "Brothers in arms" documentary. Why not ask John, or Pick himself (who reportedly was not a fan of Dave's). And Ed seems to say whatever brings him a TV spot at any given time.
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He`s only a drummer, you have to be understanding. Always ask, "that last song was great, what key is it in....?" ;D
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Still the best drummer DS ever had though.
dusty I can't agree with you on this one :) Imho the best was Terry Williams.
Sorry, bobo, but Dusty is right ;)
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However,
Danny Cummings seems to be the best-looking one! :o
What about Chris Whitten? I must admit that I really loved his drumming during the first (indoor-) leg of the OES tour. His drumming on "Sultans" f.e. at
Zurich 1991 was really great, but the whole version is really awesome. Later on, when the tour got into the big open air venues, it seems he got too much routine...
I think the music of Dire Straits would have taken a totally other direction if Pick would not have left the band. But Mark never showed very much interest in drummers at all, didn
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Chris Whitten was alright (well Terry Williams is just one :) ), but I really hated the sound of his snare. Such an empty sound, it kinda "distorted" the feeling of his drumming.
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It may have been the promoter or agent who made a big thing of the Dire Straits connection and in these days where people have reduced disposable income and less inclination to attend live music events, any method of getting 'bums on seats' has to be employed.
The thing is, most musicians (or indeed any kind of 'artist') like talking about what they're doing right now, as that's what's immediate and important to them. With Pick Withers having departed DS over 25 years ago, it's like talking about what you played in the school band. If he was truly being an arse, I don't think he'd even have come out to sign your DS albums. He may have been happier talking about some DS stuff if it came on the back of some conversation about what he's doing now (of course I don't know that you didn't do this BBB, just being devil's advocate).
I remember reading an interview with MK around the time of Making Movies, where he said that he had been specifying every single drum beat. I know some drummers - especially those with a jazz inclination like PW - who would find that enough reason to seek out new opportunities.
In my opinion, the statement "It takes a really good drummer to be better than no drummer at all." is actually all about how important it is to have a really good drummer.
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Jon said.........
"The thing is, most musicians (or indeed any kind of 'artist') like talking about what they're doing right now, as that's what's immediate and important to them. With Pick Withers having departed DS over 25 years ago, it's like talking about what you played in the school band. If he was truly being an arse, I don't think he'd even have come out to sign your DS albums. He may have been happier talking about some DS stuff if it came on the back of some conversation about what he's doing now (of course I don't know that you didn't do this BBB, just being devil's advocate)."
I must admit, i did rather go in with my Dire Straits blinkers on, not even thinking to ask him about what he's doing now. So perhaps i deserved what i got. :-\
Cheers BBB
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Screw that BBB, he's hardly done much else of note since leaving DS, has he?
Most people would be grateful to have been in a big succesful group, toured the world to millions of fans, played with Bob Dylan etc.
I'd give my right bollock for that kind of chance, and I'd be proud to speak about it for the rest of my life.
Pick needs to get a fucking grip.
But he's STILL the best drummer to ever work with MK by a long way... except maybe the legendary Phil Collins. ;)
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BBB, I certainly wasn't implying that you did anything that warranted an abrupt response - I hope you don't think I was.
dustyvalentino, I think your comments raise an interesting question about expectations of followers and also how differently we might view an experience from the outside. Like you, I feel that I would wax lyrical forever had I toured with a band like Dire Straits. I haven't actually had the experience though, but it seems that most musicians who have moved on to pastures new aren't so keen to dwell on the past. Do we have a right to expect them to want to talk about something that they were disatisfied enough to leave decades ago? I'm not certain that we do, although I would concede that someone famous should not be surprised to be asked about the time when they were famous. I suppose it's how you field those questions - especially if you'd rather leave that all in the past - that makes the difference.
You may not think that Pick Withers has done much of note since leaving Dire Straits, but he may feel rather differently about that. ;)
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Do we have a right to expect them to want to talk about something that they were disatisfied enough to leave decades ago? I'm not certain that we do, although I would concede that someone famous should not be surprised to be asked about the time when they were famous. I suppose it's how you field those questions - especially if you'd rather leave that all in the past - that makes the difference.
You may not think that Pick Withers has done much of note since leaving Dire Straits, but he may feel rather differently about that. ;)
I don't think we DO have a right, but I think the way in which it is handled could be better. I'm sure MK gets questions he doesn't want to answer all the time (even about DS!) but he's always diplomatic and never makes the questioner flle uncomfortable or that they shouldn't have asked. If he didn't want to speak about he could have said something like "Blimey, Dire Straits, that was a long time ago. I'm much happier with the stuff I've been doing recently like..." I mean, lets get things in perspective here - it's not like he's Georg Harrison or Michael Jackson who literally couldn't walk down the street for their entire adult lives without being harassed. Once in a blue moon somebody asks him for an autograph.
So what has Pick done since DS? I'm not aware of much. Which is a damn shame. I think Pick made that first Ds album almost as much as MK's songs and guitar. Really inventive work. Though I have to be honest and say that his work on MM and LOG wasn't quite as effective, but I guess by this time MK was telling him what to play. :-\
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Pick left DS probably by the same reason David did...
And that reason is Mark Knopfler. when you are a musician that not only plays what the leader wants but also have creativity and you want to add to the music, it burn you for sure. David left the band because he wrote songs too, but in DS it
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And Guy started out as a "professional musician" of course, Roxy Music and the like. He has done some other non-MK session stuff I think, Jimmy Nail and Bryan Adams for example.
Seems to me that MK was very "driven" during the DS days, he knew what he wanted, and he got it. He had phenomenal success of course, so in a sense you could say he was right. Look at the BiA album - very harsh to bring in Omar Hakim, basically said that Terry wasn't good enough, but it ended up being one of the biggest selling albums ever, so maybe MK was right.
I can't see MK doing something like that these days.
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Look at the BiA album - very harsh to bring in Omar Hakim, basically said that Terry wasn't good enough, but it ended up being one of the biggest selling albums ever, so maybe MK was right.
Maybe MK got this impression that Terry wasn't good in the studio, and maybe he wasn't good for the kind of music MK wanted to record. I remember reading an interview where MK says that he was "stuffed" with snare drums, and wanted to try something different. That maybe wasn't Terry style.
BIA ended up being one of the biggest selling albums ever, but I don't think that it was because of Omar Hakim at all. It was because of MFN riff (also with the drum-intro), BIA song, a this catchy WoL keyboard riff, and partly massive CD spreading.
I still think that songs from BIA sounded 10000times better live than on the album (it actually applies for all the albums). For me is Ride across with snare drums much much better, so is BIA (Mandela!), so is the chorus of The man's too strong for example.
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Terry just wasn't up to it, a good rock and roll drummer for sure and therfore great for the "thump thump" you need for live work, but not exactly subtle. Technically, and in terms of inventiveness, Terry just wasn't in the same league, not even close. No way Terry would have come up with that great drum part on Water of Love or the cool hihat work on Sultans.
That said, I do think Terry is a great drummer, just not as good as Pick.
The studio original of this one is probably my fave playing from Terry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0nxjm6ZwNs
And the original of this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z6hICBl3CI
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Danny also played on Bryan Adams MTV unplugged album, just read it by coincidence. :) The best drummer I've heard during live performances is Geoff Dugmore. He played with DK last year and Heather Nova on Pinkpop classic. Fantastic drummer!
PW plays "ok" imo on the DS albums, but the sound quality of the very first albums is by far not as good as today's so it's hard to "compare" (which, of course, does not mean that I can do it better). :D
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Best drummer I've seen live would most likely be the legendary Steve Gadd, with Paul Simon.
But then of course I've never seen Phil Collins live, sadly. ;)
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Terry just wasn't up to it, a good rock and roll drummer for sure and therfore great for the "thump thump" you need for live work, but not exactly subtle. Technically, and in terms of inventiveness, Terry just wasn't in the same league, not even close. No way Terry would have come up with that great drum part on Water of Love or the cool hihat work on Sultans.
That said, I do think Terry is a great drummer, just not as good as Pick.
The studio original of this one is probably my fave playing from Terry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0nxjm6ZwNs
And the original of this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z6hICBl3CI
Hehe dusty, we're gonna be at this forever. Here I go then.
Can you exactly say what is inventiveness? I mean, how can you say that e.g. hihat work is inventiveness (or anything else for that matter, of course not some scientific discovery), and that e.g. the MFN drum intro isn't? One does something in a certain way, other one does it in a different way. Different things are natural for different people.
For me, very inventive is e.g. OUATITW, or ToL, or SoS to just name a few. Inventive when compared to Pick's playing.
That's true that Water oL is great, but I don't like that kinda a style much.
As for the Sultans, the hihat is great too, but:
Listen to 1981 versions, outro. Pick sounds to me that he doesn't know what to do there, double rhythm and such stuff, when MK is playing all these fast licks, it doesn't add up to overall energetic feeling. It just isn't very convincing (the same goes for OUATITW). For the original versions, he was very good there, but when DS were moving into more rock&roll music, he just wasn't the man to do it. Also listen to Terry's swinging right hand..., and the drum rolls in chorus (you probably don't like that, I know :-) ). I think he took DS onto another level when MK wanted to play more rock&roll.
But, on the other hand, Pick was GREAT on the LoG album, I don't know why but it just sounds fantastic. It never rains album version is better than the live version, imho.
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Dusty wrote: But then of course I've never seen Phil Collins live, sadly.
I have - several times (with Genesis). He was pretty good too! ;)
PW played some great drums on the early albums, although there is a lot of subtlety in what he did compared to the more 'in your face' approach that was to follow when he departed. A particular favourite of mine is Single Handed Sailor (which I think has a bit of a Steve Gadd style drum part, funnily enough). It's not that complicated, but the groove is just perfect.
There is an interesting article about BiA (and the choice of drummers) here:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/articles/classictracks_0506.htm (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/articles/classictracks_0506.htm)
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Yes, I've read that article before but it's most appropriate to this discussion, particularly this bit:
Drumming For Nothing
Once all of the album's backing tracks had been completed, it was time to move on to the overdubs, and it was at that point, about a month into the project, that Knopfler realised all of the drum parts
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You may not think that Pick Withers has done much of note since leaving Dire Straits, but he may feel rather differently about that. ;)
I guess Pick knows it only too well and is rather touchy concerning the "good" old days. If he had had a successful solo career he might be above those kind of things - I think it must be quite frustrating.
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Good link here, seems he's appreciated by other drummers
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15858
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Screw that BBB, he's hardly done much else of note since leaving DS, has he?
Most people would be grateful to have been in a big succesful group, toured the world to millions of fans, played with Bob Dylan etc.
I'd give my right bollock for that kind of chance, and I'd be proud to speak about it for the rest of my life.
Pick needs to get a fucking grip.
But he's STILL the best drummer to ever work with MK by a long way... except maybe the legendary Phil Collins. ;)
Now I couldn't agree more Dusty.... Very well put.... Screw the ungrateful BARSTEWARD!!!! Lol
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BBB, I certainly wasn't implying that you did anything that warranted an abrupt response - I hope you don't think I was.
dustyvalentino, I think your comments raise an interesting question about expectations of followers and also how differently we might view an experience from the outside. Like you, I feel that I would wax lyrical forever had I toured with a band like Dire Straits. I haven't actually had the experience though, but it seems that most musicians who have moved on to pastures new aren't so keen to dwell on the past. Do we have a right to expect them to want to talk about something that they were disatisfied enough to leave decades ago? I'm not certain that we do, although I would concede that someone famous should not be surprised to be asked about the time when they were famous. I suppose it's how you field those questions - especially if you'd rather leave that all in the past - that makes the difference.
You may not think that Pick Withers has done much of note since leaving Dire Straits, but he may feel rather differently about that. ;)
Great and very interesting discussion, guys!! Thank you for your fair and honest opinions...I absolutely agree with Jon...
BBB, if you have the possibility to speak with MK for longer time, would you dare to ask him something about DS?? I would NOT, if I am honest. Well, I'm sure you will ask him but for then your conversation would be in a risk to finish as soon as possible. It's all in the past...Guy is so often annoyed if people ask him about DS. EVEN Chris White, who is well known as a very gentle and patient, is bored to speak about DS. I think the only one who would do it with a pleasure for the moment is John Illsley (listening and reading his interviews) . So, don't wonder about Pick Withers.
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Well, I don't see a reason why they wouldn't like to talk about DS. It was something to be proud of rather than not. Mark gets asked about that period quite often and even though he may be bored to talk about it, he always acknowledges these times as good ones. The other thing is what are you asking about. If this is a standard question like "so, how was it when you were in this famous rock band" then no surprise they are bored to death with them. It's difficult to ask interesting question that would trigger any of them to talk about the past. But in this case the past was something to be proud of!
Re Pick Withers - maybe he's had a bad day, you know, everybody has one now and then ;).
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Kooba, I was in my back garden with my son last night when a young neighbour of about 5 years old came over and started playing with my son.
Turns out he is Polish. His name? Kooba!
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We didnt have a Pick problem with Danny last night,he came out after the gig & said that he had to meet a few friends but had no problems signing autographs & posing for pics when he came back - John McCusker was exactly the same - nice guys.
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Both are always nice, can't remember which gig it was, I believe somewhere in the UK. Before the show I went out for one more cigarette (yes I am bad, but want to keep it that way ;D) and guess who was there, having a smoke as well: Mr John McCusker, we said hi, I wished him success and told him I enjoyed the tour. And off we went both again, he to play I to enjoy it :)
Didn't have stuff to sign with me that moment, but I saw him a couple of more times during the tour and he was nice and friendly all the time, posing for a picture, giving autographs.
Same with Danny and Guy, but he is harder to catch sometimes :D
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Kooba, I was in my back garden with my son last night when a young neighbour of about 5 years old came over and started playing with my son.
Turns out he is Polish. His name? Kooba!
Yeah Dusty, We are everywhere ;D ;)
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you mean you kooba's?
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Kuba is a Polish name. I spell it "kooba" so that English speaking people pronounce it properly. Otherwise they call me Cuba ;). I was referring to Polish. We are everywhere, not that this is something to be proud of. "Economic refugees" - that's what it is.
We're getting off-topic but I feel safe against heavy moderation here. :)
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Indeed, and it's an interesting topic. Thanks for the info re the correct way to spell it, I thought "Kooba" might be a strange spelling so it's good to know.
My neighbour Kuba spoke very good English, he told me he is in his second year of school here in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh seems to have quite a large Polish community, I pass a Polish shop and Polish barbers on my way to work. My home town of Aberdeen has lots of Poles too, I bought my car from a Pole last year. :)
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Yeah, UK and Ireland got literally flooded with Poles after Poland joined E.U. in 2004. I remember the times when I used to go to London back in 1998 and 1999 to see TNH at Ronnie Scott's and I wasn't sure if I would be permitted to enter the country. It was very strict back then. Now it is so easy. Sometimes too easy, I think.
Dusty, Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities I've seen. You are one lucky Scott to live there. I liked Aberdeen too.
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Kuba is a Polish name. I spell it "kooba" so that English speaking people pronounce it properly. Otherwise they call me Cuba ;). I was referring to Polish. We are everywhere, not that this is something to be proud of. "Economic refugees" - that's what it is.
We're getting off-topic but I feel safe against heavy moderation here. :)
lol, i know it was "polish" you meant.
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you went to the NHB in 99? then we must have "seen" each other ;D
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We didnt have a Pick problem with Danny last night,he came out after the gig & said that he had to meet a few friends but had no problems signing autographs & posing for pics when he came back - John McCusker was exactly the same - nice guys.
I got Guy and Danny to sign my Brothers In Arms album nearly 2 years ago and had a nice chat with Guy too!
He was a gent and enjoyed talking about a lot of things including DS.
Oh and he shared his cheese and onion crisps with me too lol! ( is that sad or what? ) ::)
Anyway my point was that he did not mind talking about it.
Guy - 8)
Danny - 8)
erm Pick - :'(
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Probably more of you who've seen this, but thought I'd post it anyway. Pick on drums. I like it a lot (sweet vocalist). A bit rough sound quality, so his drumming probably sounds harder than it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDgeaC2L1uA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=475VeJyE47Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKyHGkElHxA
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Isn't there a thread where Picks wife drops in? Or was that a hoax?
AMIT is loaded with celebrities!!! ;D
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You mean apart from Dusty Valentino and Pottel? And Superval of course? :o 8)
LE
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Isn't there a thread where Picks wife drops in? Or was that a hoax?
AMIT is loaded with celebrities!!! ;D
whaaaaattt? Naaah, really?
Jack Sonni seems to be a semi-regular now :-)
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Bringing back to life an old thread, and a nice one!
Might as well chip in with a bit of info that I didn't see anywhere in the posts, that Pick used to play with Dando Shaft back in the early 70ies. They have become a bit cult ish, their LPs reissued and all...
And Dusty I agree I think that PW was the best drummer of them all and only Phil Collins was better (see him at The princess trust concerts)...
Terry Williams was too load for me, but suitable for Alchemy.
Chris Whiten was too much for my ears. He created a hollow sound that stood out, above all other instruments and it was annoying. MK must have picked him up from Paul McCartney, after the Knebworth gig. And he might have been OK for Macca's music but not for DS.
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Bringing back to life an old thread, and a nice one!
Might as well chip in with a bit of info that I didn't see anywhere in the posts, that Pick used to play with Dando Shaft back in the early 70ies. They have become a bit cult ish, their LPs reissued and all...
And Dusty I agree I think that PW was the best drummer of them all and only Phil Collins was better (see him at The princess trust concerts)...
Terry Williams was too load for me, but suitable for Alchemy.
Chris Whiten was too much for my ears. He created a hollow sound that stood out, above all other instruments and it was annoying. MK must have picked him up from Paul McCartney, after the Knebworth gig. And he might have been OK for Macca's music but not for DS.
Horses for courses really. Terry Williams for me will always be my favourite drummer for DS, he is incredible.
I really loved Chris Whitten too, loved his incredible fills in songs like Sultans... not as awesome as Terry's fills though :)
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Horses for courses really. Terry Williams for me will always be my favourite drummer for DS, he is incredible.
I really loved Chris Whitten too, loved his incredible fills in songs like Sultans... not as awesome as Terry's fills though :)
Just echoing Jack Sonni's words from another thread, my emphases:
Had the first rehearsal with Pick today...and I'm still buzzing from the experience!! THIS is why I do this from time to time. Pick is a great musician and while I love Terry Williams as a mate & he was a great drummer, it was absolutely fantastic to play the songs from the early albums with Pick today. His feel is so incredible and I found myself smiling from ear to ear..thinking YES THIS is how these songs are supposed to feel & be played. While the band played it's ass off on the BIA tour, so much of the subtlety got pounded out of them as DS got to stadium gigs. Today was w/out Phil & Mel but we ran through "Sultans" (was sublime - all the amazing little accents were there at last!!), "Expresso Love" "Six Blade Knife" "Wild West End" (sorry I did get to play a solo at the end!!) & "Tunnel of Love".
So I guess you're right, horses for courses, and it's mostly down to preferences. If you like the stadium stuff, Terry is your drummer, if you like small-gigs stuff, Pick is your drummer.
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Horses for courses really. Terry Williams for me will always be my favourite drummer for DS, he is incredible.
I really loved Chris Whitten too, loved his incredible fills in songs like Sultans... not as awesome as Terry's fills though :)
Just echoing Jack Sonni's words from another thread, my emphases:
Had the first rehearsal with Pick today...and I'm still buzzing from the experience!! THIS is why I do this from time to time. Pick is a great musician and while I love Terry Williams as a mate & he was a great drummer, it was absolutely fantastic to play the songs from the early albums with Pick today. His feel is so incredible and I found myself smiling from ear to ear..thinking YES THIS is how these songs are supposed to feel & be played. While the band played it's ass off on the BIA tour, so much of the subtlety got pounded out of them as DS got to stadium gigs. Today was w/out Phil & Mel but we ran through "Sultans" (was sublime - all the amazing little accents were there at last!!), "Expresso Love" "Six Blade Knife" "Wild West End" (sorry I did get to play a solo at the end!!) & "Tunnel of Love".
So I guess you're right, horses for courses, and it's mostly down to preferences. If you like the stadium stuff, Terry is your drummer, if you like small-gigs stuff, Pick is your drummer.
I totally agree.... to be honest I love them all. It's nice to see Pick enjoys playing the old Straits stuff again :)
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I love Pick Withers playing, I think that as MK gained more access to other resources, it diminished his reliance on Pick -- i.e. Pick's role diminished as they were able to add keyboards etc. etc. -- I love MK as much as anybody but it is my humble opinion that the real dire straits died, not when David left but when the other David aka Pick Withers left. He just added so much feel even when he was playing straight forward stuff.
Anyways after reading through this thread I have been looking for more material on him, and I found that while his first band "the primitives" is usually given short shrift -- there are clips of them on youtube. For Example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFbykcuG5e4
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o9cjVu4U7c
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNajkJKiRo0
apparently this guy Mal was hot in Italy, also the full album "Spring" is on youtube, kind of reminds me of Emerson Lake & Palmer, Pick sounds good on it -- although apparently his name was sometimes spelled Pique
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp-SAsd3DbE
and this link says the guys in "the primitives" got his name Pick or Pique from some Charles Dickens
http://www.theprimitives.com/maladjusted/cdprimitives.htm
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He also did a great work with Dando shaft
http://youtu.be/MuJp-vgMjAI
http://youtu.be/SIVprVv1Iao
http://youtu.be/BXRc7khlejw
But it is my understanding that he chose to leave DS because he was tired of touring.
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I didn't find this video posted already, so here it is.
As far as I know, there is Pick Withers playing the drums, in Pauline Black's jazz trio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdW43VAovBI
Reference: http://alumni.coventry.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1388 (http://alumni.coventry.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1388)
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is there any video of Pick playing with Jack Sonni etc etc with that Italian tribute band?