Special Q & A with Ed Bicknell - DISCUSSION THREAD

[stratmad]

I regret that only one question because I have a second one that I like more than the first one.

You could just create a second account. Call it Robson2 and nobody will know it's you. 

[Robson]

I regret that only one question because I have a second one that I like more than the first one.

You could just create a second account. Call it Robson2 and nobody will know it's you. 

I'll think about it 

[Rolo]

Reading Ed's answers the parting of the ways with Mark was the right thing for both of them. If Ed doesn't listen to Mark's new stuff, he can't understand how Mark has grown as a lyricist and songwriter. Mark as a big fan of Bob always wanted to be an aartist. It is his calling. I think Mark lost his way slightly with the brothers in armd and on every street records. He needed a fresh start.

I think that Ed is the kind of person that is motivated by music. Not too much about the lyrics.
A good lyric have much more effect inside a great music.

I agree that Mark wanted a fresh start. However, the musical direction didn't captivated Ed.
Ed is wild fire and MK turned himself a grill. Now, he is a matchstick.

There was one person who I and quite a number of the others would have been happy to see the back of but unfortunately he was saved by his talent.

I agree with LE. Must be Alan.

I agree with Ed that pop music can never be art. Important, relevant, yes. But even Mark himself would probably laugh about calling his music art.

Hahaha... partially agreed.
I we have the proof.
It's on the Guy Pratt's podcast.
MK said something like: - ... I made the music... err... music (laughs), i made the songwriting.

"MK’s solo career has been sustained by the fan base. I doubt he’s expanded his audience at all and without DS he wouldn’t have had a career, probably not even a record deal.

Yes. Harsh but pragmatic and I could be completely wrong."

Interesting one this one.  I think I completely agree.  I'm a Dire Straits fan but if I'm really honest with myself I'm not sure I'm that much of an MK solo career fan.  I know there is a lot of love for his solo work here (slightly the point of the whole forum) so I won't go further into it but that's my personal perspective.

Yes.
However, before this sentence, is carved on stone that DS was Mark's band. So.. DS was 100% Mark (I had my doubts about it praising Alan's work and, maybe, his inputs)

And, after Mark started do "do what he wants", only his fanbase (DS) can sustain his solo career.

I often said: - We learn to like Mark's solo stuff because his impact with DS.

Like yes, no joke, Mark's solo career is sustained by the fan base, as it wasn't his songs, his guitar playing and his voice that have built it in the first place. To me, there are no DS or solo career, just MK in progress.

Yep. I am on this path now.

[Robson]

One thing that doesn't give me pause. From Ed's answers we have a picture of MK, which is not easy to work with. 16 years DS many lineups, many goodbyes. MK solo - 28 years and the lineup can be said to be constant. Of course, more musicians but few goodbyes. People do not change only times are different (?) But maybe Mark after Dire Straits is a different man. Or maybe other musicians were not saints either. But we'll never know that from MK.

[Rolo]

To me, it's been a pleasure to ask my bullshits to Ed.
There are maaaaany cool things and I did a LOT of loud laughs.

I really like Ed's personality. It's a guy full of passion.
And, using a very poor comparison, he sells what he enjoys to sell.
If he don't believe in the products that he sells, he cannot sell it properly.
The main thing about Ed's management is that the music drives him to believe in the product. And that is huge.

- Things like why MK is so restrictive about "fans" are well explained.
- Mark making his maximum to avoid conflicts, and been bossy, creates a number of unfriendships along the times.
- That Alan's inputs (that i believe that was the main thing about 80's DS, expecially LOG, LH and Alchemy) was waaaay less than i tought.
- My guess about OES was planned to be a 2nd NHB album was way wrong. (and I laughed about his comments about the songs)
- The RRHOF thing and his vision about the band/fans
- The almost 20 songs that are RECORDED for LOG that will never see the light.
- Every show is the same show since the beggining. The only who can play new things is Mark.
- Mainly of the 96ers are too flat, almost horizontal. (LOL)
- Ed's tender LOVE for DK

and the most revealing of all answers.
- He doesn't sleep with a pillow in a shape of a strat. DAMN!


Thank you, Ed!

[stratmad]

One thing that doesn't give me pause. From Ed's answers we have a picture of MK, which is not easy to work with. 16 years DS many lineups, many goodbyes. MK solo - 28 years and the lineup can be said to be constant. Of course, more musicians but few goodbyes. People do not change only times are different (?) But maybe Mark after Dire Straits is a different man. Or maybe other musicians were not saints either. But we'll never know that from MK.

That's something I've been wondering about as well.
The solo line-up has been constant except for the drummers, god knows why ;-)
My impression is that there was a major change after DS, maybe not a different man, but a very different setup.
Firstly, the situation in the solo band is different, with a handful of highly sought-after specialist musicians, and no-one having to prove anything, no-one playing for the money, which makes it all much more relaxed, I suppose. Then there's maybe another factor, which is that half the band are Americans - I'm not sure if that would make a major difference, but maybe a bit.
Generally, I got the impression that MK has been much more relaxed than in DS, and I was quite shocked to learn what level of stress they were exposed to during BIA and especially OES tours. Having your garden gnomes stolen is one thing, but receiving death threats and stuff like that is another level! I never thought it was that bad. But now it's all crystal clear, and it makes total sense to me that he walked away from it all.

[quizzaciously]

One thing that doesn't give me pause. From Ed's answers we have a picture of MK, which is not easy to work with. 16 years DS many lineups, many goodbyes. MK solo - 28 years and the lineup can be said to be constant. Of course, more musicians but few goodbyes. People do not change only times are different (?) But maybe Mark after Dire Straits is a different man. Or maybe other musicians were not saints either. But we'll never know that from MK.

That's something I've been wondering about as well.
The solo line-up has been constant except for the drummers, god knows why ;-)
My impression is that there was a major change after DS, maybe not a different man, but a very different setup.
Firstly, the situation in the solo band is different, with a handful of highly sought-after specialist musicians, and no-one having to prove anything, no-one playing for the money, which makes it all much more relaxed, I suppose. Then there's maybe another factor, which is that half the band are Americans - I'm not sure if that would make a major difference, but maybe a bit.
Generally, I got the impression that MK has been much more relaxed than in DS, and I was quite shocked to learn what level of stress they were exposed to during BIA and especially OES tours. Having your garden gnomes stolen is one thing, but receiving death threats and stuff like that is another level! I never thought it was that bad. But now it's all crystal clear, and it makes total sense to me that he walked away from it all.

Exactly, people don't change but the times and environment (and your reaction to it) are different. You can't change or pick the first two, but the latter — hell yes! You need to be blind or born yesterday not to notice the obvious path of Mark's songwriting and the changes the songs demanded, and his career and the changes it demanded. Good luck playing Border Reiver, Kingdom Of Gold or Sailing To Philadelphia with the original 4-piece or Wild West End with the current Nashville/Folk orchestra, good luck trying to get Mark resurrect Dire Straits, put Ed back behind the wheel and organise a 3-stages 2-year-long tour. As we say in Russia, let's drink to our opportunities always matching our desires.

[Love Expresso]

 Not sure if I should worry more about the Stalker thing or the fact that MK had garden gnomes...   

LE

[stratmad]

Not sure if I should worry more about the Stalker thing or the fact that MK had garden gnomes...   

LE

Haha!
Garden gnomes (or rather their owners) have a very negative image in Germany, as they convey the idea of a strait-laced, lower-middle-class person with very fixed views, but I don't think it's that bad in the UK.

[Robson]

WOW! Ed really these answers, memories are great potential for a book.

Thank you Dusty. Solid work !

[dustyvalentino]

WOW! Ed really these answers, memories are great potential for a book.

Thank you Dusty. Solid work !

No thanks necessary to me, I’m just cutting and pasting.

Real credit is to Ed, and anyone who is able to come up with a good question for him.

[Robson]

 

I've been on AMIT for 15 years. Have any other DS musicians written on the forum before, besides Chris Whitten and Ed Bicknell?

[Love Expresso]

I've been on AMIT for 15 years. Have any other DS musicians written on the forum before, besides Chris Whitten and Ed Bicknell?

Yes, Guy Fletcher (  ) and Jack Sonni.

LE

[Robson]

I've been on AMIT for 15 years. Have any other DS musicians written on the forum before, besides Chris Whitten and Ed Bicknell?

Yes, Guy Fletcher (  ) and Jack Sonni.

LE

Yes Guy Fletcher. I wasn't sure about Jack Sonni. Thank you LE.

[Love Expresso]

Guy was only here for two posts ranting about In Ear Mix Bootlegs in 2008. Jack Sonni had a thread about his book where he posted for a while and answered questions.

LE