SPOILERS: John Illsley will publish a book about Dire Straits

[dustyvalentino]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

[Jules]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

Phil Palmer's book has around 20 pages of that tour and, except being a perfectionist and the sausage incident, there is nothing bad regarding MK. 

[KnopfleRick]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!

[quizzaciously]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!

I think John in his book goes to great lengths describing Mark the gentleman, so I'm still sure all the stories about MK the monster are told from the point of view of pessimists, or people who had personal confrontations with him (probably for a reason). I find it strange that the same guy could be so nice towards John and a lot of other people, and be an ogre toward others, I think it solely depends on the person in question. If you're John Illsley, if your playing is great and you're a great team player, why on Earth MK would go hard on you. Of course, some level of craziness is fine after so many years of fame and money. Imagine yourself in Mark's shoes!

[dustyvalentino]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!

Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.

[Robson]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!

I think John in his book goes to great lengths describing Mark the gentleman, so I'm still sure all the stories about MK the monster are told from the point of view of pessimists, or people who had personal confrontations with him (probably for a reason). I find it strange that the same guy could be so nice towards John and a lot of other people, and be an ogre toward others, I think it solely depends on the person in question. If you're John Illsley, if your playing is great and you're a great team player, why on Earth MK would go hard on you. Of course, some level of craziness is fine after so many years of fame and money. Imagine yourself in Mark's shoes!

And that's the truth.

[Knopflerfan]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!

Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.

I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!

[MagicElliott]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!

Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.

I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!

Which makes it remarkable why him and Guy have allegedly never had an argument.
I wonder how what their relationship is like and what the secret is?!? I wonder if it’s a bit like Penn and Teller who openly state that they’re not particularly close friends. They don’t hang out together outside of work etc and they reckon that’s how they’ve lasted so long and work so well together.

[quizzaciously]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!

Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.

I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!

Which makes it remarkable why him and Guy have allegedly never had an argument.
I wonder how what their relationship is like and what the secret is?!? I wonder if it’s a bit like Penn and Teller who openly state that they’re not particularly close friends. They don’t hang out together outside of work etc and they reckon that’s how they’ve lasted so long and work so well together.

I'm a huge P&T fan, so I love any reference to them! Yes, their duo was built on respect, and not affection, and that enabled them to continue working together for 46 years and still counting. Penn says they are like best friends and relatives now after all these years, but it was built on respect rather than affection. John obviously had had huge respect toward MK from day one. Now, keep in mind respect doesn't mean you agree and say yes to everything, I think it's quite the opposite. You're in a constant positive loop of respectful arguing and coming up with great solutions. If you argue without being respectful, that can lead you into trouble.

I also think about the MythBusters, these guys not only weren't friends but nearly hated each other. But the work they produced together...

[Jules]

I remember John saying they didn't have a single argument ever, that maybe once they didn't agree on something and probably he had said, ok, and that was the end of that disagrement.

[quizzaciously]

I remember John saying they didn't have a single argument ever, that maybe once they didn't agree on something and probably he had said, ok, and that was the end of that disagrement.

Guy also stated they never had arguments in so many years. That doesn't mean they can't disagree on smth, I think it's a misconception about having no arguments. It's just they do it with respect, like a good couple, you know. It's stupid to argue, it doesn't take you anywhere, but it's ok to disagree. So the best way is to listen to your "opponent", come up with good solutions that suit all parties. Basically, making it feel it's not an argument when it really is

[quizzaciously]

I remember John saying they didn't have a single argument ever, that maybe once they didn't agree on something and probably he had said, ok, and that was the end of that disagrement.

Guy also stated they never had arguments in so many years. That doesn't mean they can't disagree on smth, I think it's a misconception about having no arguments. It's just they do it with respect, like a good couple, you know. It's stupid to argue, it doesn't take you anywhere, but it's ok to disagree. So the best way is to listen to your "opponent", come up with good solutions that suit all parties. Basically, making it feel it's not an argument when it really is

In John's case, they were band mates, in Guy's case he's an employee.

That doesn't means Mk and him are not friends, that they are, but probably Guy's approach was always that, he's my boss, he pays me, so he's right, no need to argue, I'm being paid to do what he says.

I think what you've described is generally the way to work when you're working with somebody who's multiple times more successful, famous and powerful than you. Bandmates, friends or not! When Mark says "I'm the guy who wrote the song" and "they let me get away with anything" he means exactly that. And the singer is always right, let alone the writer, let alone the studio owner, let alone the guy who's made it all possible. I think to argue with MK you either need balls the size of the Moon or no brain at all.

[ds1984]

That is most about both personality and creativity.

[MagicElliott]

Anecdotes from the OES tour would likely mostly involve MK being an ogre, so not a surprise that John glosses over them.

Well, we all know that Mark Knopfler is not an easy going person, but you can't call him an ogre . That's not fair!

Phil Palmer, called MK an ogre, back in 1992.

I always remember speaking at length with another musician who plays occasionally with MK and remember him saying MK is a Gentleman but you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him!

Which makes it remarkable why him and Guy have allegedly never had an argument.
I wonder how what their relationship is like and what the secret is?!? I wonder if it’s a bit like Penn and Teller who openly state that they’re not particularly close friends. They don’t hang out together outside of work etc and they reckon that’s how they’ve lasted so long and work so well together.

I'm a huge P&T fan, so I love any reference to them! Yes, their duo was built on respect, and not affection, and that enabled them to continue working together for 46 years and still counting. Penn says they are like best friends and relatives now after all these years, but it was built on respect rather than affection. John obviously had had huge respect toward MK from day one. Now, keep in mind respect doesn't mean you agree and say yes to everything, I think it's quite the opposite. You're in a constant positive loop of respectful arguing and coming up with great solutions. If you argue without being respectful, that can lead you into trouble.

I also think about the MythBusters, these guys not only weren't friends but nearly hated each other. But the work they produced together...

I love Penn and Teller too! My username might just give you a clue as to my other hobby…..

[vancip]

From Italian Rolling Stone magazine

https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/interviste-musica/john-illsley-se-avessi-avuto-successo-a-20-anni-con-i-dire-straits-oggi-non-sarei-qui/602405/#Part6

Interesting last period JI says that friendship with MK has grown since they didn't play together anymore. They meet, drink a bottle of wine talking about various stuff