New DS Live Box Set, 3rd November 2023!

[Chris W]

I've also been a boss, and I like to give my employees freedom to solve their exercises the way they want to, and then they can ask for advice if needed.

That was a bit like how McCartney worked. I can't remembering him telling me what to play during the tour rehearsals.
It's an ideal, but quite rare in music. Most band leaders are dictators.

[ds1984]

When you are a creator is it understandable that you want your creation reflect what you have in mind?
So perhaps being a sort of dictator is the natural way when others have to built what you want.

Beware of what the word "dictator" means to you.
In my mind it means that you don't have freedom to express your own creativity but to execute what someone else want.
That does apply to human behaving.

[Chris W]

Beware of what the word "dictator" means to you.
In my mind it means that you don't have freedom to express your own creativity but to execute what someone else want.

Yes, that's often how life is with band leaders, especially the more successful ones. That's fine, it goes with the territory.

[MagicElliott]

I've also been a boss, and I like to give my employees freedom to solve their exercises the way they want to, and then they can ask for advice if needed.

That was a bit like how McCartney worked. I can't remembering him telling me what to play during the tour rehearsals.
It's an ideal, but quite rare in music. Most band leaders are dictators.

I wonder if the fact that Guy described himself as band leader has any significance on this. I remember him saying something like “I guess I’m better suited in that role than Mark.”

Maybe mark realised that he wasn’t the best suited person in his line up for that role.

[hunter v2.0]

I've also been a boss, and I like to give my employees freedom to solve their exercises the way they want to, and then they can ask for advice if needed.

That was a bit like how McCartney worked. I can't remembering him telling me what to play during the tour rehearsals.
It's an ideal, but quite rare in music. Most band leaders are dictators.

I wonder if the fact that Guy described himself as band leader has any significance on this. I remember him saying something like “I guess I’m better suited in that role than Mark.”

Maybe mark realised that he wasn’t the best suited person in his line up for that role.

I think you are confusing "band leader" with "music director". Guy has functioned as music director.

[Chris W]

In the On Every Street tour rehearsals Mark was definitely the boss. Guy and Alan were his right hand men, they would suggest things, they would come up with ideas, but in the end Mark would have the final say.

[hunter v2.0]

I found the question and answer on Guy's website:

By: Tim Littman
Categories: Tour
May 20, 2015

Q: Hi! On previous tours I remember you being the musical director. Is this still the case and if so how come MK doesn’t do it? Many thanks.

A: Yes, I’m better suited to that role I suppose.


It's more of a assistant/facilitator role, isn't it? Handling practical things rather than artistic aspects. Maybe Chris could shed some light on this?

[Jules]

In the On Every Street tour rehearsals Mark was definitely the boss. Guy and Alan were his right hand men, they would suggest things, they would come up with ideas, but in the end Mark would have the final say.

As far as I remember, in those days it was Alan Clark the musical director, but as his role was also the main keyboardist, probably he wanted Guy sharing the MC duties as well. As you say, they were his right and left hands.

[Chris W]

From my memory, once the rehearsals started (I don't know about the album), Guy was definitely equal to Alan. After the tour of course Alan drifted off and Guy became Mark's most important side kick.
Alan seemed plugged in to the musical aspect of things, based on his piano and organ playing. Guy was great at the technology, sound and arrangements.

[MagicElliott]

I've also been a boss, and I like to give my employees freedom to solve their exercises the way they want to, and then they can ask for advice if needed.

That was a bit like how McCartney worked. I can't remembering him telling me what to play during the tour rehearsals.
It's an ideal, but quite rare in music. Most band leaders are dictators.

I wonder if the fact that Guy described himself as band leader has any significance on this. I remember him saying something like “I guess I’m better suited in that role than Mark.”

Maybe mark realised that he wasn’t the best suited person in his line up for that role.

I think you are confusing "band leader" with "music director". Guy has functioned as music director.

Ah yeah excuse my ignorance. That was the quote from Guy’s forum that I was thinking of too.

[ds1984]

A question did just pop in my mind : wans't the Mandela gig recorded using a multitrack ?

[Jules]

A question did just pop in my mind : wans't the Mandela gig recorded using a multitrack ?

I don't think so, it was a live broadcast, those are usually just stereo mix for the radio and tv broadcast, not sure if many tv stations broadcasted in stereo in 1988.

Maybe they recorded it too in multitracks just in case, but everything I heard about this concert is just the stereo live broadcast.

[ds1984]

By 1988 stereo TV broadcasting was available in US (cable television), Germany and Japan.

[the visitor]

A question did just pop in my mind : wans't the Mandela gig recorded using a multitrack ?

I don't think so, it was a live broadcast, those are usually just stereo mix for the radio and tv broadcast, not sure if many tv stations broadcasted in stereo in 1988.

Maybe they recorded it too in multitracks just in case, but everything I heard about this concert is just the stereo live broadcast.

The only thing that makes me doubt this is that there are definitely at least two different mixes of this concert in existence.  One is from the radio / TV stereo broadcast which is my favourite : it has flaws (like missing the first sax fill in Sultans) but lots of ambience.   The second mix can be found on the Superstar Concert Series release which aired after the event to US syndicated networks.   This is a cleaner, more clinical and direct mix which I am guessing was remixed after the concert. The Solid Rock Bootleg comes from this source.  I don't like it as much.

A third and final possible mix can be found on the official VHS.  This might just be a better quality version of the first radio mix I mention, but sounds great.

I'd really love an official release of this important concert in Dire Straits history.

[ds1984]

The live mix and the superstar series have différent mixing\mastering.
Alan organ on the intro of WOL has not the same presence.

And Mark backing vocal on Wonderful Tonight too.