British guitarist Mark Knopfler is best known for his work with the rock band Dire Straits. Also a vocalist, songwriter, film scorer, and producer, Mark has sustained career longevity through his work in many aspects of the music industry. Between Dire Straits and his solo career he has been behind the sale of over 120 million albums.
Formed in London in 1977, Dire Straits went on to have huge international success. Their album “Brothers in Arms” was one of the largest selling albums of the 1980’s. Propelled by the bands attention to musicianship and Mark’s unique blend of country and blues, the band drew huge audiences. Well known for his gravelly vocals and intricate fingerpicking, Mark defined himself as a world class guitar player and singer songwriter. His melodic and soulful approach to the guitar allowed him to develop his instantly recognizable phrasing and tone.
This clip is from a live performance in London in 1996. This is a great example of call and response style playing between his vocal and guitar lines. Mark makes excellent use of space and his playing is quite reserved throughout. His solo’s, which are at 3:50 and 5:20, are subtle and extremely complimentary to the song.
Such a beautiful performance! I’d forgotten how much I love Dire Straits, and especially Mark Knopfler’s playing – grew up listening to his records over and over. He is definitely one who knows how to get the guitar to cry with more emotion than the lyrics alone could expresss. Thanks for the reminder Chris!
Hi Katrina!
Thanks for visiting! Glad you enjoyed this clip. Have fun exploring the site and best wishes with the guitar!
Cheers
Chris