A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: JF on July 26, 2024, 12:21:18 PM
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Swiss musician Richard Koechli is preparing to release a book on Mark Knopfler by the end of the year. He explains his approach on his Facebook page :
https://www.facebook.com/richard.koechli/posts/pfbid04GsqNVwe8aCQqTSK4bbmdkpEHXhbAR21zEkLupxDf4Nx4S5xcc7Gwp6zRGdbGAe8l
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when you donate CHF 300 you will be mentioned as an executive producer.
wow. How many AMITer will think about that now. Nice idea. I will buy this thing
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when you donate CHF 300 you will be mentioned as an executive producer.
wow. How many AMITer will think about that now. Nice idea. I will buy this thing
I take it you are being sarcastic?
To pay £260 to get your name in a book is a complete rip off/madness.
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sure it is.
But still sure some fans will do it :lol
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It's called crowdfunding. Can't see anything wrong with it.
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It sounds promising anyway. Firstly because he's a musician himself, which is a totally different perspective, and because apparently he's not doing it for the money, if he relies on crowdfunding.
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It sounds promising anyway. Firstly because he's a musician himself, which is a totally different perspective, and because apparently he's not doing it for the money, if he relies on crowdfunding.
Where did you read that he won't intend to make money with it?
He does not say much about "the how" that crowdfunding works, other than if you give him enough money you will have your name printed in the book.
So what I currently understand is that he is looking for money for the book - no more no less.
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Good job this book is not written by Henrik Hansen :think we'd never get to read it.
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What's the author's record as a writer? Has he had positive reviews previously?
Hello to the author if he is looking in by the way, I'm sure he has referenced AMIT, nearly anytime you google something about MK AMIT is one of the top results.
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It sounds promising anyway. Firstly because he's a musician himself, which is a totally different perspective, and because apparently he's not doing it for the money, if he relies on crowdfunding.
Where did you read that he won't intend to make money with it?
He does not say much about "the how" that crowdfunding works, other than if you give him enough money you will have your name printed in the book.
So what I currently understand is that he is looking for money for the book - no more no less.
Of course he'll want to earn some money with it, but to me it doesn't sound like a big commercial project that's aimed at "milking" a big name, otherwise he'd have a contract with a publishing company, marketing etc. The impression I got is that he is genuinely interested in the music. If that's the case, I think it's something to look forward to. :-)
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If he was sensible he would ask some of the experts on here like Jbaent to fact check it before publishing. :)
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If he was sensible he would ask some of the experts on here like Jbaent to fact check it before publishing. :)
Wow, harsh! Why rub it in?
LE
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If he was sensible he would ask some of the experts on here like Jbaent to fact check it before publishing. :)
Wow, harsh! Why rub it in?
LE
I was being serious and didn't give a thought about what you are referring to until you brought it up.
Julio and many others (not me) will know much more than this author will about the facts around MK. I mentioned Julio specifically because he has already written a book on MK so has been through this process of fact checking, I don't know anyone else who has done that.
For the avoidance of doubt, in my opinion Julio is a great man and also happens to be one of the people in the world with the most knowledge of MK and I am proud to call him a friend.
So I stand by my suggestion that this author would be sensible to ask someone like Julio to fact check their book. John Illsley should have done that too. :)
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The author is well known in the guitar scene and has written several good and professional instruction books.
He has also worked as a musician for many years. That's why I have a lot of confidence in him.
There are also capable people outside this forum...
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The author is well known in the guitar scene and has written several good and professional instruction books.
He has also worked as a musician for many years. That's why I have a lot of confidence in him.
There are also capable people outside this forum...
I have no idea who this person is so I definitely was not questioning their knowledge or ability.
I was just pointing out that there are people on here who have a lot of knowledge and to me it would make sense to tap into that if you wanted the book to be as good as it could be. Of course there are people who don't post here who also have a lot of knowledge, but this is an easy place to find such people. :)
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Fans always know better. And they remember a lot :)
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The author is well known in the guitar scene and has written several good and professional instruction books.
He has also worked as a musician for many years. That's why I have a lot of confidence in him.
There are also capable people outside this forum...
Exactly.
LE
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It's even possible that the author is actually a forum member.
Or maybe Julio has a double identity and a second home in Switzerland? 🤣
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It's even possible that the author is actually a forum member.
Or maybe Julio has a double identity and a second home in Switzerland? 🤣
mad rich that Jbaent!
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It sounds promising anyway. Firstly because he's a musician himself, which is a totally different perspective, and because apparently he's not doing it for the money, if he relies on crowdfunding.
Where did you read that he won't intend to make money with it?
He does not say much about "the how" that crowdfunding works, other than if you give him enough money you will have your name printed in the book.
So what I currently understand is that he is looking for money for the book - no more no less.
do not think writing a book on MK will bring you the big money these days, if ever. also, fully understand what Dusty was trying to say and also happy to call him a friend, be it of a somewhat dubious nature, but i will gladly look past that.
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The book is out now, released today. I ordered it and will report back when I've read it. The author already mentions that these 550 pages are only about the Dire Straits times and that there will be a second volume about the solo years.
LE
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The book is in German and is also available as an e book at Amazon.. I just downloaded a sample and will have a look later.
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Thanks for this great news, LE and Kris-b! :thumbsup
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The author also announces french and english translations for spring 2025, in case anyone is interested.
LE
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I have read my sample now. The first chapters are about Mark‘s musical influences. So about music at home and the musicians of his youth. Long passages of Lonny Donegan and Chris Barber, Hank Marvin, Bert Weedon ( never heard this name brfore). And about his first guitar and also about blowing the family radio😂😂. A lot philosophical stuff too
It doesn‘t have any pictures but lots of links to videos.
I will download the rest and look forward to more information!
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I have read my sample now. The first chapters are about Mark‘s musical influences. So about music at home and the musicians of his youth. Long passages of Lonny Donegan and Chris Barber, Hank Marvin, Bert Weedon ( never heard this name brfore). And about his first guitar and also about blowing the family radio😂😂. A lot philosophical stuff too
It doesn‘t have any pictures but lots of links to videos.
I will download the rest and look forward to more information!
Thanks Kris. Bert Weedon was a guitarist from the '50s. He wrote a book called "Play in a Day" which is referenced in "We Can Get Wild".
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Yes, that book was mentioned!
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... A lot philosophical stuff too...
Can you write more?
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It doesn‘t have any pictures but lots of links to videos.
That means no pictures at all. Really? ???
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... A lot philosophical stuff too...
Can you write more?
Jesus. Give us some time to read will you? My book needs 8 days to be delivered.
LE
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... A lot philosophical stuff too...
Can you write more?
Jesus. Give us some time to read will you? My book needs 8 days to be delivered.
LE
Jesus. I asked Kris-b not you.
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Unless the author has info from people like Ed or others who were there, what else can be said about Mark that hasn't been said thousand times before?
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Unless the author has info from people like Ed or others who were there, what else can be said about Mark that hasn't been said thousand times before?
Philosophical stuff. ;)
LE
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It doesn‘t have any pictures but lots of links to videos.
That means no pictures at all. Really? ???
He wrote that in the foreword
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Unless the author has info from people like Ed or others who were there, what else can be said about Mark that hasn't been said thousand times before?
^^^ This ^^^
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Unless the author has info from people like Ed or others who were there, what else can be said about Mark that hasn't been said thousand times before?
^^^ This ^^^
Exactly.
There is a book in Spain released recently that covers until the very last MK record (One deep river) and EP, The Boy, and took some information from Chris and Ed posts here and info from Jack podcast so that's something new:
https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?topic=8948.msg184607#msg184607
Right now there is only version in Spanish.
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I have read my sample now. The first chapters are about Mark‘s musical influences. So about music at home and the musicians of his youth. Long passages of Lonny Donegan and Chris Barber, Hank Marvin, Bert Weedon ( never heard this name brfore). And about his first guitar and also about blowing the family radio😂😂. A lot philosophical stuff too
It doesn‘t have any pictures but lots of links to videos.
I will download the rest and look forward to more information!
Thanks Kris. Bert Weedon was a guitarist from the '50s. He wrote a book called "Play in a Day" which is referenced in "We Can Get Wild".
I am sure people have seen this but here is a clip with Mark and Bert Weedon.
https://youtu.be/vVvNeCp73ds?si=A89tydQKRbWWl_1S
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Thanks!
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Unless the author has info from people like Ed or others who were there, what else can be said about Mark that hasn't been said thousand times before?
There will be casual fans who won't want to trawl through all the nonsense that is written on here, dig out old interviews etc that may like to just sit down and read a book with lots of good info in one place.
You can make the same argument for The Beatles, Dylan, Sinatra etc but new books are released about them every year (note, in no way am I comparing MK to any of them).
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Unless the author has info from people like Ed or others who were there, what else can be said about Mark that hasn't been said thousand times before?
There will be casual fans who won't want to trawl through all the nonsense that is written on here, dig out old interviews etc that may like to just sit down and read a book with lots of good info in one place.
You can make the same argument for The Beatles, Dylan, Sinatra etc but new books are released about them every year (note, in no way am I comparing MK to any of them).
That's true. I agree. Fans from the forum know a lot about MK because they want to know, but many people would definitely like to read a book about DS/MK. I believe that a book always makes sense.
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Unless the author has info from people like Ed or others who were there, what else can be said about Mark that hasn't been said thousand times before?
There will be casual fans who won't want to trawl through all the nonsense that is written on here, dig out old interviews etc that may like to just sit down and read a book with lots of good info in one place.
You can make the same argument for The Beatles, Dylan, Sinatra etc but new books are released about them every year (note, in no way am I comparing MK to any of them).
Sure, but unless someone like Ed, who actually knows how to tell a story and was there, writes it, I really don't see the point. Then I mean just update the Wiki article on Mark.
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Unless the author has info from people like Ed or others who were there, what else can be said about Mark that hasn't been said thousand times before?
There will be casual fans who won't want to trawl through all the nonsense that is written on here, dig out old interviews etc that may like to just sit down and read a book with lots of good info in one place.
You can make the same argument for The Beatles, Dylan, Sinatra etc but new books are released about them every year (note, in no way am I comparing MK to any of them).
Sure, but unless someone like Ed, who actually knows how to tell a story and was there, writes it, I really don't see the point. Then I mean just update the Wiki article on Mark.
I guess you could apply that logic to any biography... and as we have seen with John Illsley's book, even an autobiography written by the man himself (cough) can have errors. Different authors will have different standards of research and accuracy. Peter Guralnick for example is a very trustworthy writer in my experience.
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Well, a biography should be more than just a chronicle of events and facts, at least for me to buy it. If not I prefer reading the short version in an encyclopedia article.
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That's true. I agree. Fans from the forum know a lot about MK because they want to know
Historically I've seen more unsubstantiated guess work than actual facts. This is also highlighted by Ed Bicknell's lengthy posts correcting all the misinformation.
People who were there often have differing experiences, different memories. I know when chatting with Chris White, he remembers things I have absolutely no memory of.
But it's better to get your 'facts' from the people in the room, on the stage, than from people who have used the internet as their research database.
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That's true. I agree. Fans from the forum know a lot about MK because they want to know
Historically I've seen more unsubstantiated guess work than actual facts. This is also highlighted by Ed Bicknell's lengthy posts correcting all the misinformation.
People who were there often have differing experiences, different memories. I know when chatting with Chris White, he remembers things I have absolutely no memory of.
But it's better to get your 'facts' from the people in the room, on the stage, than from people who have used the internet as their research database.
Of course. I just wanted to say that a real, honest biography book will always be needed. I think people like to read a biography if they are moderate fans of the artist.
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That's true. I agree. Fans from the forum know a lot about MK because they want to know
Historically I've seen more unsubstantiated guess work than actual facts. This is also highlighted by Ed Bicknell's lengthy posts correcting all the misinformation.
People who were there often have differing experiences, different memories. I know when chatting with Chris White, he remembers things I have absolutely no memory of.
But it's better to get your 'facts' from the people in the room, on the stage, than from people who have used the internet as their research database.
Of course. I just wanted to say that a real, honest biography book will always be needed. I think people like to read a biography if they are moderate fans of the artist.
For me it's always great to read a book about my favourite artist MK even I've been a longtime fan and know (or think) to know a lot about him.
It's always interesting to read about another person's opinion or interpretation of his guitar playing, song writing etc.
But I think a real and honest biographical book only can be written by our man himself.
But this probably will never happen!
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That's true. I agree. Fans from the forum know a lot about MK because they want to know
Historically I've seen more unsubstantiated guess work than actual facts. This is also highlighted by Ed Bicknell's lengthy posts correcting all the misinformation.
People who were there often have differing experiences, different memories. I know when chatting with Chris White, he remembers things I have absolutely no memory of.
But it's better to get your 'facts' from the people in the room, on the stage, than from people who have used the internet as their research database.
Of course. I just wanted to say that a real, honest biography book will always be needed. I think people like to read a biography if they are moderate fans of the artist.
For me it's always great to read a book about my favourite artist MK even I've been a longtime fan and know (or think) to know a lot about him.
It's always interesting to read about another person's opinion or interpretation of his guitar playing, song writing etc.
But I think a real and honest biographical book only can be written by our man himself.
But this probably will never happen!
It's funny because I named my project "Mark Knopfler Songbook", and from time to time I get emails from people who want to buy the actual "book" which of course doesn't exist. So yes, people do love books, and I always had deep admiration for anybody who can write one — it's not easy. So yes, a book on MK is not a problem, and a good author/journalist will always stumble upon good resources like AMIT in his search for information.
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Just to let you, Richard Koechli’s book is available in English now.
https://www.richardkoechli.ch/en/
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Just to let you, Richard Koechli’s book is available in English now.
https://www.richardkoechli.ch/en/
yes I was just going to share infos about it :)
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The book “Mark Knopfler, Volume 1 - Dire Straits” by Richard Koechli has been published in German and English. The French edition should be out soon.
As I announced last summer, Swiss musician Richard Koechli is writing a multi-volume biography of Mark Knopfler: https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/un-nouveau-livre-a-venir-sur-mark-knopfler/
Volume 1 appeared in its original German version at the beginning of February, to very positive initial press reviews, and the English translation has just been published. However, the English edition is not yet available from all retailers, as this takes time. Richard Koechli is currently working on the French translation, which should appear around May or June.
We can't wait for the French edition to come out. Especially since I have the honor of being quoted in the book several times. Thank you Richard!
► ALL THE INFO ON THE SITE: https://www.richardkoechli.ch/en/books/mark-knopfler-volume-1
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Is the book any good?
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Is the book any good?
I haven't read it yet
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Is the book any good?
its seems to be very detailed
as the author says : "I'm at about page 150, and thematically I'm at the first Dire Straits album from 1978 (in chronological order of course)... It just goes to show how diverse music history is. Knopfler's story is incredibly fascinating; countless details are crucial, there's not just the protagonist, but all the wonderful people who inspired him, shaped him, accompanied him, worked with him. A puzzle of dreams."
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Dear forum members,
By hazard I see that you have been discussing my Knopfler book for half a year now; I didn't know it, although I know your forum and have read a few interesting, passionate discussions (of course also the reports by Ed Bicknell).
Well, first of all, I would like to thank you very much for your attention (thanks a lot, Jean-François, for spreading the word), for your interest in the book, and basically for your passion for Mark Knopfler. I would like to take this opportunity to clear up a few misunderstandings here. I have read some comments that seem not very friendly (to put it friendly :-) ) to me.
First of all, the nonsense claim that I am writing the book to make money. I did not do any official crowdfunding; I only mentioned in passing that it was possible to support the project either as a sponsor (100 Swiss francs) or as an executive producer (300 Swiss francs). I didn't advertise it aggressively at all – I raised 900.- that way; it helps me a little to invest in advertising. I'm what you call an indie artist (musician and writer) and I've been able to make a living at it for 35 years, but that's it; I'd make much more money in almost any other profession in the world. If I make a rough calculation of what this Knopfler book will ultimately do for me, I estimate that in the best case I will perhaps get an hourly wage of a few dollars; but only if things go well... I worked on it intensively for about 2000 hours (not counting all the know-how from 35 years of professional experience).
So much for the money. Regarding the target audience: I am not writing this book for people who think they know everything anyway (there are people like that in every fan group, not only with Knopfler, of course). I want to communicate all the more or less known information in a condensed, entertaining and profound way, put it in the overall context, turn it into an exciting story, also include my own subjective view – to pay tribute to Mark Knopfler's life's work, spread the passion for his music, and help deepen access to his work and to music in general. You can download a bit more about the content, the concept and the preface here: https://richardkoechli.ch/images/Mark%20Knopfler%20Buch/Promo-E-book_Mark-Knopfler-Volume1-Table%20of%20Content_Preface_Richard-Koechli_English-Edition.pdf
I quoted from many credible sources (and, by the way, also regularly mentioned fans and fan sites, including amarkintime!), and I also received exclusive and partly unpublished interviews that a music journalist friend of mine did with MK in London. However, I have no contact with Mark Knopfler himself. I don't call the book a ‘biography’; it is a personal analysis of his life's work, and yes, of course I also include a philosophical dimension (where do you get the idea that you can't philosophise about music and Mark Knopfler?), as well as a critical distance (so it's not just blind adoration), and always a sense of humour too.
All this is no competition for a biography that MK will hopefully write himself, and also no competition for another book about him. But I think my book deserves to be read (the e-book edition costs just 10 dollars for 500 pages...), and that I can offer something to fans of MK and to musiclovers, especially because my perspective as a professional musician allows me a different access to certain things. I, meanwhile, know how to write a book – and I consciously do without photos because I believe in the power of language. A good, exciting text is like music; it needs no pictures, it can touch on other levels.
There's a cool song by Bo Diddley, ‘You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover’ – you know what I mean… :-) Anyone who in advance compares my book to Wikipedia or to those cheap AI books about MK (which are currently flooding the market) is insulting me and the essence of the book.
In any case, I look forward to your feedback on the book.
With very best wishes,
Richard
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Dear forum members,
By hazard I see that you have been discussing my Knopfler book for half a year now; I didn't know it, although I know your forum and have read a few interesting, passionate discussions (of course also the reports by Ed Bicknell).
Well, first of all, I would like to thank you very much for your attention (thanks a lot, Jean-François, for spreading the word), for your interest in the book, and basically for your passion for Mark Knopfler. I would like to take this opportunity to clear up a few misunderstandings here. I have read some comments that seem not very friendly (to put it friendly :-) ) to me.
First of all, the nonsense claim that I am writing the book to make money. I did not do any official crowdfunding; I only mentioned in passing that it was possible to support the project either as a sponsor (100 Swiss francs) or as an executive producer (300 Swiss francs). I didn't advertise it aggressively at all – I raised 900.- that way; it helps me a little to invest in advertising. I'm what you call an indie artist (musician and writer) and I've been able to make a living at it for 35 years, but that's it; I'd make much more money in almost any other profession in the world. If I make a rough calculation of what this Knopfler book will ultimately do for me, I estimate that in the best case I will perhaps get an hourly wage of a few dollars; but only if things go well... I worked on it intensively for about 2000 hours (not counting all the know-how from 35 years of professional experience).
So much for the money. Regarding the target audience: I am not writing this book for people who think they know everything anyway (there are people like that in every fan group, not only with Knopfler, of course). I want to communicate all the more or less known information in a condensed, entertaining and profound way, put it in the overall context, turn it into an exciting story, also include my own subjective view – to pay tribute to Mark Knopfler's life's work, spread the passion for his music, and help deepen access to his work and to music in general. You can download a bit more about the content, the concept and the preface here: https://richardkoechli.ch/images/Mark%20Knopfler%20Buch/Promo-E-book_Mark-Knopfler-Volume1-Table%20of%20Content_Preface_Richard-Koechli_English-Edition.pdf
I quoted from many credible sources (and, by the way, also regularly mentioned fans and fan sites, including amarkintime!), and I also received exclusive and partly unpublished interviews that a music journalist friend of mine did with MK in London. However, I have no contact with Mark Knopfler himself. I don't call the book a ‘biography’; it is a personal analysis of his life's work, and yes, of course I also include a philosophical dimension (where do you get the idea that you can't philosophise about music and Mark Knopfler?), as well as a critical distance (so it's not just blind adoration), and always a sense of humour too.
All this is no competition for a biography that MK will hopefully write himself, and also no competition for another book about him. But I think my book deserves to be read (the e-book edition costs just 10 dollars for 500 pages...), and that I can offer something to fans of MK and to musiclovers, especially because my perspective as a professional musician allows me a different access to certain things. I, meanwhile, know how to write a book – and I consciously do without photos because I believe in the power of language. A good, exciting text is like music; it needs no pictures, it can touch on other levels.
There's a cool song by Bo Diddley, ‘You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover’ – you know what I mean… :-) Anyone who in advance compares my book to Wikipedia or to those cheap AI books about MK (which are currently flooding the market) is insulting me and the essence of the book.
In any case, I look forward to your feedback on the book.
With very best wishes,
Richard
As soon as a Spanish edition comes out, I will definitely try to buy it. I liked your confidence in defending your work, I have no doubt that it was a great research and I value all of that.
Fraternally.
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Hi Brunno,
I'm glad you replied, thank you very much! There won't be a Spanish translation (unless you do the translation :-) ), but the English translation should be available in Spain – as far as I can see, at the moment it is available at amazon.es and iberlibro.com. You can find the links (click on the retailer logo) on the book's website: https://richardkoechli.ch/en/books/mark-knopfler-volume-1
Your name also appears twice briefly in the book, by the way; but I just noticed that I mistakenly mentioned you as Dutch (instead of Spanish) at one point – I must have mixed something up. But I can update the print data anytime and will correct that, sorry.
Best,
Richard
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...and yes, of course I also include a philosophical dimension (where do you get the idea that you can't philosophise about music and Mark Knopfler?
Yes! This is very interesting. I have always believed in the philosophical aspect of MK music. Richard, I am very curious :)
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You are very welcome, Robson; I hope you will like it (the nature of philosophizing is that you don't always agree...)
Best,
Richard
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You are very welcome, Robson; I hope you will like it (the nature of philosophizing is that you don't always agree...)
Best,
Richard
:thumbsup It's true and it can be fascinating :)
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... yeah, the art of “let's agree to disagree” :thumbsup :lol
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Welcome Richard and good luck with the book! I will buy the English e-book :)
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Hi Brunno,
I'm glad you replied, thank you very much! There won't be a Spanish translation (unless you do the translation :-) ), but the English translation should be available in Spain – as far as I can see, at the moment it is available at amazon.es and iberlibro.com. You can find the links (click on the retailer logo) on the book's website: https://richardkoechli.ch/en/books/mark-knopfler-volume-1
Your name also appears twice briefly in the book, by the way; but I just noticed that I mistakenly mentioned you as Dutch (instead of Spanish) at one point – I must have mixed something up. But I can update the print data anytime and will correct that, sorry.
Best,
Richard
Hello Richard
Thanks for your post, I have doubts about buying or not the book because I wasn't sure what was about, I'm not a guitar player and have no interest in books for guitar players about how to play his songs etc, but seems your book is not about that, I would consider to purchase it.
By the way, Bruno is not Dutch nor Spanish, but Brasilian, lol.
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Hi Brunno,
I'm glad you replied, thank you very much! There won't be a Spanish translation (unless you do the translation :-) ), but the English translation should be available in Spain – as far as I can see, at the moment it is available at amazon.es and iberlibro.com. You can find the links (click on the retailer logo) on the book's website: https://richardkoechli.ch/en/books/mark-knopfler-volume-1
Your name also appears twice briefly in the book, by the way; but I just noticed that I mistakenly mentioned you as Dutch (instead of Spanish) at one point – I must have mixed something up. But I can update the print data anytime and will correct that, sorry.
Best,
Richard
Hello Richard
Thanks for your post, I have doubts about buying or not the book because I wasn't sure what was about, I'm not a guitar player and have no interest in books for guitar players about how to play his songs etc, but seems your book is not about that, I would consider to purchase it.
By the way, Bruno is not Dutch nor Spanish, but Brasilian, lol.
In fairness, Bruno made it difficult for him for mentioning Spanish language.
Although there are around 40 million spanish people and I'm confident not a single one is named Bruno. But it's very common in the Lusophone world.
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Hi Brunno,
I'm glad you replied, thank you very much! There won't be a Spanish translation (unless you do the translation :-) ), but the English translation should be available in Spain – as far as I can see, at the moment it is available at amazon.es and iberlibro.com. You can find the links (click on the retailer logo) on the book's website: https://richardkoechli.ch/en/books/mark-knopfler-volume-1
Your name also appears twice briefly in the book, by the way; but I just noticed that I mistakenly mentioned you as Dutch (instead of Spanish) at one point – I must have mixed something up. But I can update the print data anytime and will correct that, sorry.
Best,
Richard
Hello Richard
Thanks for your post, I have doubts about buying or not the book because I wasn't sure what was about, I'm not a guitar player and have no interest in books for guitar players about how to play his songs etc, but seems your book is not about that, I would consider to purchase it.
By the way, Bruno is not Dutch nor Spanish, but Brasilian, lol.
In fairness, Bruno made it difficult for him for mentioning Spanish language.
Although there are around 40 million spanish people and I'm confident not a single one is named Bruno. But it's very common in the Lusophone world.
Brunno not Bruno. An easy mistake to make. Indeed, I have just downloaded the book and Richard made the same mistake himself. :)
Dare I say Richard maybe should have asked someone like Jules to proofread ahead of publication? ;)
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Oh, Brazil, not Spain, wonderful! Sorry, Bruno – as I said, I will correct it in the print data (update).
Thanks for your numerous feedbacks here; and no, it's not a guitar tutorial (I've written a few of those for the German AMA publishing house, but not explicitly about MK) – I do bring the guitarist's perspective into the book from time to time, but it is definitely a book for all music lovers. For example, I also talk about legendary studio equipment, the art of producing and much more. I talk about all aspects of Knopfler's music and about music history in general. The book is definitely also for people who don't play an instrument themselves – by the way, I try to explain certain terms and insider knowledge from the music business to these people in an understandable way.
On the one hand, a proofreading by Jules would be an enrichment (it would probably be very time-consuming, given the 500 pages..., but I can send you a PDF e-book if you want, Jules) - on the other hand, don't worry, there are hardly any significant factual errors in it, I've checked it all myself several times and also had the English translation corrected by a professional. With Brunno, something got mixed up (because he had a post on a Dutch website, I just assumed he was Dutch in the stress). Much of the book is subjective subtleties and my personal interpretation of Knopfler's life's work, no one can really correct that (even Mark himself couldn't correct my view of his music – music speaks for itself, and everyone has their own relationship with it)
But if any of you should come across any factual errors (maybe I confused Mark Knopfler with Eric Clapton, lol :hmm), feel free to let me know. As I said, I can update the print data continuously.
Have a good day, folks (I am working hard on the French translation at the moment),
Richard
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... and by the way, my computer keeps correcting Brunno to Bruno without being asked (stupid AI). :disbelief
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Oh, Brazil, not Spain, wonderful! Sorry, Bruno – as I said, I will correct it in the print data (update).
Thanks for your numerous feedbacks here; and no, it's not a guitar tutorial (I've written a few of those for the German AMA publishing house, but not explicitly about MK) – I do bring the guitarist's perspective into the book from time to time, but it is definitely a book for all music lovers. For example, I also talk about legendary studio equipment, the art of producing and much more. I talk about all aspects of Knopfler's music and about music history in general. The book is definitely also for people who don't play an instrument themselves – by the way, I try to explain certain terms and insider knowledge from the music business to these people in an understandable way.
On the one hand, a proofreading by Jules would be an enrichment (it would probably be very time-consuming, given the 500 pages..., but I can send you a PDF e-book if you want, Jules) - on the other hand, don't worry, there are hardly any significant factual errors in it, I've checked it all myself several times and also had the English translation corrected by a professional. With Brunno, something got mixed up (because he had a post on a Dutch website, I just assumed he was Dutch in the stress). Much of the book is subjective subtleties and my personal interpretation of Knopfler's life's work, no one can really correct that (even Mark himself couldn't correct my view of his music – music speaks for itself, and everyone has their own relationship with it)
But if any of you should come across any factual errors (maybe I confused Mark Knopfler with Eric Clapton, lol :hmm), feel free to let me know. As I said, I can update the print data continuously.
Have a good day, folks (I am working hard on the French translation at the moment),
Richard
Hello Richard
You are lucky that I don't have time to proofread anything, because I can asure you I'm gonna find mistakes, LOL
And I'm serious about it!
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Yeah, I don't doubt that for a moment, Jules. Well, I guess you would find many more pearls and reading pleasures than mistakes. I'm serious about it. ;)
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Yeah, I don't doubt that for a moment, Jules. Well, I guess you would find many more pearls and reading pleasures than mistakes. I'm serious about it. ;)
I didn't read a line yet and I know you are right for sure!
-
Thanks, Jules. Paying tribute to and celebrating Mark's wonderful life's work can't possibly be wrong.
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Hi Brunno,
I'm glad you replied, thank you very much! There won't be a Spanish translation (unless you do the translation :-) ), but the English translation should be available in Spain – as far as I can see, at the moment it is available at amazon.es and iberlibro.com. You can find the links (click on the retailer logo) on the book's website: https://richardkoechli.ch/en/books/mark-knopfler-volume-1
Your name also appears twice briefly in the book, by the way; but I just noticed that I mistakenly mentioned you as Dutch (instead of Spanish) at one point – I must have mixed something up. But I can update the print data anytime and will correct that, sorry.
Best,
Richard
Richard, it is an honor to know that my name is also mentioned in your book. I receive this news with great joy. 😃
As my Knopflerian friends mentioned here, I am Brazilian, and knowing that it is very unlikely that a Portuguese edition will be released, I mentioned Spanish because it is a language very close to Portuguese and that I can read perfectly better than English. But, it's okay, I've never spared any effort to get information about the work of DS and MK, especially a lovely read that must be your book. I'm also a guitarist and you approach it from that perspective too, something that adds positively to the content, after all, the guitar is inseparable from MK's work. 🎸🔥
You mentioned that you confused me with some Dutch page, but I created a blog in 2007 (when this platform was still relevant) and on it I published more than 500 posts about the Dire Straits Universe, something more dedicated to the Portuguese language, since Brazil is huge, there are many DS fans here, but there was nothing specialized or with the depth of what I published in Portuguese. Today I migrated to Instagram, an account with the same name as the blog. Dire Straits universe.
Fraternally.
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Yes, exactly, Brunno, I briefly mentioned you and this blog (www.universodirestraits.blogspot.nl) in the book; in the context of Tommy Mandel's letter to you (with details of his collaboration with MK) – in a second place I mention your name again in this context, and there I then write, by mistake (due to the dutch blog address), that you are Dutch. As I said, I will correct it (also Brunno instead of Bruno...).
I am glad you are interested in the book, thanks. I just subscribed to your YouTube page; you play Mark's style brilliantly, well done! I am constantly amazed at how many musicians there are worldwide who have cracked the MK code (40 years ago, idiot that I was, I thought I was the only one... :disbelief :smack ).
By the way, I'm also amazed at how meticulously you and many fans worldwide have researched and collected everything about MK – you guys have really built an amazing network.
I would like to publish a Spanish translation of the book later, and an Italian one too – but unfortunately I don't know anything about these languages myself. I could do it with AI, but if you want to do it well, the only way is to know the language and be able to interact with the AI.
I'll keep an eye on your blog on Instagram.
Have a good time,
Richard
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Reading now!
When did MK release a fashion and whiskey line? I’ve missed that happening.
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Richard, are you ok if I bring up possible corrections as I read? I want to be helpful but I realise it can come across as critical.
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Reading now!
When did MK release a fashion and whiskey line? I’ve missed that happening.
Tough read! I quit after 40 or so pages sorry to say. Oh and I guess he mixed up Whiskey with Gin?
I have no clue about that fashion reference either.
LE
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Well, I wanted to write "Gin" (I was probably thinking of Bob Dylan, with his own “Heaven's Door” whiskey) - but a spirit drink in any case.
And Mark sells tons of clothes (https://shop.markknopfler.com/product-category/merch/, if that's not a fashion line?)
But this is not meant as criticism at all; the point of this passage in the Book is that Mark is not a bad businessman and has skillfully (in a positive sense) managed his career (and that he certainly also received good, intelligent genes from his father, a chess grandmaster).
In other parts of the book, I emphasize several times that Mark and his entourage (compared to other superstars) are very moderate and fair (with really reasonable ticket prices at concerts, for example).
And: Yes, if you discover specific mistakes, feel free to report them, of course it helps (but only factual mistakes, not subjective assessments); at the moment there are already two: Brunno and Gin... :hmm
Best,
Richard
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Tough read? Hardly anyone manages more than 40 pages at a time. With Hank Marvin and Bert Weedon, the journey is just beginning. I hope you'll hold on later, dear Expresso Love ...
Best,
RK
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Well, I wanted to write "Gin" (I was probably thinking of Bob Dylan, with his own “Heaven's Door” whiskey) - but a spirit drink in any case.
And Mark sells tons of clothes (https://shop.markknopfler.com/product-category/merch/, if that's not a fashion line?)
But this is not meant as criticism at all; the point of this passage in the Book is that Mark is not a bad businessman and has skillfully (in a positive sense) managed his career (and that he certainly also received good, intelligent genes from his father, a chess grandmaster).
In other parts of the book, I emphasize several times that Mark and his entourage (compared to other superstars) are very moderate and fair (with really reasonable ticket prices at concerts, for example).
And: Yes, if you discover specific mistakes, feel free to report them, of course it helps (but only factual mistakes, not subjective assessments); at the moment there are already two: Brunno and Gin... :hmm
Best,
Richard
Again, trying to be helpful, to you and in particular to your readers :)
A couple:
People from Glasgow are not called Scousers - that’s people from Liverpool.
Neil Young is from Canada.
Oh, and who is Robert Smitz?
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Oh, thanks a lot, Dusty Valentino, you have hawk eyes, that's pure gold!
Scousers: Yeah, that's bullshit, they're from Liverpool of course. I'll correct that: Glaswegians (or Weegies)
Neil Young: He is both, since 2020 he is a dual citizen. On page 158 I have written it correctly (US-Canadian), on page 34 I will add it.
Robert Smitz: Shit, a classic typo (Z and H are neighboring keys...), I mean of course Robert Smith (The Cure).
I hope you don't find another 758 things like that... ??? ; the money-back guarantee applies from 100 errors (the book contains nearly a million characters).
Thanks again!
Best,
Richard
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Ha ha! I won’t be asking for a refund, according to my kindle app I am 11% of the way through and I am enjoying it. :)
The Horner sold at auction was a second, similar guitar he bought and NOT his first guitar.
I believe the dobro sounds on You and Your Friend on the OES album are Paul Franklin on the Pedabro and not MK on the National.
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Are you sure about “You and Your Friend”? To me, it sounds a lot like a national or dobro (pretty low tuned), and it would be a slide style that Mark also masters (it doesn't sound like a lapsteel playing style to me). Of course, Paul Franklin could also play like that. Do you have exact credit information? I can't find any concrete information as to whether Paul Franklin (who was of course involved in the album) played on this song in the studio.
The red Höfner: I see now that you are right, thanks a lot. I have looked again at the extensive PDF catalog from the auction: On page 21, there is a picture of this beautiful old Höfner, "made in 1963", and Mark talks for a whole page about how his father bought him this guitar (around 1964). And then, towards the end, a discreet little hint that the guitar sold is in fact a duplicate of that guitar, bought later. Quite misleading, this communication... It's like sending a double on stage. :-\ So what, I have to rewrite the story a bit at this point, shit happens.
Thanks again!
Richard
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Ha ha! I won’t be asking for a refund, according to my kindle app I am 11% of the way through and I am enjoying it. :)
The Horner sold at auction was a second, similar guitar he bought and NOT his first guitar.
I believe the dobro sounds on You and Your Friend on the OES album are Paul Franklin on the Pedabro and not MK on the National.
Actually is not a dobro, nor a pedabro, but a box. Paul Franklin (or his dad) invented that, is literally a long wood box with a hole, Paul Franklin played it both in the record and live, you can see it in the video
https://youtu.be/ZxSMzg3DX0I?si=zm3Tkbok65oxQQ5c&t=12
Check the box solo here:
https://youtu.be/ZxSMzg3DX0I?si=oMQy_8X3kRl-WgHZ&t=277
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More info about Paul Franklin's box:
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=278337
(http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1403/4754_WPbiobox1_2.jpg)
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Are you sure about “You and Your Friend”? To me, it sounds a lot like a national or dobro (pretty low tuned), and it would be a slide style that Mark also masters (it doesn't sound like a lapsteel playing style to me). Of course, Paul Franklin could also play like that. Do you have exact credit information? I can't find any concrete information as to whether Paul Franklin (who was of course involved in the album) played on this song in the studio.
The red Höfner: I see now that you are right, thanks a lot. I have looked again at the extensive PDF catalog from the auction: On page 21, there is a picture of this beautiful old Höfner, "made in 1963", and Mark talks for a whole page about how his father bought him this guitar (around 1964). And then, towards the end, a discreet little hint that the guitar sold is in fact a duplicate of that guitar, bought later. Quite misleading, this communication... It's like sending a double on stage. :-\ So what, I have to rewrite the story a bit at this point, shit happens.
Thanks again!
Richard
Seems I'm not needed for proofreading after all, hehehe
-
Ha ha! I won’t be asking for a refund, according to my kindle app I am 11% of the way through and I am enjoying it. :)
The Horner sold at auction was a second, similar guitar he bought and NOT his first guitar.
I believe the dobro sounds on You and Your Friend on the OES album are Paul Franklin on the Pedabro and not MK on the National.
Actually is not a dobro, nor a pedabro, but a box. Paul Franklin (or his dad) invented that, is literally a long wood box with a hole, Paul Franklin played it both in the record and live, you can see it in the video
https://youtu.be/ZxSMzg3DX0I?si=zm3Tkbok65oxQQ5c&t=12
Check the box solo here:
https://youtu.be/ZxSMzg3DX0I?si=oMQy_8X3kRl-WgHZ&t=277
Thanks Jules, you da man!
-
Ha ha! I won’t be asking for a refund, according to my kindle app I am 11% of the way through and I am enjoying it. :)
The Horner sold at auction was a second, similar guitar he bought and NOT his first guitar.
I believe the dobro sounds on You and Your Friend on the OES album are Paul Franklin on the Pedabro and not MK on the National.
Actually is not a dobro, nor a pedabro, but a box. Paul Franklin (or his dad) invented that, is literally a long wood box with a hole, Paul Franklin played it both in the record and live, you can see it in the video
https://youtu.be/ZxSMzg3DX0I?si=zm3Tkbok65oxQQ5c&t=12
Check the box solo here:
https://youtu.be/ZxSMzg3DX0I?si=oMQy_8X3kRl-WgHZ&t=277
It's indeed unique and referred to as "The Box" by Paul also. Also the whole idea of You And Your Friend musically is that duet (or dialogue) between Mark and Paul. Of course it's Paul playing.
And I doubt that selling cheap merch t-shirts (or badges and posters or stickers) would Mark make a fashion icon.
LE
-
Ha ha! I won’t be asking for a refund, according to my kindle app I am 11% of the way through and I am enjoying it. :)
The Horner sold at auction was a second, similar guitar he bought and NOT his first guitar.
I believe the dobro sounds on You and Your Friend on the OES album are Paul Franklin on the Pedabro and not MK on the National.
Actually is not a dobro, nor a pedabro, but a box. Paul Franklin (or his dad) invented that, is literally a long wood box with a hole, Paul Franklin played it both in the record and live, you can see it in the video
https://youtu.be/ZxSMzg3DX0I?si=zm3Tkbok65oxQQ5c&t=12
Check the box solo here:
https://youtu.be/ZxSMzg3DX0I?si=oMQy_8X3kRl-WgHZ&t=277
It's indeed unique and referred to as "The Box" by Paul also. Also the whole idea of You And Your Friend musically is that duet (or dialogue) between Mark and Paul. Of course it's Paul playing.
And I doubt that selling cheap merch t-shirts (or badges and posters or stickers) would Mark make a fashion icon.
LE
Agree, all musicians and bands have their own merchandise in his site so MK is not special at all regarding that, and even less a fashion icon.
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I've maybe inadvertently opened a can of worms here.
The book makes no claim of MK being a fashion icon (I can already imagine Ed laughing at this prospect). There is a reference to his business acumen and whiskey and a fashion line - I thought I maybe hadn't heard about the whiskey thing. When I think of a musician "running his own fashion line" I think of someone like Liam Gallagher or Ye or whatever rather than an artist selling merch, but Richard's take is equally valid.
For the record I am enjoying the book and will report back later!
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I've maybe inadvertently opened a can of worms here.
The book makes no claim of MK being a fashion icon (I can already imagine Ed laughing at this prospect). There is a reference to his business acumen and whiskey and a fashion line - I thought I maybe hadn't heard about the whiskey thing. When I think of a musician "running his own fashion line" I think of someone like Liam Gallagher or Ye or whatever rather than an artist selling merch, but Richard's take is equally valid.
For the record I am enjoying the book and will report back later!
I think fashion line is also too exagerated as all musicians and band have their own shop with all kind of merchandise, specially t-shirts.
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Oh, that's very interesting, thank you all, for the info about Paul Franklin (box). I knew that Paul (I admire Paul very much, by the way) played these parts on stage – but, and this misled me, the box sounds a little different on stage, and above all, he plays a lot more notes live than on the studio recording, and he plays things that are typical for a pedal-steeler (you hear blindly that this cannot be a bottleneck player). On the studio recording, the box sounds a bit “tinner”, reminiscent of a resonator instrument (studio microphones pick up the subtleties/overtones much more sensitively), and he plays fairly simple things that aren't typical of pedal-steel and could also be played using the slide technique. That's why (and because there are no official credits), I intuitively heard Mark on a Dobro/National (in the way he used to play with Steve Phillips). I'll be happy to change that sentence in the book (by the way, it's not about that song there, it's generally about Mark's love for resonator guitars).
Fashion: It's not mentioned in the book that he's a “fashion icon”. But Mark sells more clothing and various articles with his brand on them worldwide than any fashion store around the corner. He even established a look very early on with the red headband (the headband later even ended up on his own gin bottle); there were thousands of people worldwide who wore his headband, who wore the same sporty country shirt, etc. That is exactly the essence of a “fashion line” (as I called it in the book): when people become a brand through their appearance, inspiring others to imitate and giving them an identity. That is the essence of fashion. This is NOT a criticism of MK.
You will notice at various points in the book that, despite my great admiration for MK, I sometimes write with distance, humor or from a subjective perspective, things that a MK disciple might perceive as blasphemy. I was aware that I might face an icy headwind here and there on this forum (where there are people who would even “kill their mother to get an unreleased MK recording”, as I once read... ??? ) – that was clear to me. Nevertheless, I am very happy about our discussion here; I am tough enough, happy to be pointed to mistakes or typos (unfortunately, there is no book or daily newspaper in the world without mistakes). I know, appreciate and admire the fact that you guys know much more about certain details of MK.
The purpose of this book is to celebrate the music and the life's work of MK and to bring it to a wider audience; that's why I keep making larger arcs in the book without being able to go into certain small details with the necessary precision. If you had 10 years to spare, you could write a whole book about a single album (e.g. the debut album) with a thousand details. And just the proofreading would take a year or two; that would be great, but it's beyond my scope, unfortunately. Who knows how long I have left to live.
In any case, I am very grateful for your reading along! I will make a first update of the print data next week (it takes a week or two for the new data to be in stores), and I can also make such updates later continuously (I have already made 5 updates in the original German edition...).
By the way, I will be happy to mention your names in the English imprint as proofreaders and consultants – if you let me know how I should write your names exactly.
Best,
Richard
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You will notice at various points in the book that, despite my great admiration for MK, I sometimes write with distance, humor or from a subjective perspective, things that a MK disciple might perceive as blasphemy. I was aware that I might face an icy headwind here and there on this forum (where there are people who would even “kill their mother to get an unreleased MK recording”, as I once read... ??? ) – that was clear to me.
I think MOST of us here are realistic about MK and although major fans don't worship him as some kind of deity who is beyond criticism.
I enjoyed your analysis of MK basically ripping off JJ Cale's sound (I am crudely paraphrasing pages of a book into one sentence here, probably unfairly). The first time I listened to JJ Cale, after years of listening to MK, I actually found it quite embarrassing how much MK had stolen from him.
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Yes, I am sure that most of you are very realistic and just huge music lovers. But there is a small group of hardcore fans worldwide (of course there are hardcore fans everywhere, heaven knows there are with Dylan too...) who are disciples and don't understand fun.
Yeah, J.J. Cale (I wrote a book about Cale in 2020, including a tribute CD: https://richardkoechli.ch/en/albums/the-real-chill-remembering-j-j-cale); it was exactly the same for me as it was for you: I discovered MK a few years before J.J. Cale - and only later realized how important Cale was for MK (and many others, EC for example). I wouldn't call it “stealing”; it's just the kind of stealing that happens all the time in music. I've done a lot of digging in the blues history (I've written a few books on it) and it's incredible how much was stolen in the blues, by everyone. You hear something, you like it, you make something of your own out of it or put your own soul into it – that's what MK did with Cale (and Cale was also influenced by other).
-
I love J.J. Cale but it annoys me a little that a lot of his songs sound like they're unfinished. Songs - sketches.
It's just a little reflection :)
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I love J.J. Cale but it annoys me a little that a lot of his songs sound like they're unfinished. Songs - sketches.
Funnily that's exactly what I love about all his albums and that's what I guess is one of his trademarks.
LE
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I love J.J. Cale but it annoys me a little that a lot of his songs sound like they're unfinished. Songs - sketches.
Funnily that's exactly what I love about all his albums and that's what I guess is one of his trademarks.
LE
Yes, that's true but when the song suddenly ends you want more
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Yes, that's true (although not with all Cale songs; some of his songs are completely finished and perfect, “Cocaine”, for example, his original version is a thousand times sexier than Clapton's). But some of Cale's songs sound very raw, and his storytelling is sketchy (I like it, but it's a matter of taste).
You also have to keep in mind that his legendary recordings are a bit older (early 70s), and that he didn't produce as elaborately as MK did later; Cale did a lot of the recording on his own and even in his camper van... It's a different spirit, but in the beginning they were very close. By the way, when you want more at the end of a song – it's the highest a songwriter can achieve...
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Yes, exactly, Brunno, I briefly mentioned you and this blog (www.universodirestraits.blogspot.nl) in the book; in the context of Tommy Mandel's letter to you (with details of his collaboration with MK) – in a second place I mention your name again in this context, and there I then write, by mistake (due to the dutch blog address), that you are Dutch. As I said, I will correct it (also Brunno instead of Bruno...).
I am glad you are interested in the book, thanks. I just subscribed to your YouTube page; you play Mark's style brilliantly, well done! I am constantly amazed at how many musicians there are worldwide who have cracked the MK code (40 years ago, idiot that I was, I thought I was the only one... :disbelief :smack ).
By the way, I'm also amazed at how meticulously you and many fans worldwide have researched and collected everything about MK – you guys have really built an amazing network.
I would like to publish a Spanish translation of the book later, and an Italian one too – but unfortunately I don't know anything about these languages myself. I could do it with AI, but if you want to do it well, the only way is to know the language and be able to interact with the AI.
I'll keep an eye on your blog on Instagram.
Have a good time,
Richard
It's great to hear that my blog is mentioned and also that Tommy Mandel shared with me about his time with Dire Straits during the LOG tour 82/83, which indeed contains very interesting and relevant information about that tour.
Thank you for acknowledging that I play in the Knopfler style, I'm just another person who has joined this adventure, I'm certainly one of the last in that line, among so many talented people to do this, but everyone who plays these songs knows that it's such a magical thing when we're playing a song with MK's signature on the guitar in character, it's something stimulating and we keep going towards infinity in an attempt to extract something from this unique sound, that's how it is for me.
I hope that in the future there will be an edition in Spanish, since it's a widely spoken language after English, of course. I'm sure AI will find a way to do that. 😊
All the best to you.
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Hello Richard, welcome and thank you very much for this wonderful book about one of the greatest guitarists/songwriters of our time.
You have really done a great job! I've been reading since last week and can hardly stop. You are right. There are no pictures needed. We all know how Mark looks like. But you paint pictures with every line which is amazing.
The book is very special because it is written by a musician about a musician, which is different than a book written by a fan.
It contains a lot of insider knowledge and details about music, music history, the music business, guitars, album reviews and much more. And it is nice to learn a little of the author's music history, also.
In any case the book, it is very interesting and informative. You can feel that it was written with a lot of love and admiration for Mark's music and style, without neglecting the criticism.
Even if a few errors have crept in here and there, which can be quickly corrected by all the Knopflermaniacs on board here, this is a really readable book, which is not lacking of humor either.
I'm really looking forward to part 2.
Ich verneige mich!
RIck
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Thank you for your kind words, Brunno. Yes, it is a wide-upon universe, Mark Knopfler's guitar world. You and everyone who draws inspiration from him can find happiness in it and pass it on to other people at the same time. MK opened the way for me to fingerpicking (I hadn't had a plectrum in my fingers for decades), showed me an inspiring way to melodic concepts (chord-oriented melodies), and also opened the door to country and Celtic music. That's a lot.
I will think about it, the Spanish translation, the language is indeed very important. AI can do that, no question, but I can't check anything and there will be a margin of error - in English it is quite small by now (AI is most advanced there), in other languages there will be a certain percentage (maybe 10 or 20 percent) of errors or ambiguities. I see this with French; AI does a lot of the work, but I still have to correct it or guide it in the optimal direction again and again. With French I can do this, but with Spanish I am at its mercy.
All the best to you,
Richard
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Well, the forum members here don't know that I promised you 6.6 pounds of the finest Swiss chocolate if you write something positive about the book,Rick; you did a good job. Seriously: You made my day; thanks a lot for your wonderful feedback (you're reading the German original edition, I assume, right?)
I need to recharge my batteries for volume 2, and to start making music again; maybe in 2026 or 2027...?
All the best to you, Rick, and greetings from Switzerland:
Richard's
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Yes, the german version. Thanks for the delicious chocolate :lol and all the best to you always.
Rick
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I don't know if I understand correctly. Is the book available for buy now?
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Yes, exactly, Brunno, I briefly mentioned you and this blog (www.universodirestraits.blogspot.nl) in the book; in the context of Tommy Mandel's letter to you (with details of his collaboration with MK) – in a second place I mention your name again in this context, and there I then write, by mistake (due to the dutch blog address), that you are Dutch. As I said, I will correct it (also Brunno instead of Bruno...).
I am glad you are interested in the book, thanks. I just subscribed to your YouTube page; you play Mark's style brilliantly, well done! I am constantly amazed at how many musicians there are worldwide who have cracked the MK code (40 years ago, idiot that I was, I thought I was the only one... :disbelief :smack ).
By the way, I'm also amazed at how meticulously you and many fans worldwide have researched and collected everything about MK – you guys have really built an amazing network.
I would like to publish a Spanish translation of the book later, and an Italian one too – but unfortunately I don't know anything about these languages myself. I could do it with AI, but if you want to do it well, the only way is to know the language and be able to interact with the AI.
I'll keep an eye on your blog on Instagram.
Have a good time,
Richard
It's great to hear that my blog is mentioned and also that Tommy Mandel shared with me about his time with Dire Straits during the LOG tour 82/83, which indeed contains very interesting and relevant information about that tour.
Thank you for acknowledging that I play in the Knopfler style, I'm just another person who has joined this adventure, I'm certainly one of the last in that line, among so many talented people to do this, but everyone who plays these songs knows that it's such a magical thing when we're playing a song with MK's signature on the guitar in character, it's something stimulating and we keep going towards infinity in an attempt to extract something from this unique sound, that's how it is for me.
I hope that in the future there will be an edition in Spanish, since it's a widely spoken language after English, of course. I'm sure AI will find a way to do that. 😊
All the best to you.
I'm just curious... how do you participate in this forum by the way? Your posts are usually in fluent, almost perfect English, so why the need for a Spanish version?
Or are you using some sort of translator from PT to EN?
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Yes, exactly, Brunno, I briefly mentioned you and this blog (www.universodirestraits.blogspot.nl) in the book; in the context of Tommy Mandel's letter to you (with details of his collaboration with MK) – in a second place I mention your name again in this context, and there I then write, by mistake (due to the dutch blog address), that you are Dutch. As I said, I will correct it (also Brunno instead of Bruno...).
I am glad you are interested in the book, thanks. I just subscribed to your YouTube page; you play Mark's style brilliantly, well done! I am constantly amazed at how many musicians there are worldwide who have cracked the MK code (40 years ago, idiot that I was, I thought I was the only one... :disbelief :smack ).
By the way, I'm also amazed at how meticulously you and many fans worldwide have researched and collected everything about MK – you guys have really built an amazing network.
I would like to publish a Spanish translation of the book later, and an Italian one too – but unfortunately I don't know anything about these languages myself. I could do it with AI, but if you want to do it well, the only way is to know the language and be able to interact with the AI.
I'll keep an eye on your blog on Instagram.
Have a good time,
Richard
It's great to hear that my blog is mentioned and also that Tommy Mandel shared with me about his time with Dire Straits during the LOG tour 82/83, which indeed contains very interesting and relevant information about that tour.
Thank you for acknowledging that I play in the Knopfler style, I'm just another person who has joined this adventure, I'm certainly one of the last in that line, among so many talented people to do this, but everyone who plays these songs knows that it's such a magical thing when we're playing a song with MK's signature on the guitar in character, it's something stimulating and we keep going towards infinity in an attempt to extract something from this unique sound, that's how it is for me.
I hope that in the future there will be an edition in Spanish, since it's a widely spoken language after English, of course. I'm sure AI will find a way to do that. 😊
All the best to you.
I'm just curious... how do you participate in this forum by the way? Your posts are usually in fluent, almost perfect English, so why the need for a Spanish version?
Or are you using some sort of translator from PT to EN?
My knowledge of the English language is still limited, I always use Google Translate, so I write in the translator and if necessary, I adjust it with the knowledge I have. When it's in Spanish, I almost never use a translator, because I can understand what is read and spoken much more easily, since it is very similar to my language, Brazilian Portuguese (which is a little different from Portuguese from Portugal, just as there must be notable differences between American and British English, Canadian and Australian English).
I honestly believe that I could easily understand 50% to 60% of a text in English about Dire Straits or Mark Knopfler without using a translator, probably, but in Spanish, something around 95%, without a doubt.🙌🏻
By the way, this limitation can cause me to express myself poorly, unfortunately this can happen, as happened in parts with the answer that Ed gave me in a certain topic here, but, that's okay, this is our world, nothing is perfect. 😅
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Hi everybody,
Before I do a book update in the next few days, I'd like to ask if any of you MK experts (e.g. Dusty Valentino) might have found anything else that needs to be corrected. (of course, I can always make updates later)
Thank you very much; have a nice day
Richard
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Hi Richard
Was going to message today (I am still enjoying the book but life is not letting me make as much progress as I would like :) )
I bought my English translation on Amazon for Kindle.
On the section on Making Movies, there is a paragraph that begins "Okay, back down to earth". On my edition, that paragraph should lead into a quote from Ed Bicknell from a magazine interview re Tunnel of Love. Instead, the paragraph is repeated. And then, it leads straight into discussion about Romeo and Juliet without any preamble or introduction.
It seems something has gone wrong here and stuff is missing?
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Oh, thank you very much for the valuable hint, dear Valentino. I see right now that there really was some kind of mistake in the English translation, the data of a whole book page (!) has been deleted. I will of course correct that – and I will also quickly post the lost page here for you in a moment, so that the story in your edition makes sense.
Until later,
Richard
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No problem!
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(Here we go, Valentino, this is the short section before the deleted part:)
Okay, back down to earth. In 1980, everyone around Mark Knopfler must have sensed that an extraordinary and epochal album was in the making. When Ed Bicknell heard the song ‘Tunnel Of Love’ take shape in the studio, he is said to have said, ‘it feels like a jet plane taking off,’ as Paul Rees wrote in the 2015 CLASSIC ROCK article. Bicknell had a good instinct for music throughout his entire time as Dire Straits' manager; he was definitely not just a businessman, but also a boundless music lover, and he intuitively knew when Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits had created something great. Ed didn't even need the finished recordings to do so; he recognised the potential of a song in its very germ. In the interview with Paul Rees mentioned above, he recalls his first encounter with another piece from ‘Making Movies’:
(... and that was deleted:)
Ed Bicknell: ‘I remember Mark coming into the office and playing me the song “Romeo And Juliet” for the first time. I didn't know what to say: I just sat there staring at the floor in complete disbelief.’
This would, of course, be the perfect moment to leave ‘Tunnel Of Love’ and move on to another gem, ‘Romeo And Juliet’. Without realising it, we have actually already made a kind of ranking; you will have noticed it long ago: ‘Tunnel of Love’ is my favourite on this third album. Well, I had promised myself that I wouldn't even try to rank ‘Making Movies’ because, as I said, it's a complete work, a unit, not a series of songs. But, when writing, sometimes my plans go out the window; it's better to stay in the flow and let passion have the last word.
Now, ‘Romeo And Juliet’ is definitely one of the greatest moments in the history of Dire Straits; the song is even more epic than ‘Tunnel Of Love’. And it is less rocky; it is basically a ballad, a love song, but what a love song! ‘A nearly six-minute rollercoaster ride through the wreckage of a broken love affair,’ writes Paul Rees in his CLASSIC ROCK article. On this rollercoaster ride, Mark basically tells the story of his failed love affair with female singer Holly Vincent in 1979; it must have been a drama for Mark, he was deeply sad for a while, and the song expresses this pain in a touching way.
(.... up to this point has been deleted)
Well, is the song as good as its reputation? I find it ….
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Oh, thank you very much for the valuable hint, dear Valentino. I see right now that there really was some kind of mistake in the English translation, the data of a whole book page (!) has been deleted. I will of course correct that – and I will also quickly post the lost page here for you in a moment, so that the story in your edition makes sense.
Until later,
Richard
When a corrected version would be available? I was considering buying the book but after reading there are going to be corrections, I would wait.
Come on Dusty, finish the book, we need the book fully revised, LOL
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This usually takes one to two weeks (or even longer) for the book data to be exchanged with all retailers. I will try to post a short message here when the current book update is in stores. Valentino has already read well over half of it; I don't suppose there's another technical error in it (but you never know...).
By the way, I'm happy to send the die-hard MK expert club a free, up-to-date/corrected PDF e-book (if you're interested, please send an e-mail to info@richardkoechli.ch). Of course I don't want to make money off you!
Best,
Richard
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Oh, thank you very much for the valuable hint, dear Valentino. I see right now that there really was some kind of mistake in the English translation, the data of a whole book page (!) has been deleted. I will of course correct that – and I will also quickly post the lost page here for you in a moment, so that the story in your edition makes sense.
Until later,
Richard
When a corrected version would be available? I was considering buying the book but after reading there are going to be corrections, I would wait.
Come on Dusty, finish the book, we need the book fully revised, LOL
Ha ha, I am on 60% according to the Kindle app :)
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I have finished the book so here are my thoughts.
It was an enjoyable read. Richard writes in a conversational style that is easy to digest. I read the English translation and very occasionally a series of words or turn of phrase might remind you that you are reading a translated book, but not often.
Richard talks through the DS years in a personal way and I found it easy to relate to him - we both started listening to DS at an early age and went on to play music ourselves, albeit Richard is a professional and I just play in pubs for pleasure (mine, not the audience). I agreed with most of his views.
If I was being a little bit critical, I would say that the OES album and tour is covered very quickly and almost brushed over. John did the same in his book and while that is maybe understandable in his case as he did not want to piss off MK, as we have seen in posts from Chris and Ed over the last year, there is quite a bit that could be covered there.
This next comment is NOT a criticism, just my personal preference. As I mentioned, it's written in a conversational style, but it gets a little bit too conversational for me. Richard speaks about various pieces of music and then explains how it inspired him, and provides links to examples of his music and details of the many Swiss and German musicians he has worked with. This stuff isn't really of interest to me - when I pick up a book about Knopfler I want to read about Knopfler, not the author and his buddies. It's a perfectly valid decision to do it this way however but as I say, it's not for me.
I'll leave my remarks on one thought - in his analysis of Sultans, Richard pointed out something that I found quite incredible. I don't know of anyone picking up on this particular point before. I'm not going to say what it is here as Richard deserves the book sales for figuring it out in the first place, but bravo Richard, it kind of blew my mind!
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"I'll leave my remarks on one thought - in his analysis of Sultans, Richard pointed out something that I found quite incredible. I don't know of anyone picking up on this particular point before. I'm not going to say what it is here as Richard deserves the book sales for figuring it out in the first place, but bravo Richard, it kind of blew my mind!
Dusty why did you write this? Ok. I understand ;) I'm intrigued.
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"I'll leave my remarks on one thought - in his analysis of Sultans, Richard pointed out something that I found quite incredible. I don't know of anyone picking up on this particular point before. I'm not going to say what it is here as Richard deserves the book sales for figuring it out in the first place, but bravo Richard, it kind of blew my mind!
Dusty why did you write this? Ok. I understand ;) I'm intrigued.
I’ll add that I found it quite incredible, don’t blame me if you buy the book and find it completely unremarkable. :)
As a Knerd of more than three decades there wasn’t much new in the book for me but I’m not sure if I am the target audience. This was new however.
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"I'll leave my remarks on one thought - in his analysis of Sultans, Richard pointed out something that I found quite incredible. I don't know of anyone picking up on this particular point before. I'm not going to say what it is here as Richard deserves the book sales for figuring it out in the first place, but bravo Richard, it kind of blew my mind!
Dusty why did you write this? Ok. I understand ;) I'm intrigued.
I’ll add that I found it quite incredible, don’t blame me if you buy the book and find it completely unremarkable. :)
As a Knerd of more than three decades there wasn’t much new in the book for me but I’m not sure if I am the target audience. This was new however.
I think that DS/MK fans probably already know everything, so when something surprises us, we react with disbelief. But I still don't know what I'm dealing with.
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In the Amazon link it is possible to read a sample of the book
I've found it surprisingly good.For example, even in a chronological view, it offers many useful flash forwards in a comprehensive vision of the artist's opera.
Seems a must read! :clap :clap :clap
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Hi Dusty Valentino, hi MK fans,
I appreciate your feedback, Dusty Valentino, thank you very much. Yeah, what I found out about Sultans seems to have escaped everyone else's attention – it's still just a hypothesis, of course, but based on the facts of music theory, it seems very plausible to me.
Well, I researched some points very passionately and may have uncovered some connections that you die-hard MK experts weren't all aware of or conscious of (e.g. the amp story behind “Communiqué”, or various music-historical connections in general), but overall, there's a lot that you all know already, even better than I do, and a lot of it could have been explored in even greater detail. I made this clear in the book: I cannot and do not want to reinvent the MK world for you MK nerds; my role is to take the known and lesser-known facts and write an exciting story that honors MK's life's work and further deepens the relationship with his music.
Dusty Valentino puts it aptly: You are not really the target audience for this book. You need to be aware that you are perhaps 0.1% of MK's entire audience. There are millions (!) of people out there who love MK's music, who are moved by it, but who are not nearly as obsessed with the details. The vast majority of these people do not play music themselves (or only play music for themselves at home); each of these people has their own life story and their own relationship to Mark's and DS's music. I have already received numerous feedbacks from such people; for many of them, the book was and is very inspiring because it makes them aware of many new things and enables them to listen to Mark's music (or music in general) in a new way and to understand music history from a broader perspective. This is where I can make a contribution in my role; it is my task, which motivates me and gives me pleasure.
By the way, the author's pleasure also plays a role in the choice of narrative style. If a publisher or even MK himself commissions me to write a book and pays me well for it, I will adapt the concept of the book as closely as possible to the client's wishes. There are countless styles of writing, and you have to adapt your style to each newspaper and medium. I believe I could do that — BUT: If I don't receive such a commission, if I write such a book completely independently and at my own risk, then I write it the way I would most like to read it: in a relaxed and personal conversational style, with subjective references and comments, so that the author's personal connection to MK is also noticeable.
This concept is certainly not perfect for everyone, but so far I have received a lot of very positive feedback, especially on this point. There are plenty of dry and pedantic history books out there; people also want to be touched by subjectivity and personal passion. Otherwise, they can just look up the most important facts on Wikipedia.
This also means that I occasionally refer to music that is not by MK, for example (but not exclusively) music by artists from my circle of friends or music I have produced myself. However, this is kept to a minimum, perhaps 1 or 2 percent of the total content of the book, and it ALWAYS concerns music that is indirectly related to MK. And all the people I mention are not just buddies, but top-class musicians who are well known and successful in insider circles in Switzerland, Germany, Europe, and in some cases beyond. For readers from my home country, these people are all household names anyway.
And here I would like to take the liberty of offering a tiny bit of criticism to some die-hard MK nerds: if you're not interested in any of this on principle, perhaps you're lacking a certain openness. I've often noticed that some of you show significantly more interest in every MK or DS cover band (even if they're not particularly good) than in artists who are inspired by MK but then try to process this influence (and many other influences) and turn it into something of their own, with their own songs, their own nuances and ideas. For some MK nerds, there seems to be only one God of music; everyone else (especially if they're not world famous) is irrelevant, even those who inspired MK are often unimportant to nerds (because they could shake their image of God). I'm exaggerating a bit, and I can understand this exclusive enthusiasm for MK – but I assure you, there is a lot of very good music out there in the wider universe to discover. When I write about music, I always want to contribute in some small way to creating more openness to music.
But okay, I promise: I'll try to write a little less subjectively in volume 2, although my writing style probably won't change completely. :lol
I would like to thank you all very much for your interest in the book, for your great passion for MK, for all the fantastic research and collection work, the websites, blogs, and the entire fan network. And thank you for accepting my book for what it is.
Of course, we are all waiting for a book written by MK himself. However, an autobiography is usually much more subjective – a person is often least able to describe their own story objectively. But of course, I would be extremely interested in MK's 100% subjective view. However, not everyone wants to undergo public psychotherapy – and to be honest, I'm not at all sure that MK will ever write such a book.
By the way, my book is already available (there seems to be some misunderstanding about this) in print and as an e-book; you can find all the information (and retailer links) here: https://richardkoechli.ch/en/books/mark-knopfler-volume-1
If anyone is short on cash, or if anyone (rightly) thinks, “hey, we've contributed enough to the book with our research”, I'd be happy to send you a PDF e-book – just send me an email at info@richardkoechli.ch
All the best,
Richard
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... we are all waiting for a book written by MK himself.... I would be extremely interested in MK's 100% subjective view. However, not everyone wants to undergo public psychotherapy – and to be honest, I'm not at all sure that MK will ever write such a book.
Yep, couldn't say it better!
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Lots of great points in your last post, Richard.
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Well, if we take his song “Private Investigations” seriously, we can't get our hopes up for a book from him: “it's not a public inquiry” ... :hmm
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Obviously Mark (reluctantly) acknowledges the fact that he is a public figure, so he accepts that a certain amount of information about him must exist "out there". All of that is available on his website, through interviews, Illsley's book, etc. Anything else he wants to share, he shares through his art. The man isn't going to write an autobiography.
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There's always the question: what do you prefer, an autobiography or a new album? ;)
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At this point? An autobiography, for sure.
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I choose the album. All the time and commitment should become new music. Many of MK's songs are autobiography. That's enough for me.
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There's always the question: what do you prefer, an autobiography or a new album? ;)
A new album.
After reading the Illsley book, I know for sure than an autobiography would be boring as hell.
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However, probably it's easier to write an autobiography (dictate it to a voice recorder to someone else who would write it) than record more songs.
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However, probably it's easier to write an autobiography (dictate it to a voice recorder to someone else who would write it) than record more songs.
I don't know if it's easier. It all depends on what kind of autobiography it would be. From the heart or very general and not insightful. With dates, places and details or just vague memories of the author.
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There's always the question: what do you prefer, an autobiography or a new album? ;)
A new album.
After reading the Illsley book, I know for sure than an autobiography would be boring as hell.
You mean after reading Mark's foreword? True. Not the most exciting piece of writing. But I just can't take another old-age Mark album co-produced by yes-man-with-a-pop-slant-and-microphone-fixation GF.
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Well, Mark would probably want to write the book himself; he could do it, he can write (not just songs), he was a journalist, he loves literature. But I think it would be very difficult for him to write something like that – precisely because his standards are so high and because he would constantly doubt himself (what to reveal, what people are really interested in).
Writing songs is certainly easier for him, and performing them with such a wonderful band is comparatively child's play; almost nothing can go wrong.
Maybe MK will do something completely surprising one day: why not an absolute solo album, for example — just him, the (acoustic) guitar, and the story, like in the old folk or blues tradition. There's no question that he could do it. I would love it (as much as I love his band).
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A portrait of Mark written by Kitty. That I'd read.
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Well, not a book but just an uncovered part of his bio. For example how he got hold of his first electric guitar would be an interesting story. ;D
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Well, Mark would probably want to write the book himself; he could do it, he can write (not just songs), he was a journalist, he loves literature. But I think it would be very difficult for him to write something like that – precisely because his standards are so high and because he would constantly doubt himself (what to reveal, what people are really interested in).
Writing songs is certainly easier for him, and performing them with such a wonderful band is comparatively child's play; almost nothing can go wrong.
Maybe MK will do something completely surprising one day: why not an absolute solo album, for example — just him, the (acoustic) guitar, and the story, like in the old folk or blues tradition. There's no question that he could do it. I would love it (as much as I love his band).
Marbletown
River Of Grog
Heart Of Oak
Matchstick Man
The first half of such an album is already existing. :)
LE
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Well, Mark would probably want to write the book himself; he could do it, he can write (not just songs), he was a journalist, he loves literature. But I think it would be very difficult for him to write something like that – precisely because his standards are so high and because he would constantly doubt himself (what to reveal, what people are really interested in).
Writing songs is certainly easier for him, and performing them with such a wonderful band is comparatively child's play; almost nothing can go wrong.
Maybe MK will do something completely surprising one day: why not an absolute solo album, for example — just him, the (acoustic) guitar, and the story, like in the old folk or blues tradition. There's no question that he could do it. I would love it (as much as I love his band).
Marbletown
River Of Grog
Heart Of Oak
Matchstick Man
The first half of such an album is already existing. :)
LE
I would love an absolute solo album with songs such as those. :)
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A portrait of Mark written by Kitty. That I'd read.
That would be something!!
But we know it will never happen, so... we rely on the existing books, have a personal merge of them, and... hope for some new musical stuff, in whatever form!
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My guess is that it is already worked out and that Paul Sexton will release an biography of MK... either at Marks 80th birthday or some time in the (hopefully far) future when MK passes away.
LE
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Like a Dutch singer always said when the press was asking him if he was going to release a biography: “If you listen proberly to my songs and albums there is no need to write a biography everything is in there”
I think that could also be an answer of Mark Knopfler
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I think you can expect a solo album with just him and his guitar rather than a biographical book about him.
Mark was and still is a very private person. Privacy is sacred to him, so I don't think he's interested in writing a biography in which he opens up his life to the world.
And if he does, then we'll probably only hear the old stories e.g. "blue up the family radio, if you drop this I'll drop you" etc. and not much new. But who knows?
What I could really imagine is that he will present us more songs of autobiographical content. Songwriting is his thing, but spreading out his life in a book not really.
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During the ODR promo he was much more and unusually open about many details in his personal life. Also songs like Watch Me Gone or Pale Imitation show some new kind of retrospective which obviously is part of his mindset these days. So it's not impossible I guess.
LE
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Like a Dutch singer always said when the press was asking him if he was going to release a biography: “If you listen proberly to my songs and albums there is no need to write a biography everything is in there”
I think that could also be an answer of Mark Knopfler
Who is this artist?
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Like a Dutch singer always said when the press was asking him if he was going to release a biography: “If you listen proberly to my songs and albums there is no need to write a biography everything is in there”
I think that could also be an answer of Mark Knopfler
Who is this artist?
That was Henny Vrienten and also Boudewijn de Groot said it
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is that the kopje koffie guy? name rings a bell (am belgian after all) but cannot currently put my finger on it
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is that the kopje koffie guy? name rings a bell (am belgian after all) but cannot currently put my finger on it
Henny Vrienten was the leadsinger of the Dutch groep Doe Maar one the most famous bands in the early 80's and reformed back in 2000 . He also made several great solo records and film music. Sadly he past away a couple of years ago.
Boudewijn de Groot is a singer who started in the 60's as protest singer and worked a lot with writer Lennaert Nijgh. He quit performing a couple of years ago but he still made records.
Henny and Boudewijn also made with George Kooijmans from the Golden Earring 3 albums together under the name "Vreemde Kostgangers".
The kopje koffie guy is the leadsinger Nol Havens from VOF De Kunst
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is that the kopje koffie guy? name rings a bell (am belgian after all) but cannot currently put my finger on it
Henny Vrienten was the leadsinger of the Dutch groep Doe Maar one the most famous bands in the early 80's and reformed back in 2000 . He also made several great solo records and film music. Sadly he past away a couple of years ago.
Boudewijn de Groot is a singer who started in the 60's as protest singer and worked a lot with writer Lennaert Nijgh. He quit performing a couple of years ago but he still made records.
Henny and Boudewijn also made with George Kooijmans from the Golden Earring 3 albums together under the name "Vreemde Kostgangers".
The kopje koffie guy is the leadsinger Nol Havens from VOF De Kunst
aaah..korrekt.
Doe maar was....sinds een dag of 2, 1 nacht alleen,..Pa (super song) . thnx for the refresh