Mark Knopfler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Knopfler
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Knopfler performing in 2015
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mark Freuder Knopfler |
| Born | 12 August 1949 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Origin | Blyth, Northumberland, England |
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| Years active | 1965–present |
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Mark Freuder Knopfler (born August 12, 1949) is a famous Scottish musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the rock band Dire Straits. This band was active from 1977 to 1995. After Dire Straits ended, Mark Knopfler started a successful solo career.
Knopfler was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in Blyth, England. He went to the University of Leeds. After teaching for three years, he formed Dire Straits with his younger brother, David Knopfler. Dire Straits released six albums, including Brothers in Arms (1985). This album is one of the best-selling albums ever.
Since 1995, Knopfler has released ten solo albums. He has also written music for nine films, such as Local Hero (1983) and The Princess Bride (1987). He has produced albums for other famous artists like Tina Turner and Bob Dylan.
Mark Knopfler is known for his unique fingerstyle guitar playing. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 27th on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." With Dire Straits, he sold over 100 million records. He has won four Grammy Awards and other important music awards. In 2018, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits.
Contents
Mark Knopfler's Early Life
Growing Up in Scotland and England
Mark Freuder Knopfler was born on August 12, 1949, in Glasgow, Scotland. His mother, Louisa Mary, was English and a teacher. His father, Erwin Knopfler, was a Hungarian Jewish architect and chess player. His father had left Hungary in 1939 to escape the Nazis.
Mark's younger brother, David, was born in Glasgow in 1952. His older sister, Ruth, was born in Newcastle in 1947. When Mark was seven, his family moved to his mother's hometown of Blyth, near Newcastle, in North East England. Mark had attended Bearsden Primary School in Scotland for two years. Both brothers later went to Gosforth Grammar School in Newcastle.
Discovering Music and Guitar
Mark was inspired by his uncle Kingsley's harmonica and piano playing. He soon learned about many different music styles. He really wanted an expensive electric guitar like his hero, Hank Marvin. Instead, he bought a Höfner Super Solid guitar for £50.
When he was 13, Mark worked part-time at the Newcastle Evening Chronicle newspaper. He met the poet Basil Bunting there. In 2015, Knopfler wrote a song in tribute to Bunting. During the 1960s, Mark traveled a lot by hitchhiking across the country and Europe.
He formed and joined several bands in the 1960s. He listened to singers like Elvis Presley and guitarists like Chet Atkins and B.B King. At 16, he appeared on local television with a classmate, Sue Hercombe, as a singing duo.
College and Early Bands
In 1968, Mark studied journalism for a year at Harlow College. He then worked as a reporter in Leeds for the Yorkshire Evening Post. There, he met Steve Phillips, a furniture restorer and blues musician. Mark learned a lot about early blues music from Steve. They formed a duo called "The Duolian String Pickers" and played in local folk and blues places.
Two years later, Knopfler went to the University of Leeds and earned a degree in English. In April 1970, he recorded a demo song he wrote called "Summer's Coming My Way."
One night, he tried to play an old acoustic guitar with a bent neck. It was hard to play unless he used his fingers instead of a pick. This led to his unique finger-picking style. He later said, "That was where I found my 'voice' on guitar." After a short time with a band called Brewers Droop, Knopfler became a college lecturer in Essex for three years. He continued playing in local pub bands, including the Café Racers.
Forming Dire Straits
By the mid-1970s, Knopfler focused on his band, the Café Racers. His brother David moved to London and shared a flat with John Illsley, who played bass guitar. In April 1977, Mark moved in with David and John. The three started playing music together. Soon, Mark asked John to join the Café Racers.
Dire Straits: The Band's Journey
Starting Out and First Albums
Dire Straits recorded their first demo songs in 1977. The band members were Mark Knopfler (guitar, vocals), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums). On July 27, 1977, they recorded five songs, including "Wild West End" and "Sultans of Swing." Many of these songs were about Mark's experiences in Newcastle, Leeds, and London.
Their first album, Dire Straits, was released in October 1978. It didn't get much attention in the UK at first. But when "Sultans of Swing" became a hit single in the Netherlands, the album became popular across Europe, then in the US and Canada, and finally in the UK. Their second album, Communiqué, came out in June 1979.
Changes and Big Hits
Their third album, Making Movies, released in October 1980, had more complex music. This album included some of Mark Knopfler's most personal songs, like "Romeo and Juliet" and "Tunnel of Love."
The band had many changes in members from 1980 onwards. Only Mark Knopfler and John Illsley stayed in the band for all 18 years. During the recording of Making Movies, David Knopfler left the band. Keyboardist Alan Clark and guitarist Hal Lindes joined Dire Straits as full-time members for their tours.
In September 1982, their fourth album, Love Over Gold, was released. It included songs like "Private Investigations" and "Telegraph Road." Soon after, drummer Pick Withers left the band.
Tours and Other Projects
In early 1983, the band released an EP (a shorter album) called ExtendedancEPlay. It featured the hit song "Twisting by the Pool" and introduced their new drummer, Terry Williams. They then went on an eight-month "Love over Gold Tour." A live album, Alchemy Live, was released in March 1984, showing recordings from their concerts.
During 1983 and 1984, Mark Knopfler also worked on other projects. He wrote and produced the music for the film Local Hero (1983). The closing song, "Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero," became a popular song for Dire Straits to play live. He also wrote music for the films Cal and Comfort and Joy in 1984. Knopfler produced albums for Bob Dylan and Aztec Camera. He also wrote the song "Private Dancer" for Tina Turner.
The Brothers in Arms Era
Dire Straits' biggest album was their fifth, Brothers in Arms. Recording started in late 1984. Guy Fletcher joined the band as a full-time keyboardist. Guitarist Hal Lindes left and was replaced by Jack Sonni. Drummer Terry Williams was temporarily replaced by Omar Hakim for the recording, but Williams returned for the music videos and the world tour.
Released in May 1985, Brothers in Arms became a huge international success. It has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. It is one of the best-selling albums in UK history. The album had several hit singles, including "Money for Nothing," which was the first music video played on MTV in Britain. It was also one of the first CDs to sell a million copies, helping to make CDs popular. Other successful songs were "So Far Away," "Walk of Life," and the album's title track. The band went on a massive world tour from 1985 to 1986, playing over 230 shows.
The End of Dire Straits
After the Brothers in Arms tour, Dire Straits stopped working together for a while. Knopfler focused on film music. He wrote the music for the film The Princess Bride (1987).
Dire Straits reunited for a concert on June 11, 1988, for the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium. They were joined by Elton John and Eric Clapton. Soon after, Jack Sonni and Terry Williams left the band. In September 1988, Mark Knopfler announced that Dire Straits was officially breaking up because he "needed a rest." A collection of their best songs, Money for Nothing, was released in October 1988 and reached number one in the UK.
In 1989, Knopfler formed a new band called the Notting Hillbillies. This band played more folk, blues, and country music. The band included keyboardist Guy Fletcher, Brendan Croker, and Steve Phillips. Their only studio album, Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time, was released in 1990. Knopfler also worked with country guitarist Chet Atkins on the album Neck and Neck in 1990, which won three Grammy awards.
In 1990, Mark Knopfler, John Illsley, and Alan Clark played as Dire Straits at Knebworth. In January 1991, they decided to reform the band. Knopfler, Illsley, Alan Clark, and Guy Fletcher recorded their final studio album, On Every Street. It was released in September 1991. While it sold well and reached No. 1 in the UK, it was not as popular as Brothers in Arms.
Dire Straits then went on a very long world tour with 300 shows. This was their last world tour. Mark Knopfler felt tired of such huge operations. The band officially broke up in 1995.
Since then, Knopfler has not wanted to reform Dire Straits. He has said that the global fame the band achieved "just got too big." In 2018, Dire Straits was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mark Knopfler did not attend the ceremony.
Dire Straits remains one of the most popular and successful British rock bands, selling over 120 million albums worldwide.
Mark Knopfler's Solo Career
Starting Solo and New Music
Knopfler's first solo album, Golden Heart, came out in March 1996. It included the UK single "Darling Pretty." The musicians who played on this album became Knopfler's backing band, often called The 96ers. His old bandmate Guy Fletcher played keyboards in this new band.
In 1997, Knopfler recorded the music for the movie Wag the Dog. That same year, Rolling Stone magazine included "Sultans of Swing" in its list of "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll."
In 2000, Knopfler released his next solo album, Sailing to Philadelphia. This album was very successful, partly because other famous musicians like Van Morrison contributed to it. In July 2002, Knopfler played four charity concerts with former Dire Straits members, playing old Dire Straits songs.
Accident and Recovery
In 2002, Knopfler released his third solo album, The Ragpicker's Dream. In March 2003, he was in a motorbike accident and broke several bones. His planned tour was canceled. But Knopfler recovered and returned to the stage in 2004 for his fourth album, Shangri-La.
Shangri-La was recorded in Malibu, California. Knopfler said that his current band plays Dire Straits songs even better than Dire Straits did. The Shangri-La tour took Knopfler to countries like India and the United Arab Emirates for the first time. Over 20,000 fans attended his concerts in India.
In November 2005, a collection of his best songs, Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler, was released. It included a new song, "All the Roadrunning," a duet with country singer Emmylou Harris. They released an album of duets with the same name in 2006.
Later Solo Work and Tours
All the Roadrunning (2006) was very popular in Europe and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Knopfler and Emmylou Harris toured together. A live DVD of their performance, Real Live Roadrunning, was released in November 2006.
Knopfler released his fifth solo album, Kill to Get Crimson, in September 2007. He then toured Europe and North America in 2008. He continued to be very productive, releasing his next album, Get Lucky, in September 2009. He then went on a big tour across Europe and America.
Knopfler's live shows are known for being relaxed. He doesn't use many special effects on stage. He has even been known to sip tea during his performances!
In February 2011, Knopfler started working on his next solo album, Privateering. In July 2011, he announced he would tour with Bob Dylan. His seventh solo album, Privateering, was released on September 3, 2012. It was his first double album and had 20 new songs. He toured Europe and the US in 2013.
Knopfler began working on another album, Tracker, in September 2013, which was released in early 2015. In 2016, he worked with Italian blues musician Zucchero Fornaciari.
His album Down the Road Wherever was released in November 2018. Knopfler went on a world tour in 2019 to support the album. He hinted that this might be his last big tour, but later said he loves touring too much to stop. His final headline show to date was in New York City in September 2019.
In January 2024, Knopfler announced his latest album, One Deep River, released in April 2024. Also in early 2024, he brought together many famous musicians, called Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes. They recorded a new version of "Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America.
Country Music Influences
Besides his work with Dire Straits and his solo career, Mark Knopfler has also contributed a lot to country music. In 1988, he formed the country-focused band the Notting Hillbillies. Their album Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time came out in 1990.
Knopfler also showed his country music influences in his 1990 collaboration with Chet Atkins, called Neck and Neck. He also wrote and played guitar on John Anderson's 1992 song "When It Comes to You." In 1993, Mary Chapin Carpenter covered the Dire Straits song The Bug.
In 2006, Knopfler and Emmylou Harris released a country album together called All the Roadrunning. They followed this with a live CD-DVD called Real Live Roadrunning. Knopfler also contributed songs to albums by Jimmy Buffett.
Mark Knopfler's Musical Style
Knopfler is left-handed but plays the guitar right-handed. He is famous for his unique fingerstyle technique. This means he uses his fingers to pluck the strings instead of a guitar pick.
Spin magazine once said that Mark Knopfler "may be the most lyrical of all rock guitarists." Rolling Stone praised his "evocative" guitar style. Classic Rock described his playing as "dizzying guitar fills" and called him a "peerless craftsman and virtuoso." His music was a fresh sound in the late 1970s, different from other rock and punk bands.
Mark Knopfler's Personal Life
Family and Hobbies
Mark Knopfler has been married three times. His first marriage was to Kathy White. His second marriage was to Lourdes Salomone in 1983. They had twin sons in 1987, and their marriage ended in 1993. On Valentine's Day in 1997, Knopfler married British actress and writer Kitty Aldridge. They have two daughters.
Knopfler is a big fan of the Newcastle United F.C. football team. The song "Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero)" is used as an anthem at their home games. He also collects classic cars and races them. He owns cars like a Maserati 300S and an Austin-Healey 100S.
In 2018, Mark Knopfler was estimated to have a fortune of £75 million. This made him one of the wealthiest people in the British music industry.
In January 2024, over 120 of Knopfler's guitars and amplifiers were sold at an auction in London. They sold for more than £8 million, and 25 percent of the money went to charities. One of the guitars sold was a 1983 Gibson Les Paul used for hits like "Money For Nothing" and "Brothers in Arms." Knopfler hoped the instruments would go to people who would play them, not just store them away.
Discography
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Dire Straits albums
Solo albums
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Soundtrack albums
Collaborative albums
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Honours and Awards
- 1983 BRIT Award for Best British Group (with Dire Straits)
- 1986 Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Group (with Dire Straits) for "Money for Nothing"
- 1986 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance (with Chet Atkins) for "Cosmic Square Dance"
- 1986 Juno Award for International Album of the Year (with Dire Straits) for Brothers in Arms
- 1986 BRIT Award for Best British Group (with Dire Straits)
- 1987 BRIT Award for Best British Album (with Dire Straits) for Brothers in Arms
- 1991 Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Collaboration (with Chet Atkins) for "Poor Boy Blues"
- 1991 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance (with Chet Atkins) for "So Soft, Your Goodbye"
- 1993 Honorary Doctor of Music from Newcastle University
- 1995 Honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Leeds
- 1999 OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire)
- 2001 Masiakasaurus knopfleri, a species of dinosaur, was named in his honour
- 2003 Edison Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Music Industry
- 2007 Honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Sunderland
- 2009 Music Producers Guild Award for Best Studio for Knopfler's British Grove Studios
- 2009 ARPS Sound Fellowship
- 2009 PRS Music Heritage Award
- 2011 Steiger Award
- 2012 Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award
- The asteroid 28151 Markknopfler is named after him.
- 2018 Dire Straits inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- 2018 Living Legend Award Scottish Music Awards
- 2024 O2 Silver Clef Icon Award
See also
In Spanish: Mark Knopfler para niños
