Best DS tribute bands

[ybot]

There are many nice bands.
I can name 2 of them I like the most: "Real Straits" (angel miguel leading guitar and vocals,from Spain and "Dire Strats" from Germany(wolfgang Uhlich on guitar)

[Kris-b]

I have seen Brothers in Band from Spain and Dire Strats too. Both where great fun, you could see that they were really enjoying to play.

[ybot]

Yes, Brothers in Band too

I like "real straits" the most because they follow each note as DS, live and studio versions

[Holger_MK]

Real Straits are doing a great job but the best tribute to Dire Strais is german band dIRE sTRATS. Lead guitar (Wolfgang Uhlich), keyboards (Tobi Blattmann) and saxophone (Matze Schinkopf) are as good as possible:

[ybot]

Yes. I believe "dire strats" were better at their beginnings
Wolfgang is great.
And singer Spencer is nice too

[Jules]

There are two things I don't like about Dire Strats. The singer voice... And the fact the the singer is not the lead guitarist.

These are two things that make Brothers in band or Real Straits better. Their singer voice fits better and they play the lead guitar as MK does, and they do it very well, even better (imho) than Dire Strats lead guitar.

[dmg]

There are two things I don't like about Dire Strats. The singer voice... And the fact the the singer is not the lead guitarist.

These are two things that make Brothers in band or Real Straits better. Their singer voice fits better and they play the lead guitar as MK does, and they do it very well, even better (imho) than Dire Strats lead guitar.

I like Dire Strats even though tribute bands are not my thing.  However, I know what you mean regarding your reservations.  I think the problem that foreign tribute bands have is their accent and the fact that Mark "speaks" most of his songs.  When you sing you lose your accent and that is why most other artists have successful tribute acts.  DS will never have a fully successful tribute act without a British "singer."

[quizzaciously]

There are two things I don't like about Dire Strats. The singer voice... And the fact the the singer is not the lead guitarist.

These are two things that make Brothers in band or Real Straits better. Their singer voice fits better and they play the lead guitar as MK does, and they do it very well, even better (imho) than Dire Strats lead guitar.

I like Dire Strats even though tribute bands are not my thing.  However, I know what you mean regarding your reservations.  I think the problem that foreign tribute bands have is their accent and the fact that Mark "speaks" most of his songs.  When you sing you lose your accent and that is why most other artists have successful tribute acts.  DS will never have a fully successful tribute act without a British "singer."

Here's a British tribute (supposedly). Oh my, what song should we play? What about "Sultans Of Swing"?

[Jules]

Yes but I find Bib and rs singers voice similar and that fit with the songs, but with DS, no...

[ybot]

The Most important tip to be the best tribute band is the leading guitar at live versions gigs.
Studio version are not such a difficult task to mimic.
As Mark has got dozen of solo versions of each song a frontman or leading guitarist must follow his registered note combinations.
Wolfgang has got his personality to play as Mark and add some of his own notes too
Brothers in band is very nice.
I like real straits the most because his frontman copies each of Mark's solo versions through the years. And his guitars
As he is Spanish (angel miguel) his accent is not good.

[quizzaciously]

Just stumbled across this website: http://www.barts.cat/ca/e-697/BROTHERS-IN-BAND

This is Brothers In Band tribute website, but this line bugs me...

"Vaig pensar que era una gravació nostra", Guy Fletcher (Teclista de Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler)
"I thought it was our recording," Guy Fletcher (Keyboardist for Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler)

Did Guy really ever said that??? Where they get all these statements?

[JF]

Just stumbled across this website: http://www.barts.cat/ca/e-697/BROTHERS-IN-BAND

This is Brothers In Band tribute website, but this line bugs me...

"Vaig pensar que era una gravació nostra", Guy Fletcher (Teclista de Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler)
"I thought it was our recording," Guy Fletcher (Keyboardist for Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler)

Did Guy really ever said that??? Where they get all these statements?

I remember in a tour diary, I don't remember exactly, but it was about Why aye man, so it must be in 2005 or 2008
Guy was in a car and was around a venue where a tribute band played, and he said something like "for few second I tought it was us"

can't remember exactly, but it's the idea

[Jules]

Just stumbled across this website: http://www.barts.cat/ca/e-697/BROTHERS-IN-BAND

This is Brothers In Band tribute website, but this line bugs me...

"Vaig pensar que era una gravació nostra", Guy Fletcher (Teclista de Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler)
"I thought it was our recording," Guy Fletcher (Keyboardist for Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler)

Did Guy really ever said that??? Where they get all these statements?

I remember in a tour diary, I don't remember exactly, but it was about Why aye man, so it must be in 2005 or 2008
Guy was in a car and was around a venue where a tribute band played, and he said something like "for few second I tought it was us"

can't remember exactly, but it's the idea

Yes, that was what Guy said. The guys from the band were invited to meet the MK band and when inside the bullring, someone from the management said to them that they thought someone was playing MK music outside, when what it was Brothers In Band soundchecking. The next day Guy posted something similar in his diary.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080409170032/http://www.guyfletcher.co.uk:80/cms/index.php/page/5th%20April%20-%20Granada%20-%20Coliseo%20Atarfe

Guy's words:
As we walked in we heard a band playing which turned out to be a tribute band set up on a stage outside the venue. They were playing Why Aye Man and I have to say I thought it was recording of us...until that is they got to the breakdown section. I actually met some of the guys at the meet and greet, nice chaps.

[quizzaciously]

Guy's words:
As we walked in we heard a band playing which turned out to be a tribute band set up on a stage outside the venue. They were playing Why Aye Man and I have to say I thought it was recording of us...until that is they got to the breakdown section. I actually met some of the guys at the meet and greet, nice chaps.

Thanks! That was almost 10 years ago, I can't believe it...
That's all right then, I thought this quote was made up

[Knopflerfan]

Has anyone heard the band 'Money for Nothing' before? They proclaim that they are supposedly Europe's No.1 DS tribute band..

I'm very sceptical about DS/MK tribute bands having witnessed a few before that were really 'Dire'!