Why did MK stop performing Tunnel of Love?

[WaterofLove]

And when?

[straitsway75]

The last Tunnel of love live was performed probably in Milan or Florence 1992.
Mark after his father died (Tunnel of love was a favourite song by his father) decided to not never play it.
I know this.
Bye

[dmg]

Last performance was probably 2nd October 1992;  I have a bootleg from this date with ToL on it.  I have a few other bootlegs after this date too and they all have TR so unless it was performed in Madrid, 6th October then Barcelona, 2nd October was the final performance.

I doubt his Father's death had any influence.  I don't know him (obviously) but he doesn't appear the sentimental type to me.  It is more likely to be that he doesn't feel he could do the song justice any more, certainly in terms of the energy the singing requires.  Even on the OES tour it sounded quite lifeless.  Also, the 96ers are more Nashville than Rock 'n' Roll, the very reason he has never performed the song in his solo career.  As Ed rightly said - The Dullards.  Worthy musicians, but dull for the music of DS.

[straitsway75]

thanks dmg for update me 
Bye

[dmg]

I have explained this several times

in 1995 before any solo tour someone from Management told me that MK was not going to perform Tunnel of Love live again because it was the fav song of his father.

Initially I didn't know what to think. after so many tours and years I guess it is the truth.

So whenever someone close to him dies he won't play their favourite song of his?  I think this is unlikely and perhaps Mark or his management is using it as an excuse.  One could turn it around as say to him he could play it as a tribute to his father.  I think the who idea is a nonsense.

Personally I don't want him to play it now anyway because I don't want to even think about how my favourite song would sound.

[holaknopfler]

I have explained this several times

in 1995 before any solo tour someone from Management told me that MK was not going to perform Tunnel of Love live again because it was the fav song of his father.

Initially I didn't know what to think. after so many tours and years I guess it is the truth.

So whenever someone close to him dies he won't play their favourite song of his?  I think this is unlikely and perhaps Mark or his management is using it as an excuse.  One could turn it around as say to him he could play it as a tribute to his father.  I think the who idea is a nonsense.

Personally I don't want him to play it now anyway because I don't want to even think about how my favourite song would sound.

It would probably have some cittern and flute.

[WaterofLove]

I think you are right, dmg. I don't think his father is the reason. Some of his songs, like Sultans, can be slowed down, but i think ToL would be ruined so maybe that is the reason. He doesn't play MFN anymore either, I think?

[WaterofLove]

Telegraph Road has exactly the same problem but it was played in every tour...
MFN was played for more than 1 solo tour...

There must be a really big reason for a sudden and complete disappearance... I 100% believe the father's reason

Maybe he gradually decided to choose another path musicwise? From rock to country, ballades, blues and folk? Sultans, Brothers in Arms, TR and Romeo and Juliet works. But MFN, ToL, Lady writer, Calling Elvis and others doesn't?

[dmg]

I think you are right, dmg. I don't think his father is the reason. Some of his songs, like Sultans, can be slowed down, but i think ToL would be ruined so maybe that is the reason. He doesn't play MFN anymore either, I think?

Telegraph Road has exactly the same problem but it was played in every tour...
MFN was played for more than 1 solo tour...

There must be a really big reason for such a sudden and early disappearance...
I 100% believe the father's reason and it perfectly fits the timing...

There are maybe a few reasons but I believe the fact he started playing with the Dullards is the main one.  Also, I don't think the OES tour versions quite hit the spot during the lyrics section and he was even struggling with the solos early on in that tour.  It would only sound even more weary from '96 onward.  TR is a song where he can take breaks every so often and only has to stretch out in the final solo, which he can improvise more on if he makes greenies.  Now he's even stopped playing that!

[border_reiver]

I have explained this several times

in 1995 before any solo tour someone from Management told me that MK was not going to perform Tunnel of Love live again because it was the fav song of his father.

Initially I didn't know what to think. after so many tours and years I guess it is the truth.

So whenever someone close to him dies he won't play their favourite song of his?  I think this is unlikely and perhaps Mark or his management is using it as an excuse.  One could turn it around as say to him he could play it as a tribute to his father.  I think the who idea is a nonsense.

Personally I don't want him to play it now anyway because I don't want to even think about how my favourite song would sound.

It would probably have some cittern and flute.

+1

 

[border_reiver]

I think you are right, dmg. I don't think his father is the reason. Some of his songs, like Sultans, can be slowed down, but i think ToL would be ruined so maybe that is the reason. He doesn't play MFN anymore either, I think?

He does. When he's in the mood. And the mood often coincides with multi billion corporate private gigs (like VW). That's when he opens the DS drawer. Which just goes to show that anyone can be bought. I'm certain that TOL has a price tag too.

[border_reiver]

Could any of us in a sane state of mind have imagined On The Night without Tunnel of Love, Telegraph, Sultans and Planet of new Orleans ?

None but MK did

MK is a strange guy, very strange from certain points of view

I think he dropped TOL as a tribute to his father, maybe there was even an arrangement between them, who knows

Stuff like this, like TOL is far beyond his comfort zone.

It's better to stick with the same 14 overly beaten songs and 2 new ones per tour (always the least popular ones) for decades and decades

[H97]

And the mood often coincides with multi billion corporate private gigs (like VW). That's when he opens the DS drawer. Which just goes to show that anyone can be bought. I'm certain that TOL has a price tag too.

Before this turns into another setlist debate, I'd like to point out that your looking at MK almost as if he's a hungry wolf searching for money with no morality. On private shows he ofcourse opens up the Dire Straits box of tricks, but what songs are it? The often performed Romeo and Juliet and Sultans of Swing, Going Home and alright, the dropped Walk of Life and Money For Nothing. Rarely playing Brothers in Arms, we could also count that to the last category. Your Latest Trick was played last time, but we could also see that as a dress rehearsal for the tour. The price tag of MK MFN and WOL when asked to play Dire Straits songs is not that high and its not too strange he chooses this songs, he just got tired of playing these and dropped them on his shows (he played MFN over 500 times live and WOL over 450 times). Asking for TOL is different and I'm sure you cannot buy that song, no matter how much you offer. Just like you can't buy a DS reunion and you can't buy MK performing with the Spice Girls. It has only been performed around 230 times and as it is a great song, MK just doesn't want to play it anymore because of his father, which to me seems to be a very plausible reason. If MK would play TOL live for money, he could easily reunite Dire Straits (every ex member but him wants it) and make ten times as much out of playing Sultans once more.

[border_reiver]

And the mood often coincides with multi billion corporate private gigs (like VW). That's when he opens the DS drawer. Which just goes to show that anyone can be bought. I'm certain that TOL has a price tag too.

Before this turns into another setlist debate, I'd like to point out that your looking at MK almost as if he's a hungry wolf searching for money with no morality. On private shows he ofcourse opens up the Dire Straits box of tricks, but what songs are it? The often performed Romeo and Juliet and Sultans of Swing, Going Home and alright, the dropped Walk of Life and Money For Nothing. Rarely playing Brothers in Arms, we could also count that to the last category. Your Latest Trick was played last time, but we could also see that as a dress rehearsal for the tour. The price tag of MK MFN and WOL when asked to play Dire Straits songs is not that high and its not too strange he chooses this songs, he just got tired of playing these and dropped them on his shows (he played MFN over 500 times live and WOL over 450 times). Asking for TOL is different and I'm sure you cannot buy that song, no matter how much you offer. Just like you can't buy a DS reunion and you can't buy MK performing with the Spice Girls. It has only been performed around 230 times and as it is a great song, MK just doesn't want to play it anymore because of his father, which to me seems to be a very plausible reason. If MK would play TOL live for money, he could easily reunite Dire Straits (every ex member but him wants it) and make ten times as much out of playing Sultans once more.

Nope, I'm just one of those guys who despises double standards.

Don't say you've grown tired on Dire Straits and then go up in front of 300 people to play what 300 000 fans on a tour wants to hear, but never will.

Where's jbaent when I need him?

[dmg]

Nope, I'm just one of those guys who despises double standards.

Don't say you've grown tired on Dire Straits and then go up in front of 300 people to play what 300 000 fans on a tour wants to hear, but never will.

I get pretty mad myself when I see the set he plays on these corporate gigs yet he only plays what he wants for the paying fans.