Riaan wrote:
How on earth does Mark Knopfler do that trick...I didn't see him use the volume knob?
At 03:32 of the live clip I think I see him stepping on a volume pedal - but with his heel, not the toes. I can think how that would be easier to control the swell than the traditional way of using a pedal.
Riaan wrote:
I wonder why David decided to leave the band back then? Perhaps being overshadowed by his brother, because their styles are very similar?
From what I've read he hated the fame, and how big DS became:
In 1977 David founded Dire Straits, and with brother Mark, recorded three albums and toured extensively before resigning three years later to broaden his horizons. "In the Straits I learned how to translate the intimate from the bedroom to the arena. Since leaving I've been wondering how you put the genii back in the bottle. I'm still interested in the way the personal can also translate lyrically to universal themes, but hopefully with less hoopla and distraction. I now make my work for that special someone willing to make time to listen quietly to the work and be reflective. It's the listener who makes the creative connections and finds their personal story. Like any artist, I need the work to excite and involve me, but I also hope my songs provide a vehicle for the listener to put themselves centre stage and relate to the emotions and ideas."
http://www.knopfler.com/biog.html
And
I left for the same reasons everyone leaves jobs that are no longer fulfilling their hopes and aspirations. I didn’t see myself spending the rest of my life being a strummer for someone else’s dreams. Whatever the opposite of regret is best describes how I’ve always felt about that decision — it opened me up to a million creative opportunities I needed to experience away from the bullshit and distorting mirrors that fame engenders.
http://www.fearlessbooks.com/fsKnopfler.htm
But this is perhaps somewhat more revealing...
Why did you quit Dire Straits during the making of the third album?
From Mark's point of view, he was just trying to make the record he wanted to make, and that's legitimate. But I wasn't comfortable working with the constant tension and atmosphere any longer. Basic human values were being sacrificed on the altar of Mark's desire to mould events to his will rather than the collective creative vibe. I'm sure with hindsight we all could have handled things differently.
Any chance of a reunion?
I suspect flying pigs will be sighted before Mark sees any virtue in the idea. In his shoes, with his commercial clout and bank balance, I'd suspect he'd react to that question with a "Huh? Why would I want to do that? I can spend as much money as I like making a record - hire anyone in the world - take as long as I like - why would I want to go back to the tensions and limitations I left behind?" He would have a valid point.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/celeb_interviews/article69823.ece
PS: Isn't it really cool how his official website is called
www.knopfler.com? Like there isn't a more famous Knopfler around! LOL.
