New for 2024

[skydiver]

Apart from the disappointment with yet another delay, I can't imagine that this dragging and tiring process of putting together this solo album over so many years can be gratifying to both of them in any way. Something strange must have happened besides "loving to do everything slow," something Guy is not at liberty to talk about. By now they probably can't stand listening anymore to the songs they started working on in 2020/21 so many years ago.
With the TCT project things can be different, it seems to be a growing project that has taken on another and probably bigger form than originally planned. I understand that. But with the solo album, it seems so strange to me.

[dustyvalentino]

Don't worry people, let's give Mark a break. Time flies when you have fun, he's most certainly not even aware it takes whole 6 years for a new album.

Six years, that's how long it took between BIA and OES ...

Yes and they had effectively disbanded after BIA.  Mark says at the Mandela show "this is the reason we got the band back together."  Then at Knebworth he announces they're going to do another album. 

So there's lots of good stuff in between including a massive world tour, charity shows (2 Princes Trust too), the Randy Newman sessions and touring with Clapton.  Oh yes, and a couple of soundtracks too!

AND Neck and Neck. AND Notting Hillbillies. Very productive period, and when the guitar actually meant something to him.

Knebworth was originally billed as Mark Knopfler, not Dire Straits, but got retooled as Dire Straits for he CD/video etc. Very strange.

Two of his best albums were done in this period IMO, Neck and Neck and the Hillbillies.

[hunter]

Apart from the disappointment with yet another delay, I can't imagine that this dragging and tiring process of putting together this solo album over so many years can be gratifying to both of them in any way. Something strange must have happened besides "loving to do everything slow," something Guy is not at liberty to talk about. By now they probably can't stand listening anymore to the songs they started working on in 2020/21 so many years ago ("we don't look back, we only look to the future").
With the TCT project things can be different, it seems to be a growing project that has taken on another and probably bigger form than originally planned. I understand that. But with the solo album, it seems so strange to me.

The musical plus the pandemic didn't exactly help. Plus the passing of the British Grove manager could have put the brakes on a few things as well. But then again as they knew there would be no touring, you'd think they'd have more time to focus on releasing the album.

[dustyvalentino]

If this is how long it takes him now then I guess this could be his last album...

[Robson]

Let's not forget that Mark composed and wrote music for musical Local Hero.

[hunter]

Unless there are other projects, unforeseen events, and his health is stable, I don't see why he couldn't release one or two more albums.

[Robson]

I just want to say that in the last six years he recorded three albums. It's a lot.

[hunter]

I just want to say that in the last six years he recorded three albums. It's a lot.

I would say normally it wouldn't be a lot, but covid made things challenging, plus the Local Hero work has been a lot more complex and time consuming than a regular project. But apart from that, considering Mark's productivity, access to studio space, and people that handle a lot of practical tasks for him, Mark could easily release an album a year or so now that there is no touring.

[Robson]

I just want to say that in the last six years he recorded three albums. It's a lot.

I would say normally it wouldn't be a lot, but covid made things challenging, plus the Local Hero work has been a lot more complex and time consuming than a regular project. But apart from that, considering Mark's productivity, access to studio space, and people that handle a lot of practical tasks for him, Mark could easily release an album a year or so now that there is no touring.

I agree. Maybe the tour was motivating him to release the album on time. Now is different..

[Jules]

Don't worry people, let's give Mark a break. Time flies when you have fun, he's most certainly not even aware it takes whole 6 years for a new album.

Six years, that's how long it took between BIA and OES ...

Yes and they had effectively disbanded after BIA.  Mark says at the Mandela show "this is the reason we got the band back together."  Then at Knebworth he announces they're going to do another album. 

So there's lots of good stuff in between including a massive world tour, charity shows (2 Princes Trust too), the Randy Newman sessions and touring with Clapton.  Oh yes, and a couple of soundtracks too!

AND Neck and Neck. AND Notting Hillbillies. Very productive period, and when the guitar actually meant something to him.

Knebworth was originally billed as Mark Knopfler, not Dire Straits, but got retooled as Dire Straits for he CD/video etc. Very strange.

Two of his best albums were done in this period IMO, Neck and Neck and the Hillbillies.

It was billed as DS from the start. In Spain the official Spanish radio was broadcasting a show with songs from all the people involved as they always said it was to be Dire Straits.

The mistake it's in the video, where it says Mark Knopfler, but in all the rest of places you will see DS.

[dustyvalentino]

Don't worry people, let's give Mark a break. Time flies when you have fun, he's most certainly not even aware it takes whole 6 years for a new album.

Six years, that's how long it took between BIA and OES ...

Yes and they had effectively disbanded after BIA.  Mark says at the Mandela show "this is the reason we got the band back together."  Then at Knebworth he announces they're going to do another album. 

So there's lots of good stuff in between including a massive world tour, charity shows (2 Princes Trust too), the Randy Newman sessions and touring with Clapton.  Oh yes, and a couple of soundtracks too!

AND Neck and Neck. AND Notting Hillbillies. Very productive period, and when the guitar actually meant something to him.

Knebworth was originally billed as Mark Knopfler, not Dire Straits, but got retooled as Dire Straits for he CD/video etc. Very strange.

Two of his best albums were done in this period IMO, Neck and Neck and the Hillbillies.

It was billed as DS from the start. In Spain the official Spanish radio was broadcasting a show with songs from all the people involved as they always said it was to be Dire Straits.

The mistake it's in the video, where it says Mark Knopfler, but in all the rest of places you will see DS.

Maybe they said that on the radio in Spain but that was not the case for the event itself.

See below the poster, the programme and the TV broadcast, all billed as Mark Knopfler, even though Clapton says Dire Straits!



image hosting sites

image share

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394738852364?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338749385&toolid=20006&customid=GB_11233_394738852364.143740370318~1869902156350-g_CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLO4h-yCSCn-UP4vqeNskL2LGOEv6RbjZjGk_80y5jbRa9Kx8LRblhRoCNBMQAvD_BwE

[rmarques821]

6 years is way too much time for him to make an album, he never took so long.
Maybe Mark has become a grandad and he chooses to spend time with his grandkids. Or maybe doing crosswords with Kitty. What does he actually do on a daily basis? I don't think he even goes shopping, he probably chooses home deliveries.

[Jules]

Don't worry people, let's give Mark a break. Time flies when you have fun, he's most certainly not even aware it takes whole 6 years for a new album.

Six years, that's how long it took between BIA and OES ...

Yes and they had effectively disbanded after BIA.  Mark says at the Mandela show "this is the reason we got the band back together."  Then at Knebworth he announces they're going to do another album. 

So there's lots of good stuff in between including a massive world tour, charity shows (2 Princes Trust too), the Randy Newman sessions and touring with Clapton.  Oh yes, and a couple of soundtracks too!

AND Neck and Neck. AND Notting Hillbillies. Very productive period, and when the guitar actually meant something to him.

Knebworth was originally billed as Mark Knopfler, not Dire Straits, but got retooled as Dire Straits for he CD/video etc. Very strange.

Two of his best albums were done in this period IMO, Neck and Neck and the Hillbillies.

It was billed as DS from the start. In Spain the official Spanish radio was broadcasting a show with songs from all the people involved as they always said it was to be Dire Straits.

The mistake it's in the video, where it says Mark Knopfler, but in all the rest of places you will see DS.

Maybe they said that on the radio in Spain but that was not the case for the event itself.

See below the poster, the programme and the TV broadcast, all billed as Mark Knopfler, even though Clapton says Dire Straits!



image hosting sites

image share

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394738852364?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338749385&toolid=20006&customid=GB_11233_394738852364.143740370318~1869902156350-g_CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLO4h-yCSCn-UP4vqeNskL2LGOEv6RbjZjGk_80y5jbRa9Kx8LRblhRoCNBMQAvD_BwE

Those say Mark Knopfler because those were made after it was decided they would do a supergroup with Clapton and Elton John. I remember publicity at the time were the name was Dire Straits when it was supposed they would have their own slot, not shared with Clapton and Elton John.

Can't find right now any of that advertising, I bought it from Spanish magazines of course but they were official publicity of the festival. They also mentioned some bands that didn't appear as Queen, and Tears for fears were not mentioned at all, I think Robert Plant wasn't either.

[dustyvalentino]

So to summarise:

Official poster - wrong
Official programme - wrong
TV broadcast - wrong

Julio's memory  of a radio broadcast from another country 33 years ago - correct 

[ds1984]

Fact is that JI and GF joined MK and AC so it was definitively Dire Straits on stage and not Mark Knopfler part of EC Supergroup - contrary to the EC 1988 japanese tour.

Reason for DS only being advertised as Mark Knopfler is unknown to me.