New Pick Interview

[2manyguitars]

Just a few new interview clips from Pick Withers....



and part 2



Part 3



Part 4



Part 5



Part 6

[hunter]

When Pick discusses leaving DS, it's usually it was getting too loud, he didn't want to be pidgeonholed, wanted more freedom explore other venues, didn't want to be away from his family, etc. He also says there are other issues that he doesn't want go into.


In the RHoF interview, it's clear that he's not on good terms with neither Mark, John nor David. Makes me pretty sad that almost 40 years later these guys have not reconciled. I was in touch with Pick's wife some time ago, and she basically said Mark and Pick hadn't spoken to each other since Pick left ...

[Pottel]

wow, even mark and david speak. so you wonder really....

[hunter]

wow, even mark and david speak. so you wonder really....

How much they speak except for when dealing with necessary family business is anyone's guess. Probably very little.

[quizzaciously]

Well, in a lot of ways, thanks to Pick, the band became a band in which at the end of the line there were only 2 original members. I think in a way Pick helped to start this whole mess of changing musicians like crazy. David left, then Pick left, half of the band's gone. Thanks, folks! If I were Mark, I'd be just as pissed TBH.

[hunter]

Well, in a lot of ways, thanks to Pick, the band became a band in which at the end of the line there were only 2 original members. I think in a way Pick helped to start this whole mess of changing musicians like crazy. David left, then Pick left, half of the band's gone. Thanks, folks! If I were Mark, I'd be just as pissed TBH.

But as Pick said, he went from being Pick Withers to being "the drummer in Dire Straits [i.e. Mark's band]". And David has said he "didn't just want to be someone else's strummer".


I totally understand those guys. Sure, everybody knew Mark was special, but the band was a collaborative from the start, and it must have been terribly frustrating to feel that your artistic input is becoming smaller and smaller because one person is gaining greater prominence.


For me the first two albums will always be special, because you sense that band thing going on. John and David were not the greatest musicians on the planet, but there was this synergy that was lost when the DS got bigger and other personnel came and went.

[quizzaciously]

Well, in a lot of ways, thanks to Pick, the band became a band in which at the end of the line there were only 2 original members. I think in a way Pick helped to start this whole mess of changing musicians like crazy. David left, then Pick left, half of the band's gone. Thanks, folks! If I were Mark, I'd be just as pissed TBH.

But as Pick said, he went from being Pick Withers to being "the drummer in Dire Straits [i.e. Mark's band]". And David has said he "didn't just want to be someone else's strummer".


I totally understand those guys. Sure, everybody knew Mark was special, but the band was a collaborative from the start, and it must have been terribly frustrating to feel that your artistic input is becoming smaller and smaller because one person is gaining greater prominence.


For me the first two albums will always be special, because you sense that band thing going on. John and David were not the greatest musicians on the planet, but there was this synergy that was lost when the DS got bigger and other personnel came and went.

Yes and no... In retrospect, I think both David and Pick would benefit more should the stay longer in the band. What I know is that pretty much everyone who ever worked with Mark divide their career into pre-MK and post-MK. Even people like Guy are forever MK stamped so to speak, so as I discussed it in Jack Sonny’s case, you should think more than twice whether you want to make an MK-turn in your career. Because Jack is literally known as “the other guitar player from Dire Straits”.

[hunter]

This recent comment (by Linda Withers) sheds some more light on why Pick left.

[Dutchessy]

Yes, now it's good Thanks Hunter

[hunter]

Yes, now it's good Thanks Hunter

 

[Pottel]

wow, never knew this...

[hunter]

I think Linda Withers wrote that she was Ed Bicknell's PA for some time in those days. She must know and have seen a lot.

[quizzaciously]

Are you kidding me, a guy with 15 years of experience in one of the biggest and musical towns in Europe, and the only band he found was 3 amateur musicians? Hmmm...

[Jules]

Are you kidding me, a guy with 15 years of experience in one of the biggest and musical towns in Europe, and the only band he found was 3 amateur musicians? Hmmm...

Marcus Cliffe is not amateur at all.

But I get your point, and I agree with you.

Also, where has been Pick Withers, the profesional, all these years?

[dustyvalentino]

Are you kidding me, a guy with 15 years of experience in one of the biggest and musical towns in Europe, and the only band he found was 3 amateur musicians? Hmmm...

Marcus Cliffe is not amateur at all.

But I get your point, and I agree with you.

Also, where has been Pick Withers, the profesional, all these years?

I think Quiz was meaning MK, DK and JI were the amateurs?


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