Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler, the legendary guitarist, singer, and songwriter, has had a profound impact on the world of music. Best known for his work with Dire Straits, his unique fingerpicking style and smooth vocals have earned him a place among the greatest guitarists of all time.

In this post, we will explore Knopfler’s biography, the guitars that shaped his sound, and the equipment that has accompanied him throughout his illustrious career.

Table of Contents

Early Life

Mark Knopfler was born on August 12, 1949, in Glasgow, Scotland to Louisa Mary, an English teacher, and Erwin Knopfler, an architect and chess player. His father fled Hungary in 1939 to escape the Nazis.

Mark’s parents were married in 1947 in Newcastle. The family lived in Glasgow, where Mark’s younger brother David was born on December 27, 1952. The family moved to his mother’s hometown of Blyth, near Newcastle in North East England, when he was only 7 years old. Mark had attended Bearsden Primary School in Scotland for two years. Then both brothers went to Gosforth Grammar School in Newcastle.

Mark was first inspired by his uncle Kingsley’s harmonica and boogie-woogie piano playing. He dreamed of a Fender Stratocaster Fiesta Red, just like Hank Marvin’s. His father ended up buying him a guitar, but it was a Höfner Super Solid with two pickups for £50. And Mark began to learn to play the guitar. Heavily influenced by rock ‘n’ roll, folk, and blues, Knopfler’s early musical inspirations included artists such as Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, and Scotty Moore.

At the age of 16, he appeared on local television as part of the duet Harmony with his classmate Sue Hurcombe.

In 1968, after studying journalism for a year at Harlow College, Mark was hired as a junior reporter for the Yorkshire Evening Post in Leeds. There, he met Steve Phillips, a local furniture restorer and country blues enthusiast. They formed a duo called “The Duolian String Pickers,” performing at local folk and acoustic blues venues. Two years later, Mark decided to continue his education and graduated with a degree in English from the University of Leeds.

In 1970, while living in Leeds, Mark recorded a demo of his original song “Summer’s Coming My Way” with Steve Phillips, Dave Johnson, and Paul Granger.

After graduating in 1973, Mark moved to London and joined a band called Brewers Droop. Although the band recorded material with Mark, it remained unreleased until their 1989 archival album “The Booze Brothers.” During this period, Mark developed his signature finger-picking guitar style using an old acoustic guitar with a warped neck.

After a brief stint with Brewers Droop, Mark worked as a lecturer at Loughton College in Essex for three years while performing with local pub bands, including the Café Racers. By the mid-1970s, he focused on the Café Racers.

His brother David moved to London and shared a flat with John Illsley, a guitarist who switched to bass. In 1977, Mark joined David and John in their flat, and they began playing music together, leading to the formation of Dire Straits.

Dire Straits

In 1977, Knopfler formed the band Dire Straits with his younger brother, David Knopfler, and friends John Illsley and Pick Withers.

Dire Straits’ journey began with their first demos recorded in 1977, featuring David Knopfler on rhythm guitar, John Illsley on bass, and Pick Withers on drums. These sessions produced early versions of iconic tracks like “Sultans of Swing,” “Down to the Waterline,” and “Wild West End.” These songs set the stage for their debut album “Dire Straits”.

Initially released in October 1978, the album did not gain much attention in the UK. However, when “Sultans of Swing” was released as a single, it became a chart-topper in the Netherlands and sparked international interest, leading to strong album sales across Europe, the United States, Canada, and eventually the UK. In 1997, “Sultans of Swing” was listed in Rolling Stone magazine’s compilation of “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll“.

The band’s second album, “Communiqué,” produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett, followed in June 1979, further establishing their blues-infused rock sound.

Their third album, “Making Movies,” released in October 1980, showcased more complex arrangements and production. It featured Mark Knopfler’s personal compositions like “Romeo and Juliet” and “Tunnel of Love,” incorporating Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s “The Carousel Waltz” in the latter, famously used in the 1982 film “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

Tensions between the Knopfler brothers escalated during the recording of “Making Movies” in 1980, leading to David Knopfler’s departure from the band to pursue a solo career. The remaining trio continued with Roy Bittan from Bruce Springsteen’s “E Street Band” on keyboards and session guitarist Sid McGinnis on rhythm guitar for the album. After completing the sessions, keyboardist Alan Clark and Californian guitarist Hal Lindes joined Dire Straits as full-time members for the subsequent “On Location” tour across Europe, North America, and Oceania.

In September 1982, the band released their fourth studio album, “Love Over Gold,” featuring tracks like “Private Investigations,” “Telegraph Road,” “Industrial Disease,” “It Never Rains,” and the title track. Shortly after its release, Pick Withers left the band, marking another change in the lineup.

In early 1983 Dire Straits released a four-song EP titled “ExtendedancEPlay.” This EP included the popular single “Twisting by the Pool.” It also marked the debut of their new drummer, Terry Williams, formerly of Rockpile and Man. Following this release, the band embarked on an extensive “Love Over Gold Tour” that spanned eight months, culminating in two sold-out shows at London’s Hammersmith Odeon on July 22–23, 1983.

In March 1984, Dire Straits released the double album “Alchemy Live,” documenting the recordings from these final Hammersmith Odeon concerts. It was also released on VHS video and achieved number three on the UK Albums Chart. In 2010, “Alchemy Live” was reissued in DVD and Blu-ray formats.

During the recording of Dire Straits‘ next studio album, “Brothers in Arms,” which began at the end of 1984 at George Martin’s Air Studios in Montserrat, they underwent further lineup changes. Guy Fletcher joined as a full-time keyboardist, while Hal Lindes left early in the sessions and was replaced by guitarist Jack Sonni. Drummer Terry Williams initially participated in the recording but was later replaced by jazz drummer Omar Hakim, who re-recorded the album’s drum parts within three days. Williams returned as a full-time member for the music videos and subsequent “Brothers in Arms” world tour from 1985 to 1986.

Released in May 1985, “Brothers in Arms” became a global phenomenon, selling over 30 million copies worldwide and becoming the fourth best-selling album in UK chart history. It spawned multiple hit singles, including the US #1 “Money for Nothing,” famously the first video played on MTV in Britain. Additionally, “Brothers in Arms” was pivotal in popularizing the compact disc (CD) format, being one of the earliest albums to be recorded, mixed, and mastered entirely digitally.

The album’s other successful singles included “So Far Away,” “Walk of Life,” and the title track “Brothers in Arms.”

The accompanying world tour from 1985 to 1986 comprised over 230 shows and was massively successful, cementing Dire Straits’ status as one of the biggest bands of the era.

Dire Straits reunited for the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium on June 11, 1988, where they headlined with Elton John and Eric Clapton. Shortly after, Jack Sonni and Terry Williams officially left the band.

In September 1988, Mark Knopfler announced the dissolution of Dire Straits, citing a need for rest.

A compilation album titled “Money for Nothing” was released in October 1988, reaching number one in the UK.

However, in 1990, Knopfler, John Illsley, and Alan Clark reunited as Dire Straits for a performance at Knebworth, joined by Eric Clapton, Ray Cooper, and Phil Palmer. Encouraged by this reunion, in early 1991, Knopfler, Illsley, Clark, and Fletcher began recording what would become Dire Straits’ final studio album.

Dire Straits released their next album, “On Every Street,” in September 1991. Despite reaching No. 1 in the UK, it didn’t match the acclaim of its predecessor. Critics had mixed feelings, viewing it as a somewhat disappointing return after a long hiatus. Nevertheless, the album sold well.

To support “On Every Street,” Dire Straits embarked on an exhaustive world tour that spanned 300 shows, drawing 7.1 million fans. However, unlike the previous tour for “Brothers in Arms,” this one wasn’t as warmly received.

Mark Knopfler grew weary of the immense scale and pressures associated with such large-scale operations. Manager Ed Bicknell described the tour as “utter misery,” highlighting strained personal relationships and emotional strains among band members.

After the tour, Mark Knopfler took a hiatus from music. In 1993, he received an honorary music doctorate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Knopfler collaborated with George Jones on the 1994 album “The Bradley Barn Sessions,” playing guitar on the classic J.P. Richardson composition “White Lightnin’.”

Dire Straits released two more albums, both live recordings: “On the Night” in May 1993 and “Live at the BBC” in 1995.

Following this, Mark Knopfler quietly disbanded Dire Straits to focus on his solo career.

Since then, Mark Knopfler has shown no interest in reuniting Dire Straits. Keyboardist Guy Fletcher has been integral to Knopfler’s solo work, and Danny Cummings has also contributed frequently. Despite occasional suggestions for a reunion, Knopfler has remained firm in his decision.

In 2018, “Dire Straits” was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, though Knopfler did not attend the ceremony.

John Illsley, in his autobiography and subsequent interviews, confirmed Knopfler’s disinterest in reforming Dire Straits, reflecting on the band’s journey and the challenges they faced.

Dire Straits remains one of the most commercially successful bands globally, with over 120 million album sales worldwide, solidifying their place in rock history.

Solo Career

After Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, Knopfler pursued a successful solo career, releasing several albums and collaborating with notable artists such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and Emmylou Harris.

His debut solo album, “Golden Heart,” was released in March 1996. It featured the single “Darling Pretty.” Following the recording of the album, Knopfler’s backing band, known as The 96ers, was formed.

That same year, Knopfler recorded guitar to Ted Christopher’s cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” which was about the Dunblane massacre.

In 1997, he ventured into film scoring again, composing the soundtrack for the movie “Wag the Dog.”

Knopfler is featured on Kris Kristofferson’s 1999 album “The Austin Sessions,” playing on the track “Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends.”

His next solo album, “Sailing to Philadelphia,” released in 2000, marked a significant success. It included collaborations with notable artists like Van Morrison. Knopfler’s involvement in charity continued with his participation in the Music for Montserrat concert in 1997 alongside Sting, Phil Collins, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and Paul McCartney.

In July 2002, Knopfler reunited with former Dire Straits members for charity concerts under the banner “Mark Knopfler and friends.” This included John Illsley, Chris White, Danny Cummings, and Guy Fletcher, and featured material from their Dire Straits era.

Also in 2002, Knopfler released his third solo album, “The Ragpicker’s Dream.” However, his tour plans were interrupted in March 2003 due to a severe motorcycle accident in London, resulting in injuries including a broken collarbone, shoulder blade, and ribs.

Despite the setback, Knopfler resumed performing in 2004 with his fourth solo album, “Shangri-La,” recorded at the Shangri-La Studio in Malibu, California.

The Shangri-La tour expanded Knopfler’s reach to new territories, including India and the United Arab Emirates, where his concerts were met with enthusiastic crowds exceeding 20,000 fans in cities like Mumbai and Bangalore. Knopfler’s band during this period, featuring Glenn Worf, Guy Fletcher, Chad Cromwell, Richard Bennett, and Matt Rollings, was noted for their adept performances of Dire Straits songs, as Knopfler humorously claimed they played them “better than Dire Straits did.”

In November 2005, a compilation album titled “Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler” was released, featuring a selection of tracks from Dire Straits’ albums as well as Mark Knopfler’s solo and soundtrack work.

The album was well-received and included the previously unreleased track “All the Roadrunning,” a duet with Emmylou Harris. This song led to a full album collaboration between Knopfler and Harris, also titled “All the Roadrunning,” which was released in April 2006.

The album “All the Roadrunning” achieved significant chart success, reaching No. 1 in Denmark and Switzerland, No. 2 in Norway and Sweden, No. 3 in Germany, The Netherlands, and Italy, and making it to the Top 10 in several other countries including the UK and the United States (No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200 chart). The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Folk Rock/Americana Album but ultimately lost to Bob Dylan’s “Modern Times.”

To support “All the Roadrunning,” Knopfler and Harris embarked on a limited but successful tour across Europe, North America, and Canada in 2006. A selection of their live performances at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, was released as a DVD titled “Real Live Roadrunning” in November 2006. This DVD included performances of songs from their collaborative album as well as solo hits from both artists and tracks from Knopfler’s Dire Straits days.

In 2007, Knopfler participated in a charity event where a Fender Stratocaster guitar signed by him, Eric Clapton, Brian May, and Jimmy Page was lost during shipping. Despite the mishap, the company responsible agreed to compensate £15,000 for its loss, which was intended for a children’s hospice fundraiser.

Knopfler continued his solo career with the release of his fifth studio album, “Kill to Get Crimson,” in September 2007. This was followed by a tour of Europe and North America in 2008.

In September 2009, Knopfler released his next studio album, “Get Lucky,” with Guy Fletcher. It reached No. 1 in Norway and peaked within the Top 5 in several European countries, though it achieved moderate success in the United States, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Rock Album chart.

The following year, Knopfler made an extensive tour of Europe and America.

In February 2009, Knopfler performed an intimate solo concert at the Garrick Club in London, shortly after becoming a member of the exclusive gentlemen’s club.

In 2010, he contributed to Thomas Dolby’s EP “Amerikana,” performing on the track “17 Hills.”

The following year, Knopfler began working on his next solo album, “Privateering,” with Guy Fletcher.

In July 2011, it was announced that Knopfler would take a break from recording to join Bob Dylan on a European tour in October and November. Knopfler also covered Bob Dylan’s song “Restless Farewell” for an Amnesty International 50th Anniversary celebration record in 2012.

Knopfler’s seventh solo album, “Privateering,” was released on 3 September 2012. This was his first double album solo release, featuring 20 new songs.

After another tour with Bob Dylan in the US during October and November, Knopfler embarked on the Privateering tour in Europe in Spring/Summer 2013, followed by a short run of five shows in the US that Autumn.

In September 2013, he began working on another studio album at his British Grove Studios in London with Guy Fletcher co-producing.

The same year, he wrote and played guitar on the song “Oldest Surfer on the Beach” for Jimmy Buffett’s album “Songs From St. Somewhere.”

The eighth album “Tracker” was released at the beginning of 2015. Knopfler also announced European tour dates for Spring/Summer 2015.

In 2016, he collaborated with Italian bluesman Zucchero Fornaciari, playing on the tracks “Ci si arrende” and “Streets of Surrender (S.O.S.)” from the album “Black Cat.”

In November 2018, Knopfler released “Down the Road Wherever,” followed by a world tour in support of the new album in 2019. At the start of the tour, which began with a performance on April 25 in Barcelona, ​​Knopfler confirmed to the public that this would be his last tour. However, as the tour progressed, he expressed his love for touring and joked that he would be unemployed and wouldn’t know what else to do if he stopped.

Knopfler appeared on Cliff Richard’s song “PS Please” from the album “Music… The Air That I Breathe,” released in 2020. He also penned the score for the musical version of “Local Hero,” adding new songs and lyrics to the original instrumental music, reuniting with Bill Forsyth.

In January 2024, Knopfler announced his latest album, “One Deep River,” which was released in April 2024.

Throughout his career, Knopfler has received numerous awards and accolades, including four Grammy Awards and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits in 2018.

Guitar Style

Knopfler is left-handed but plays the guitar right-handed. He is also known for his unique fingerstyle playing, a technique he credits to Chet Atkins.

Mark Knopfler’s solo live performances are characterized by a relaxed, almost workmanlike approach, with minimal stage production aside from some lighting effects to enhance the dynamics of the music.

He is known for sipping tea on stage during his performances, a habit shared with fellow musician Richard Bennett since 1996. In a humorous twist, during a performance on 31 July 2005 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, the tea was replaced with whisky as a “last show of the tour” joke.

In its 1985 review of Dire Straits’ “Brothers in Arms,” Spin magazine noted:

“Mark Knopfler may be the most lyrical of all rock guitarists.”

In the same year, Rolling Stone praised his “evocative” guitar style.

Guitars

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most iconic guitars that have graced Knopfler’s hands:

1. Fender Stratocaster: Perhaps the most iconic guitar in Knopfler’s arsenal, his red ’61 Fender Stratocaster has been his primary instrument since the early days of Dire Straits. This guitar, affectionately known as “The Red Strat,” can be heard on hits like “Sultans of Swing” and “Money for Nothing”.
2. Schecter Stratocaster: In the early 1980s, Knopfler began using a custom-built Schecter Stratocaster, featuring a birdseye maple neck and fingerboard. This guitar became a mainstay in his live performances and can be seen in the iconic “Alchemy Live” concert film.
3. Gibson Les Paul Standard: Knopfler’s love for Gibson guitars is evident in his use of a ’58 Les Paul Standard, which he acquired in the late 1970s. This guitar, with its distinctive sunburst finish, has been used on several Dire Straits tracks, most notably “Tunnel of Love.”
4. Pensa-Suhr MK1: This custom-made guitar was built for Knopfler by New York luthier John Suhr in the late 1980s. With its unique body shape and versatile electronics, the Pensa-Suhr MK1 has been used by Knopfler on both his solo work and Dire Straits recordings.

In January 2024, more than 120 of Knopfler’s guitars and amps were sold at an auction in London for over £8 million. 25 percent of the proceeds will be donated to charities. The auction included the 1983 Les Paul used for hits like “Money For Nothing” and “Brothers in Arms.” Knopfler hopes the instruments will find loving homes and be played rather than stored away.

Guitar Equipment

Mark Knopfler’s distinct sound is not only due to his choice of guitars but also his selection of amplifiers, effects, and other gear that has accompanied him throughout his career. Here, we will delve into some of the key components of his guitar equipment:

Amplifiers

• Fender Vibrolux: Knopfler has often relied on Fender amplifiers to achieve his signature clean sound. One of his favorites is the Fender Vibrolux, which he has used extensively both in the studio and on stage.
• Marshall Bluesbreaker: For a more overdriven tone, Knopfler has turned to the Marshall Bluesbreaker, a combo amp that he used during the recording of Dire Straits’ classic album, “Brothers in Arms.”
• Mesa Boogie Mark II: This versatile amplifier has been a staple of Knopfler’s rig since the late 1970s. Its wide range of tones and settings allows him to achieve the perfect sound for any song.

Effects

• Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer: This iconic green overdrive pedal is a crucial part of Knopfler’s guitar sound. He uses it to add warmth and sustain to his tone, particularly during solos.
• Boss CS-2 Compression Sustainer: To help maintain a consistent level of volume and sustain, Knopfler employs the Boss CS-2, which also helps to enhance his fingerpicking dynamics.
• Roland Space Echo: Knopfler has long been a fan of the Roland Space Echo, a vintage tape delay unit that adds depth and space to his guitar sound.

Accessories

• Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Strings: Knopfler’s string choice is Ernie Ball Regular Slinky, which he has used for decades. These strings provide a balanced tone and feel, perfect for his fingerpicking technique.
• Jim Dunlop Thumb Picks: An essential component of Knopfler’s fingerpicking style is his use of thumb picks. He prefers the Jim Dunlop variety for its comfort and durability.

Discography

Album	Year
Dire Straits albums
Dire Straits	1978
Communiqué	1979
Making Movies	1980
Love over Gold	1982
Brothers in Arms	1985
On Every Street	1991
Solo albums
Golden Heart	1996
Sailing to Philadelphia	2000
The Ragpicker’s Dream	2002
Shangri-La	2004
Kill to Get Crimson	2007
Get Lucky	2009
Privateering	2012
Tracker	2015
Down the Road Wherever	2018
One Deep River	2024
Soundtrack albums
Local Hero	1983
Cal	1984
Comfort and Joy	1984
The Princess Bride	1987
Last Exit to Brooklyn	1989
Wag the Dog	1998
Metroland	1999
A Shot at Glory	2002
Altamira (with Evelyn Glennie)	2016
Collaborative albums
Missing…Presumed Having a Good Time (The Notting Hillbillies)	1990
Neck and Neck (with Chet Atkins)	1990
All the Roadrunning (with Emmylou Harris)	2006
Real Live Roadrunning (with Emmylou Harris)	2006