Why Did Mark Knopfler quit playing Solid Rock and Private Investigations live?

[12345]

Those are probably some of my favourite DS live songs but I always wondered why MK quit playing those live after he quit DS?

[quizzaciously]

Those are probably some of my favourite DS live songs but I always wondered why MK quit playing those live after he quit DS?

Both of these songs suited the scale of the band at the time, I don't think it would sound (and look!) as good in a stripped-down, simpler solo MK outfit.

If only those were the only DS songs he stopped playing So I think for it to work you need flashy lighting, flashy solos, big arenas, etc.

...and bring 1 extra acoustic guitar to play just 1 song.

[cannibals]

I always thought some songs were 100 procent out when he went solo. He had to play some DS songs for the fans so in the beginning he played CE WOL and so on. He just played the ones he really liked and he thought would fit in his set now he went solo.

[ds1984]

Only god knows.

[2manyguitars]

I remember seeing John Ilsley play P.I. at the Brook in Southampton a few years back probably in front of a crowd of 3 or 400 people. Scale didn't matter, it was still great.

There's a simple answer to your question though.

Because he didn't want to.  ....

[2manyguitars]

Only god knows.

Do we need to ask Eric?

Lol

[dmg]

This and Tunnel of Love.  My opinion is simple: because his new band didn't have the rock leanings of DS members.  Can you imagine Ricardo providing some of the solos to Two Young Lovers that Jack did?  Even Mark picked up some new amps to make himself sound softer.

Nashville and RAH don't mix.

[iorch82]

I always thought some songs were 100 procent out when he went solo. He had to play some DS songs for the fans so in the beginning he played CE WOL and so on. He just played the ones he really liked and he thought would fit in his set now he went solo.

CE in the solo tours has always sound super weak IMO - just like "The Bug" - , not sure why he kept playing it in 96 and 01.They even temporary added a super weird modulation in the solo section (96 tour I think) !

[dustyvalentino]

I liked it in 96, the transition from Je Suis Desole was cool!

[ds1984]

Mark could have played anything from the  DS catalog if he had wanted to.
Everything that wasn't played is Mark's only decision.

[rmarques821]

Mark could have played anything from the  DS catalog if he had wanted to.
Everything that wasn't played is Mark's only decision.

Up until 2005, yes. Can you imagine Tunnel of Love being played in 2019?

[Dutchessy]

He did play Once upon a time in the west, i think he still can do the TOL solo, but i guess we will never know.

[dmg]

I always thought some songs were 100 procent out when he went solo. He had to play some DS songs for the fans so in the beginning he played CE WOL and so on. He just played the ones he really liked and he thought would fit in his set now he went solo.

CE in the solo tours has always sound super weak IMO - just like "The Bug" - , not sure why he kept playing it in 96 and 01.They even temporary added a super weird modulation in the solo section (96 tour I think) !

Totally agree - these two songs were awful post DS.  He seemed glued to his Les Paul at this point and sometimes I feel for no particular reason.  These songs were better served on the OES tour and I think the absence of Paul Franklin was notable too.

[12345]

He did play Once upon a time in the west, i think he still can do the TOL solo, but i guess we will never know.

IMO Once Upon A Time In The West sounded absolutely horrible when he played it on the 2019 tour. Not sure why he added the brass instruments and switched to a Les Paul. It didn't fit at all and sounded so watered down and sounded nothing like how it was played live before.

[12345]

Mark could have played anything from the  DS catalog if he had wanted to.
Everything that wasn't played is Mark's only decision.

Up until 2005, yes. Can you imagine Tunnel of Love being played in 2019?

I mean he was still able to play Telegraph Road in 2019 which is harder than TOL, at least imo