2. PEOPLE

Q: When was Mark Knopfler born?

A: Mark Freuder Knopfler was born on Friday 12 August 1949 as a son of Erwin Knopfler and Louisa Mary Knopfler. Erwin Knopfler, an architect, was a Hungarian Jew who had fled from the Nazis in 1939, and settled in Glasgow. A daughter, Ruth had been born in 1947. Later, in 1952, Mrs. Knopfler gave birth to a second son, David. When Mark was seven or eight, the Knopflers moved from Glasgow to Newcastle (Alan Clark’s hometown).

Q: Who are the official members of Dire Straits?

A: At this moment the official Dire Straits are: Mark Knopfler (guitar, vocals), John Illsley (bass, vocals), Alan Clark (keyboards) and Guy Fletcher (keyboards, vocals). Mark and John are the only ones who are left from the original 1977 line-up. Alan Clark joined Dire Straits in 1980 for the Making Movies tour. Guy Fletcher joined in 1984, and has played on almost everything Knopfler has done since that time.

Q: Why did Pick Withers leave DS?

A: Pick Withers left Dire Straits in 1982, after the Love Over Gold sessions. He had a desire to play jazz. And it was difficult for him when Mark added more and more keyboards to Dire Straits’ music, making the drums less important then in the beginning. Pick was replaced by Terry Williams, first heard on the Extended Dance Play EP.

Q: Why is Eric Clapton credited on the "Brothers In Arms’ album?

A: MK borrowed a guitar from Eric Clapton for these sessions, that is the reason his name is on the cover.

Q: Which musicians have been part of Dire Straits?

A:

The first years: 
Mark Knopfler - guitar / vocals
John Illsley - bass / vocals
David Knopfler - guitar / vocals
Pick Withers - drums

Making Movies Tour (On Location):
Mark Knopfler - guitar / vocals
John Illsley - bass / vocals
Alan Clark - keyboards
Hal Lindes - guitar / vocals
Pick Withers - drums

Love Over Gold Tour:
Mark Knopfler - guitar / vocals
John Illsley - bass / vocals
Alan Clark - keyboards
Hal Lindes - guitar / vocals
Terry Williams - drums
Mel Collins - saxophone
Tommy Mandel - keyboards

Brothers In Arms Tour:
Mark Knopfler - guitar / vocals
John Illsley - bass / vocals
Alan Clark - keyboards
Guy Fletcher - keyboards / vocals
Jack Sonni - guitar / vocals
Terry Williams - drums
Chris White - saxophone / vocals

On Every Street Tour:
Mark Knopfler - guitar / vocals
John Illsley - bass / vocals
Alan Clark - keyboards
Guy Fletcher - keyboards / vocals
Phil Palmer - guitar / vocals
Chris Whitten - drums
Chris White - saxophone / vocals
Paul Franklin - pedal steel guitar
Danny Cummings - percussion / vocals

Q: What special guests appeared on DS-concerts?

A:

Hank Marwin: 7/22-83, 7/9,11,14,15-85 and 12/22-85 on ‘Going Home’ 
Pete Townsend: 7/4-85 ‘Going Home’ 
T-Bone Burnet: 7/8-85, his own ‘Songs power of love’ 
Fransis Rossi (Status Quo): 7/8-85 on ‘Two Young Lovers’ 
Nils Lofgren (E-Street Band): 7/9,10-85 ‘Going Home’ (not sure) 
Paul Brady: 7/11,14,15-85 CAL music and his own ‘Steel Claw’ one show 
Sting: 11/28-85 ‘Money For Nothing’ + Prince’s Trust + Live Aid 
Dave Edmunds:7/15-85 (not sure what song) 
Branford Marsalis (jazz, sax, more famous brother Winton Marsalis. 
Has played with Sting): 10/3-85 ‘Why Worry,’ ‘WildWest End’ 
David Sandborn (sax-player and more): 10/11,12-85 on ‘Why Worry’ (
like Branford comes in for the extended final instrumental part) 
Billy Joel: 10/12-85 piano on ‘Two Young Lovers’ 
Paul Young: 12/22-85 sings ‘Dancing With Me Baby’ and a very melancolic 
tune, may be called ‘I'm Back’ 
Bob Dylan: 2/19-86 sings ‘Along the Watch Tower,’ ‘License to Kill’ 
‘Knocking on Heaven's Door’ 
Eric Clapton: 12/19,22-85 comes in after "false singing" on ‘Walk of Life,’ 
‘Two Young Lovers,’ ‘Cocaine’ and in the latter case also ‘Solid Rock’ and 
a blues song (don't know the name, ends with a guitar dialogue between MK 
and EC) + Mandela + Knebworth 
DS guests to Jackson Browne, 7/20-80, 3-4 JB songs with long MK solos 
Roy Bittan, Making Movies Tour 80/81 (Roxy, Los Angeles), played on 
'Tunnel Of Love' 

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