Mark Knopfler: There's no formula to guitar playing. Live concerts cost a packet.

interview at BBC, 1984

[@davidharding200]

It’s staggering to believe Alchemy is one take - no overdubs. It’s a masterpiece.

[@jesseemullen]

Great interview. You won't find someone who's as modest or unpretentious about his talents on the guitar as Mark Knopfler.

[@morbidmanmusic]

I'm betting you can find one..

[@ColtraneTaylor]

Yeah. All heroes are heroes and must be worshipped by numbnuts all the time.

[@SamKnause]

I absolutely adore this man. His talents are otherworldly. What a gift he is.

[@lonepoulsen5802]

Mark is so cute ❤❤❤❤❤

[@petervarone8462]

He’s a great inventor on the guitar. No one like him.

[@mikegray8776]

Mark must be one of the nicest guys EVER in Rock Music. He seems to have no “side” whatsoever, and a complete lack of pretension.
At the time of Alchemy, Dire Straits were right at the pinnacle of the music business - and the No1 band worldwide. But still he was unaffected and approachable.
In all the years since then I have never heard anyone have ONE bad word to say about Mark (other than his brother, David - which we can probably put down to the friction of sibling rivalry).
Two things tend to reinforce this perception of Mark - as a man :-
1) the sheer volume of successful collaborations with other artists over the years, and
2) the length of his association with his pal and bassist - John Illsley - long after the formal winding up of Dire Straits.
A superb musician & song-writer - and a good man.

[@shahrul1962]

Agreed 💯% with your assessment. Right on the dot.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

"At the time of Alchemy, Dire Straits were right at the pinnacle of the music business - and the No1 band worldwide. "
Duran Duran, The Police, Van Halen and Genesis were bigger.

[@mikegray8776]

@@ColtraneTaylor …… but only if you were a 10 year old girl.
In 1984-85 only 2 artists spent longer at the top of the International Album charts than Dire Straits (Michael Jackson and Prince). Neither was a band.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@mikegray8776 1985 is after Alchemy. And album charts alone don't decide popularity. The singles chart, albums charts, concert sales, cultural references all matter. "10 year old girl" is as flawed as saying middle aged guy about Dire Straits fans.

[@sebasdebordeaux8347]

Absolutely agreed ! and true..

[@brucejenner4800]

I'm fascinated by electronics, amplifiers, and to hear Mark Knopfler mention field-effect is a revelation, aye for sure, behind every brilliant, talented guitarist, there's an equally talented electrical engineer who knows his stuff.

[@markwhittaker6321]

Magician.

[@candelise]

I was at that live show and I recall The Sultans of Swing being the best version I ever heard of the song. A great night.

[@handsomemann1]

You kidding me? Ok I believe you. Where was it held at?

[@candelise]

@@handsomemann1 What used to be called the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England!

[@handsomemann1]

@@candelise The Alchemy live was at Hammersmith Odeon. Great. I am glad you saw that concert. Nice !

[@Inglese001]

​@@candelise not so fast, what seat were you sitting in ? Only joking. I saw them live, only for their brief set at Live Aid, but still a great memory.

[@candelise]

@@Inglese001 Actually, I think it was about the sixth row. The microphones were pointing down from above our heads and I recall saying Hello to Dire Straits' manager Ed Bicknell, who was walking up the ailes. He seemed a nice guy.

[@fatimaluz777]

Always so nice, sensible and light in your interviews...I love it! 💋MK💋

[@lonepoulsen5802]

.Me too

[@lonepoulsen5802]

Thank you for sharing 👍😃❤

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales7218]

Mark Freuder Knopfler (Glasgow, Escocia, 12 de agosto de 1949) es un músico de sesión, guitarrista, productor discográfico, cantante y compositor escocés. Antes de su carrera como músico, trabajó de periodista y dio clases en la universidad.

[@crypticii3431]

Estoy de acuerdo contigo

[@alanbatty3825]

Great interview, fascinating, thank you for posting. I wish they would release the complete "Alchemy" show and I didn't know about those Paris shows which would also be great to hear. I wish they would issue more from the early days - more of anything would be nice !

[@handsomemann1]

Yes, That album "Alchemy" was a superb live. show in one city alone. Why don't they release all other Live shows separately too. So thoughtless. Is it Mark Knopfler's fault cos he is the boss still? He say yes and they do it. He says no, and they don't do it! I wonder!

[@OlafProt]

Mark and David are doing their best to draw something controversial out of Mark, but he was just too savvy.

[@spomenkazlokolica3061]

💟

[@timtibbitts1017]

If you start listing names like Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, Santana, Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Steve Howe, . . . You need to back up and put Mark Knopfler up there near the top.

[@Amphy002]

Don't they all look young.

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Back in thr day !

[@mattiemclean9882]

There's a reason for that!

[@zachelmquist4932]

I hope the other stuff gets released.

[@goodalibi]

Yeah….it worked

[@davidharding200]

Anyone familiar with the ‘authorised biography’?

[@openwheel1739]

Mark is wrong about Alchemy being a one night only recording without fixes.

[@ReValveiT_01]

On the back of the video it says it's exerts from over two nights I believe. So, yeah.

[@mkguitarproject]

He's right. Two days live record was 'On the Night'.