David Knopfler on being not on speaking terms with Mark

[foma]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3051473/SEBASTIAN-SHAKESPEARE-Brocket-s-chance-reclaim-pile-owner-goes-bust.html

Check the middle of the article.

‘I spent a lot of time doing therapy and dealing with my issues and ghosts and demons,’ says David, 62. ‘Maybe Mark has, too. I don’t know what he does. Of course, it casts a huge shadow on both our lives and on our families. We’ve got cousins who don’t know each other.’

‘By that time he was “king”,’ David says. ‘But he was the bloke I’d shared a bedroom with. How could I be deferential to him? Mark and I had a different vision of what we were up to. I was building a democracy, and Mark was making an autocracy.’

‘Everything put a strain on us. It was just through being exhausted — drinking too much every night, partying, and wrecking your physical and mental health in the way that rock bands did then to excess.’

[sweetsurrender]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3051473/SEBASTIAN-SHAKESPEARE-Brocket-s-chance-reclaim-pile-owner-goes-bust.html

Check the middle of the article.

‘I spent a lot of time doing therapy and dealing with my issues and ghosts and demons,’ says David, 62. ‘Maybe Mark has, too. I don’t know what he does. Of course, it casts a huge shadow on both our lives and on our families. We’ve got cousins who don’t know each other.’

‘By that time he was “king”,’ David says. ‘But he was the bloke I’d shared a bedroom with. How could I be deferential to him? Mark and I had a different vision of what we were up to. I was building a democracy, and Mark was making an autocracy.’

‘Everything put a strain on us. It was just through being exhausted — drinking too much every night, partying, and wrecking your physical and mental health in the way that rock bands did then to excess.’

It's just too bad

[superval99]

It is just a week ago now since I saw David in concert and he lost no time, during those couple of hours, to bring up the problems between himself and Mark, albeit in a kind of ambiguous, jokey way.   He never fails to take every opportunity to talk about their differences,  Mark never does and certainly never in the middle of a concert.   It was obvious to me that he didn't have just a chip on both shoulders - he had a couple of boulders!   I wouldn't divulge anything on a public forum of what he said, but it is obvious to me that he has a problem!   I used to blame it on journalists, bringing up the subject, but I saw it for myself last Friday and, this time it was certainly David!   It's a very sad situation!

[Jules]

Val, maybe he's just sad of the situation and he would like to fix it but knows it´s not up to him and it makes him even more sad. He gets older and probably miss his brother, and see that time pass and nothing changes.

He makes some references to DS always in his concerts as it's his background and some of the songs he sings talks about that period (Deptford Days) or were written during those years (Southside Tenements, Somebody Kind) and in some shows he plays "Bernadette", "Whats The Matter Baby" or even "Wild West End"...

I Saw him in Alicante and he has some words about MK, but were kind words, and nothing about their relationship.

[brickbat]

This situation between two brothers in the same band, with one brother possessing all the talent, as well on the guitar, but also writing all the songs and in fact making all the hit albums, very much resembles what happened between John Fogerty and his brother Tom Fogerty in the days of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
You can already see David struggling at the end with the success of Dire Straits in the 1980 BBC documentary included as bonus in the Alchemy blu-ray. In the end he had to face that choice, either to accept the supporting role of rhythm guitarist and not see his own compositions end up on the albums or leave the band.
I don't know when the time comes up for the original Dire Straits to be accepted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This usually concludes with a live performance by the reunited musicians on the spot. In the case of CCR that never happened.

[ingridswing]

And will never happen with DS/MK

[Marijo58]

It is just a week ago now since I saw David in concert and he lost no time, during those couple of hours, to bring up the problems between himself and Mark, albeit in a kind of ambiguous, jokey way.   He never fails to take every opportunity to talk about their differences,  Mark never does and certainly never in the middle of a concert.   It was obvious to me that he didn't have just a chip on both shoulders - he had a couple of boulders!   I wouldn't divulge anything on a public forum of what he said, but it is obvious to me that he has a problem!   I used to blame it on journalists, bringing up the subject, but I saw it for myself last Friday and, this time it was certainly David!   It's a very sad situation!

You certainly can say that Superval!! I've noticed that David was always the one speaking to the journalists about Mark and never the over way around!! And the Press do ask questions about their relationship then it's up them if they choose to answer, in this case I noticed long time ago that it was only David answering them never Mark!! I guess it was easier for David to speak to them about this as it is the opposite with his famous brother!! But I don't judge or blame neither of them!! As we said before this is a very delicate private matter and i did have sadly the same problem between My Mum's younger brothers. They quarelled badly when my Granny died 11 years ago and never settled up even when one of them passed away 2 years ago. The one who is still alive is also sick now because of alcohol abuse and he still says that his dead and buried brother was shit!! A very sad situation indeed specially for my cousins and my Mum!! Family business affects everyone around!! Well enough with this matter from my side!! Enjoy your weekend everybody!!

[dmg]

Well, it's very easy for David to speak about such things in front of the small, intimate audiences he plays but Mark could hardly stop the music and speak such things in front of the numbers of thousands he gets.  It's also easy to see who got the better end of the deal when the two went their own way and therefore Mark doesn't have anything to say.  Personally though I think the situation is very complex especially as it has been on-going for many years now and I don't think it's any of our business.

@Marijo58:  The media are bound to contact David first as they will view him as an easier, and cheaper target for information.

[ds1984]

And will never happen with DS/MK

You can't say never until one is passed away.

But on this matter I am pretty pessimistic.

[Marijo58]

Well, it's very easy for David to speak about such things in front of the small, intimate audiences he plays but Mark could hardly stop the music and speak such things in front of the numbers of thousands he gets.  It's also easy to see who got the better end of the deal when the two went their own way and therefore Mark doesn't have anything to say.  Personally though I think the situation is very complex especially as it has been on-going for many years now and I don't think it's any of our business.

@Marijo58:  The media are bound to contact David first as they will view him as an easier, and cheaper target for information.

So true Dmg about Journalists but DK could say less on the subject to them!! I suspect that he unfortunately needs to talk about his older brother whom he shared a bedroom and played guitar with because for him that's who he is and not the Big Star everybody see MK!!

[ingridswing]

True about the journalists, but he seems to talk about MK during his concerts. I cannot see why he does that, 35 years later. Seems to be frustrated even after such a long time

[Marijo58]

True about the journalists, but he seems to talk about MK during his concerts. I cannot see why he does that, 35 years later. Seems to be frustrated even after such a long time

Exactly what I asked myself Ingrid when Superval told us that he did!! But maybe it's again a way to show the Audience how he still feels about this!! He said that he had a therapy and his Therapist might have said to him to do so if it can help him!! Well it's pointless to discuss this, I fear that things are going to stay like it is between them!! Subject closed for me now!! 

[Jarle]

Speaking of... From the newspaper today:

http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/572696/Brothers-in-arms-Dire-Straits-siblings-no-speaking-terms

[Marijo58]

Speaking of... From the newspaper today:

http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/572696/Brothers-in-arms-Dire-Straits-siblings-no-speaking-terms

Thanks Jarle. Again interesting article!!!! My last comment on the subject with this link is, why on earth are the Media  starting again to write about MK and DK?? It was forgotten and buried in a drawer desk a long time ago!!!

[superval99]

Maybe I'm being cynical, but all this has happened just when MK's album seems to be doing well and it's time for DK to start airing his grievances again!