Turning points...

[Robson]

It's great to read such considerations. And that's what I was thinking about on this topic:)

[qjamesfloyd]

The release of the first Dire Straits album is a turning point because it made Mark a genuine recording artist, songwriter and guitar player, and it meant he could focus on music as a full time career.

Bob Dylan asking Mark to play on Slow Train Coming is also a turning point, being asked personally by his songwriting hero so early in his career must have blown Mark away, it lifted his profile hugely.

During the recording for Making Movies, David Knopfler left the band, this must have had been a turning point for Mark, he no longer had the sibling rivalry to contend with, and it meant he was the only person called Knopfler in the band!!!

Recording his first film score for Local Hero is a turning point as it gave him a different outlook and focus, he could do something away from the group as a sideline, and he found he is very good at it. Film score composing is a different approach from what he had been doing up to the point in his career.

Getting a call from Chet Atkins, Mark had already met and worked with his songwriting hero, now it was the turn of his guitar playing hero, and again it was his hero that approached him, Mark was already on his way to being a guitar playing legend, but to then have someone of the stature of Chet Atkins praise you highly and want to work with you must have been a huge compliment for Mark, it also must have made Mark raise his playing abilities further, we know Mark is self taught, but if he ever came close to having a tutor, then it was Chet.

The release of Brothers In Arms, it made Dire Straits one of the biggest musical acts of all time, if that is not a turning point, I don't know what is.

The On Every Street tour signaling the end of Dire Straits, by this time Mark had enough of the size of the band and the size of the tours, he decided to be a full time solo artist, so this was a turning point both personally and professionally.

The release of Golden Heart was another turning point for Mark, as this proved he didn't need the Dire Straits name, he could still make it under his own name.

The death of Chet Atkins in 2001 had a huge impact on Mark, and I believe a turning point in his guitar playing, as he didn't need to prove anything anymore, he didn't need to be good enough to keep up with Chet anymore, and meant he could now focus on being the song writer he always believed he wants to be.

[Robson]

"David Knopfler left the band, this must have had been a turning point for Mark, he no longer had the sibling rivalry to contend with, and it meant he was the only person called Knopfler in the band!!!

I thought about it for a long time

"The death of Chet Atkins in 2001 had a huge impact on Mark, and I believe a turning point in his guitar playing, as he didn't need to prove anything anymore, he didn't need to be good enough to keep up with Chet anymore, and meant he could now focus on being the song writer he always believed he wants to be.

A very interesting observation. About Bob Dylan too.

Thank you gjamesfloyd. I agree with everything.

[Robson]

"The On Every Street tour signaling the end of Dire Straits, by this time Mark had enough of the size of the band and the size of the tours, he decided to be a full time solo artist, so this was a turning point both personally and professionally.

I have doubts here We didn't know about this during tour. History has shown that Mark had enough.

[qjamesfloyd]

We can only asses what a turning point is by looking back in history, so I would say it is, I am sure in his own mind, he knew it was the end.

[Robson]

You're right. From the perspective of time - this was a turning point.

[Knopflerfan]

The release of the first Dire Straits album is a turning point because it made Mark a genuine recording artist, songwriter and guitar player, and it meant he could focus on music as a full time career.

Bob Dylan asking Mark to play on Slow Train Coming is also a turning point, being asked personally by his songwriting hero so early in his career must have blown Mark away, it lifted his profile hugely.

During the recording for Making Movies, David Knopfler left the band, this must have had been a turning point for Mark, he no longer had the sibling rivalry to contend with, and it meant he was the only person called Knopfler in the band!!!

Recording his first film score for Local Hero is a turning point as it gave him a different outlook and focus, he could do something away from the group as a sideline, and he found he is very good at it. Film score composing is a different approach from what he had been doing up to the point in his career.

Getting a call from Chet Atkins, Mark had already met and worked with his songwriting hero, now it was the turn of his guitar playing hero, and again it was his hero that approached him, Mark was already on his way to being a guitar playing legend, but to then have someone of the stature of Chet Atkins praise you highly and want to work with you must have been a huge compliment for Mark, it also must have made Mark raise his playing abilities further, we know Mark is self taught, but if he ever came close to having a tutor, then it was Chet.

The release of Brothers In Arms, it made Dire Straits one of the biggest musical acts of all time, if that is not a turning point, I don't know what is.

The On Every Street tour signaling the end of Dire Straits, by this time Mark had enough of the size of the band and the size of the tours, he decided to be a full time solo artist, so this was a turning point both personally and professionally.

The release of Golden Heart was another turning point for Mark, as this proved he didn't need the Dire Straits name, he could still make it under his own name.

The death of Chet Atkins in 2001 had a huge impact on Mark, and I believe a turning point in his guitar playing, as he didn't need to prove anything anymore, he didn't need to be good enough to keep up with Chet anymore, and meant he could now focus on being the song writer he always believed he wants to be.

Some great points here qjamesfloyd....

I particulary like the reference to Chet in that it's obvious MK looked up to Chet and I think Chet looked up to MK if you know what I mean?! there was great affection between them...
Of course the references to Chet from MK live on through both his playing and songwriting - 'I'm picking my way out of here - One song at a time'......

[JF]

I think significant turning points are when MK switches to a new type of his favourite guitar because it affects the sound and therefore the music he produced.

So for example:
- switch from Fenders to Schecters (circa 1980)
- switch from Schecters to Pensa-Suhr (circa 1988)
- switch from Pensa to Les Paul (circa 1996)

  +1000

I tried to sum up his different eras regarding guitars : https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/mark-knopfler-70-ans-et-toutes-ses-grattes/

[JF]

2000 when Ed was fired. it changed a lot of things imho

[MagicElliott]

The release of the first Dire Straits album is a turning point because it made Mark a genuine recording artist, songwriter and guitar player, and it meant he could focus on music as a full time career.

Bob Dylan asking Mark to play on Slow Train Coming is also a turning point, being asked personally by his songwriting hero so early in his career must have blown Mark away, it lifted his profile hugely.

During the recording for Making Movies, David Knopfler left the band, this must have had been a turning point for Mark, he no longer had the sibling rivalry to contend with, and it meant he was the only person called Knopfler in the band!!!

Recording his first film score for Local Hero is a turning point as it gave him a different outlook and focus, he could do something away from the group as a sideline, and he found he is very good at it. Film score composing is a different approach from what he had been doing up to the point in his career.

Getting a call from Chet Atkins, Mark had already met and worked with his songwriting hero, now it was the turn of his guitar playing hero, and again it was his hero that approached him, Mark was already on his way to being a guitar playing legend, but to then have someone of the stature of Chet Atkins praise you highly and want to work with you must have been a huge compliment for Mark, it also must have made Mark raise his playing abilities further, we know Mark is self taught, but if he ever came close to having a tutor, then it was Chet.

The release of Brothers In Arms, it made Dire Straits one of the biggest musical acts of all time, if that is not a turning point, I don't know what is.

The On Every Street tour signaling the end of Dire Straits, by this time Mark had enough of the size of the band and the size of the tours, he decided to be a full time solo artist, so this was a turning point both personally and professionally.

The release of Golden Heart was another turning point for Mark, as this proved he didn't need the Dire Straits name, he could still make it under his own name.

The death of Chet Atkins in 2001 had a huge impact on Mark, and I believe a turning point in his guitar playing, as he didn't need to prove anything anymore, he didn't need to be good enough to keep up with Chet anymore, and meant he could now focus on being the song writer he always believed he wants to be.

Some great points here qjamesfloyd....

I particulary like the reference to Chet in that it's obvious MK looked up to Chet and I think Chet looked up to MK if you know what I mean?! there was great affection between them...
Of course the references to Chet from MK live on through both his playing and songwriting - 'I'm picking my way out of here - One song at a time'......

And yet he wasn’t made a CGP like Tommy E was…
Unless I’m misinformed?

[quizzaciously]

Mark's too cool for CGP, he's more in the "Sir" territory. CGP was intended for underrated and fabulous musicians, not for huge stars like MK. Besides, although he's a great guitar player, he's not on the level of technical greatness of Chet, Tommy, Jerry, Marcel, and others. I remember Mark said that Chet left him a pile of music books and notes, and he was like "I guess I should check it out now" after Chet died.

2000 when Ed was fired. it changed a lot of things imho

Oh, yes...

[dustyvalentino]

I asked Paul Yandell why MK wasn’t made CGP.

He said it would have happened if Chet hadn’t died.

[quizzaciously]

I asked Paul Yandell why MK wasn’t made CGP.

He said it would have happened if Chet hadn’t died.

That's interesting since Paul himself got CGP only after his own death (well, not after, but in the same year) and the announcement that no more CGPs will be given. I mean Chet had plenty of time to "certify" MK, and Mark's playing hasn't changed that much in the span of 15 years or so of their friendship. But if Paul knew it for a fact, it makes it kind of sad that it never happened, but at the same time shows that it's just a friendly decoration that really doesn't mean anything. Just for fun! CGP or not, MK is a guitar hero anyway.

[Robson]

But

I remember Chet Atkins album C. G. P Mark played Imagine.

[quizzaciously]

But

I remember Chet Atkins album C. G. P Mark played Imagine.

That's in and of itself better than any award whatsoever