Pick Wither's playing on "Making Movies" remains one of the greatest drumming performances ever laid down on vinyl! Thank you, Pick for the endless joy you have brought this listener over the last 40+ years!
I use Pick´s playing on "Sultans" to explain to my daughter how to use the cymbals without drowning the whole track. That drumming is so sweet and subtle, still rocking in a big way. Pick is one of the world´s best drummers ever, nice to see he´s doing great!
I've noticed a trend in comments of music related videos where people can't seem to accept that someone they admire musically might be a flawed human being. People like Mark Knopfler, Steve Perry, Sting or whoever can be musical geniuses while still being insufferable pricks at times. The music might be great but it doesn't mean we have to fool ourselves as to how wonderful these people must be like when we were teenagers with posters on our walls.
@@CoolCoyote we are all human and have good moments and bad moments, everyone of us are capable of being pricks at times and also capable of good moments, Mark knopfler is no different, he melowed as the years went on but I have no doubt that pick and david were jealous of the attention he was getting even though they won't admit it , John was a different kettle of fish , liked being in the background and was and still is very loyal to Mark, the life in a band is not a normal one , in particular a successful one
@@palynch7459 Very well said. MK is a very humble person. Jealousy, i thought of that too. MK is too popular than them, a true genius. And yes, MK & John still good friends until now.
Pick Whiters was essential to DS, the first album is absolutely amazing. I even think that David Knopfler was essential because the band was originally patterned after The Shadows. The great melodic guitar out front, the modest but essential strumming in the back. It was swinging, lean and laconic and absolutely great. Both Mark Knopfler and Pick Whiters also shine on Dylan's 'Slow Train Coming'.
I dont doubt that this happened but being in a band can be tense situation just like families, watched an interview this morning with the guitarist that mark has been working with for the past 26 years , he spoke very highly of mark as a musician and most of all as a man , he said mark was an extremely humble and warm and generous human being , maybe this has come with age but remember the early days of dire straits was a pressure cooker and this can lead to the break down in relationships, mark is no saint but remember there are 2 sides to every story and as someone said before all of us a pricks in somebody's eyes
Definitely-it’s easy to take sides, but none of us were there, and I can’t imagine the pressure and demands of so much fame put on four young men. I’m glad they’ve all gone on to do well in their own right, and just hope there aren’t too many sour grapes. These lads were all brilliant and responsible for some of the best music I’ve ever heard.
Always loved his style, he could swing and rock! I started playing drums around the time their first album came out. When “Sultans of Swing hit the airways, there was nothing like that on the radio. “Making Movies” and “Love Over Gold” are masterpieces!
Agreed. I actually think "Communique" was their BEST LP. I know that's not the popular opinion but I think it showcased the Original Band at the height of their powers. I'm a drummer and I've always appreciated Pick's drumming: understated yet with swing and feel at the same time. "Lady Writer" sounds like NOTHING ELSE - it's a SONIC MASTERPIECE all the way around imho. Still gives me chills - never get tired of hearing it. "Where Do You Think You're Going" is another incredible song. Plus I like the production on "Communique" - it was stripped down as opposed to the grandiose and OVERPRODUCED 80s Studio Production/Mix of the later albums. Just my .02
Always interesting listening to many former DS members commenting about Mark, always a story like this comes out. DN will happily describe his and Mark's strained relationship, I don't think MK has ever commented publicly on it. I tend to respect public silence more than public airing of differences.
Me too. By all accounts Mark was a tough boss which is probably why DS were so successful. I was sad when Pick left but Terry Williams was a fantastic drummer, up there with Phil Collins IMHO.
MK is a leader and got to the top by bloody hard work and being good at what he does. Being in a band is great but can be tough and leading one is even tougher especially when you are doing the writing, lead guitar and playing gruelling world tours. Every leader has to be tough and at times MK made errors. I’m sure MK was an ar##hole at times. Every top CEO, boss or manager has a bad day and upsets someone. But without MK we wouldn’t know Pick Withers full stop . Saying that I think PW is a great drummer
Exactly! These guys have massive ego and don't know the word loyalty. They were blessed to even be in Dire Straits full stop. You can replace a drummer you can't replace MARK!
A deep and considered man both interesting and entertaining. In summing up, he highlights that there are different types of musicians, just as there are sculptors, painters and actors some are happy to toe the line, make a decent living and treat what they do as almost a regular job. Others veer towards a more spiritual, self fulfilling side. Knopfler and a myriad of writer performers are interested primarily who can do their bit, cause the least fuss and be reliable, hence the involvement of session players. At the end of the day, Knopfler, Springsteen, Christie Hynde, Elvis Costello etc etc have the pressure of fronting a band, they have to do TV/press/radio interviews on tour and are constantly in demand, this is something that rhythm sections seem to forget, they can sleep later than a front person who is being photographed from the second they leave a hotel room, they don’t have to preserve their voice in order to sing well each night. I think the front person in a band hasn’t time for in depth discussion in the dressing room or deal with the trivia of personal band issues. There are two sides to every story and I find it fascinating. 🇬🇧😊🇺🇸 much love from London UK x
Pick stayed at my home in the mid 70's when playing with Magna Carta It was embarrassing that all beds were taken so Pick and I stayed up all night talking Shortly after he met the Knolflers and that's history I have never forgotten that night. A great privilege
Mark Knopfler's music benefitted greatly from the fine support of Pick, David, John and others who passed through Dire Straits. It may have been his band but they helped to make it a great band. If only Mark would say as much.
I think John and Mark are still friends. I wish Mark could forgive himself and make up with David. Seeing the two of them playing together in a mini tour would be great!
Wild West End. My favorite song from Mark, where one can picture that angel in the crowd < wink >. Picks drumming on the song is so sweet. .. " Close-ups can be rough...
I don't blame Pick for leaving. In all my time of being a huge Dire Straits fan Mark struck me as someone who would be difficult to work with. One thing I know about Mark is that he's a perfectionist.
Not intending to be disrespectful, I watched a doco on Mark a day or two ago, and Mark himself stated that he doesn't believe in perfection and it's impossible to achieve. He then claimed that he could point out all the mistakes in the Dire straits recordings, I've picked out a couple on the first album, but not much else.
Huh. Since the time that Dire Straits disbanded, Mark Knopfler has worked closely with many top shelf, world class musicians. Many or most of those musicians have consistently recorded and toured with him for years and years, far longer than Dire Straits were a band. There are many video documentaries of Mark with these guys - essentially at least one for every solo album released. The friendship, affection, collaboration and respect is clearly evident in the playing and the interactions between band members. There’s a UA-cam video done by John Illsley (bassist for Dire Straits) all about Mark Knoplfer’s guitars. It is very evident that the friendship and admiration between those two gentlemen has endured as well. No one likes to see or hear about emnity between former colleagues or especially between brothers (Everly Brothers, Bee Gees, the Davies brothers in The Kinks, the Gallaghers of Oasis, Mike Love’s painfully obvious jealousy and inferiority to cousin Brian Wilson and so on), but creative differences and talent disparities between band members is often a given in the music business, it seems. It’s always refreshing when previously embattled colleagues are able to forgive, reconcile and move on.
I get the impression that Mark wasn't always happy during the DS days, and probably grumpy to work with. He seems like a super down to earth and calm guy since he went solo though. And maybe age has calmed him down? Love DS and his solo stuff BTW!
@@freddykabulaschnitza2475 I think being a perfectionist is more complex. He may not see himself as one, but by saying he can point out all of the errors means he is one, at least in a sense. What he probably meant, was that he does not strive to achieve perfection. But that is probably true for anyone with blues roots - blues can never be perfect; if it was, it would not be human. Because blues is always about people and their suffering. In production, you shall not quantize blues to a grid, for example, as you do in modern pop music - Rick Beato has a great video on that. But still, there were people we see as 'perfectionists', back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. You can try to make a recording sound really really really good. You can get really really good musicians. He did that. Always. I remember that after Pick, the new drummer had to have "the perfect" drum sound. So go figure...
Im a huge admirer of Knopfler he has influenced my playing and i love what he does he is a genius playing writing is just amazing and unique. I remember being in a very well known and very expensive music shop down the kings road in London drooling at the instruments i could never afford and inevitably the discussion ambles towards players and of course Knopfler came up (as he always does when i talk guitar) I have heard all the stories about Mark and I am well aware of the huge responsisbilty he has even today but one of the guys summed it up perfectly when he said that Mark is a lovely fella but he would'nt want to work for him. I guess people that are driven and operate on levels us mere mortals can only dream about, are always gonna be different and maybe something gets lost in translation between gods and men. there you have it
What a drummer. All that 'space' that was left for Knopfler's outrageous Strat sound (and playing) in DS tracks thanks to Pick's uniquely brilliant drumming was never replicated after he left and I think DS and Mark Knopfler's songs/tracks were diminished by this. Never the same. Something lost for us all. The first four albums had such a great sound. Good luck to Pick.
Friends, everyone writes that Pick Withers is a great drummer. I won't dispute that. I have only one question for you: why didn't any of the famous bands invite him after leaving the band of the "great drummer"? Look at the facts, no matter what Pick says, everyone knows him as the drummer of Dire Straits. It was with this group that he became famous all over the world. And we should be grateful to Mark Knopfler at least for that.
When I was a kid I always found it difficult to comprehend why bands would split up or members would leave especially when they are successful. Now I've come to the reverse perception and marvel at how a band can stay together especially over a long period of time. It is often painful to listen to confessional interviews of favorite bands that have broken up. I remember watching one of a tearful Rik Emmett lamenting the pressure he felt when he was in Triumph. Contrast that with the camaraderie and affection between the members of Rush. And even in bands that survived like Emerson Lake & Palmer they described themselves more as co CEOs rather than friends.
Pick deserves so much respect, and much more spotlight, as a fantastic rock drummer with a unique voice. He served every song that he played on-the breakdown section of ‘Tunnel of Love’ will always be one of my favorites, but there are so many moments one could analyze. He was essential to the original, and best, lineup of Dire Straits. It makes me sad to hear how he was overshadowed and in some ways stifled by Mark, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest guitarists of all time, but of course that doesn’t mean he was easy to work with. I’m glad Pick found satisfaction in his later career.
Interesting interview, goes to show people just want to be themselves... great chat... good listening technique, as an ex interviewer I look for those things and it's quite refreshing to see the guys that know how to do it...x
I really like this series. He makes a lot of sense. I cannot fathom someone grabbing a magazine out of my hands like that and not expect to have a hard time playing that evening.. You do not do that to and adult. You shouldnt do it to a child. Then again, drummers are easy to find, but tough to find the right one who has his own kit. Maybe its me... but I have had several drummers over the years and before they joined with me, they had never entertained writing anything... and they became disenchanted and started writing themselves... Heck.... I started out playing drums in school band from 2nd to the 9th grade.. only moving to keyboards when I saw/heard my cousin destroy Color My World and get massive applause from the family..
After listing to pick withers he has gone right high in my opinion I always did like and respect him but you can feel his tension really straight guy and great musician
I remember Illsley saying on an interview that the real reason Pick and David left was because they were jealous of Mark. To some extent I can understand it, but success and time proved him right in the end. That being said, to me real Staits will always be the first line-up.
Pick said he didn‘t like the musical direction that Mark was taking. David stated Mark had treated him as a mere rhythm guitarist, told him what to play and refused to allow any other musical input (songs, arrangement suggestions etc) from David. It was too much of a dictatorship for David, so he left. Even if Mark is a genius, I can see David‘s frustration. You‘ll find the interviews on YT.
Agree totally, the stadium drummers lacked the fitness of, Pick and the music suffered for it. Early Straits were more groove oriented and with masterful syncopation. Even though the tunes were still great, they had the potential to be so much better.
@@danielfisch389 Success, drug use, adulation all feeding a massive ego will do that to most people. This is generally the dynamic that fractures most bands (DS, Pink Floyd, Eagles, KISS, etc.)...certain people begin to think and believe they are the sole reason for the success, justifiably or not, and begin to act this way, which is the part that is unacceptable.
Pick was a drummer and didn't write songs as far as I'm aware of, therefore he needed Mark's talent to taste huge success. If Pete best had talent, he could have written his own string of hits, but had to rely on Lennon and McCartney to get anywhere.
Pick, in the very early 90's, once played in my Pup. I guess he was with the Dave Edmunds Band back then. I was so excited. I drunk the whole afternoon and and became quite annoying for him because of my ongoing questions about DS and Mark. Sorry Pick! I didn't know what i was doing back then. You know when you are in your roaring 20's. Sorry Pick! Pick for me is one of the most melodic drummers ever. I love his style of playing until today. It helped me l getting a better understanding for playing the piano.
You can replace a drummer, you can't replace Mark the creator of the songs. This guy would be nothing without Dire Straits beginnings and he can't even humble himself to say the name.
A great "keeping in time and subtle drummer", This is a good material and he seems like a great and funny guy. In all bands, there are tensions and a relationship there, unfortunately, we do the same within families, where we're not always kind in that setting either to one another and within that, we often are harsh to each other. We find it harder to believe that our favorite bands and members act on those outspoken emotions and actions and we take for granted that they are human too. It certainly doesn't excuse rudeness by any means, but that's just humans for you.
Without Mark Knopfler as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, songwriter, and leader of DS, members will not be as popular as of today. And that's include you Mr. PW. MARK KNOPFLER made DS popular and on top during '80s & '90s. What MK wants as the leader is the 100% commitment of ALL members to the band. And why is that i only heard from Mr. PW and Mr. DK say some not good things about MK? That Mark was/is like this/that? And John Illsley is the opposite of you two because everytime he is being asked or gives interview about MK and DS, he has only nice and good things to say. And by the way, there were/are plenty of best drummers in this world. Unlike Mark Knopfler who is unique, the true genius and one of the very few who are above all.
Mark's ego is as big as Roger Waters ego. We love them but, nevertheless, silly egos Pick, your sobriety and ethical thinking is amazing. I love Dire Straits and I think you were their best drummer and element that made them great.
Been a dire straits fan since I was a kid didn’t realize till recently that pick withers and I have the same name . I know it don’t mean shit , but I’ve been a drummer since five years old and pick and Neil peart was my all time drummers and never took the time to look up pick to see we have the same last name . Like I said before it’s not crazy but the fact that I am a drummer and we bother have the same last name and pick is the one I learned how to do tempo and remedy changed and jazz up songs and do crazy rolls . Still to this day I love jamming out to sultans of swing and so far away
For all the virtuoso guitar artist he is, Mark Knopfler is also a jerk at times. I am not surprised Pick (and David) felt frustrated by the bossy MK. I don't blame them for leaving Dire Straits. I would.
Even David admits without Mark's unusual facility on the guitar Dire Straits would not have been the success it became and that Mark's decisions on what music to record turned out to be right in the end.
You're a definitely man of principle, and let's face it, who hasn't been a jerk at times. I think I would stick it out and found a compromise, as knopfler has a lot of great personal qualities too.
@@bigbirdwpg I grant that musically MK is way ahead of DK. But still he should've found a way to accommodate his brother and Pick (and their musical input) in a friendly way rather than rule with an iron hand. MK had later success without the two former band mates but I personally think no drummer ever complemented MK's style of guitar than Pick did. From that angle, I would rate PW as a genius too. Period. (Just hear the opening sounds of Water of Love!)
When he left, the groove, the soul of the band was gone too. After, it was just another rock band with an excellent guitar player, that's OK, but the unique feeling of the first two albums just disappeared. Just compare "In the gallery", "Portobello Belle" with this stoopid huge MTV song that everybody knows and revere as the Pinnacle of the band... "Making movies" was already going to the rock side, but with such beautiful songs like "Tunnel of love" and "Romeo and Juliet", I still loved the band. "Telegraph road" then was epic, but a bit pompous. And I prefer not to talk of the rest.... ;o) Finally, when Mark started his solo career, he went back to what he did the best in the late 70's. I still think that this wonderful band has been killed by stadiums.
Bandleaders are often egomaniacs and don't like anyone else in the band talking ,been in many semi pro bands like that and never been happier to not be in a band! I compose my own songs and don't require a soul it's wonderful!
Well, I love Pick and still think he's one of the greatest drummers Mark has ever worked with but let's be honest: we wouldn't have heard of him if it wasn't for Mark's songs and Mark's band. Surely Mark had a weird moment back then ( who hasn't?) but it doesn't look good either when someone still remembers that ( after more than 40 years). Not sure why Pick thought it would be worth mentioning now but it seems he's a bit nitpicking and embittered. Just listen to John's talk about Mark, what a different view. Starts at 10:55 ua-cam.com/video/zrZBGvIEcZQ/v-deo.html
In fairness now , ofc Mark was the creative force behind the Straits but without the band - he wouldn't have made it either - afterall John paid 5 monkeys for the first demo tape ( such was his faith in Mark's ability ) - nonetheless , being in this band was a grind sometimes and little petty things become amplified in the pressure cooker ...
look for Pick Withers on the hilarious gem.. Badges, Posters, Stickers and T Shirts... found on Twisting by the pool vinyl ep & a later cd single bonus track... and prob here on YT...
Jealousy is a terrible thing. It really alienates people. There were more than enough kudos to go around. The band was so big yet Mark still acted insecure. Very sad indeed.
Fascinating and a bit sad. I wonder what motivated MK to snatch that magszine off PW. A small act but quite devastating and unforgettable. People are strange. I wonder if MK remembers it with pain and regret. We've all got a momrnt or two like that.
One can see this kind of a sad situation in other famous bands too. Take The Eagles for example. Don Henley and Glen Frey behaved like absolute monarchs and had a final say in all things musical. That won't work when you have great artists like Don Felder and Joe Walsh in the lineup. Money also played a huge role in the acrimony. John Lennon and Paul McCartney did that to George Harrison whom I rate a superior songwriter. Coming back to MK, can anyone see how many times MK credited others in songwriter credits? He was like the only one on 90% of DS songs. Does that mean he gets the lion's share of the royalties? That'll explain why MK's net worth is like $95M while John Illsley's is about $5M.
@@catherinewilson3880 I base my opinion on the brilliance of "All Things Must Pass" album and on watching Bobby Whitlock talk about GH on his UA-cam channel.
Most bands are real for 2-3 years... After that, if they are still together, it’s because they’re milking success or still trying to defeat failure by reinventing themselves or both... Even The Beatles were subject to this dynamic 57-60 worst band in Liverpool 60-63 best band in Hamburg and Liverpool 63-66 the most famous band in the world but burnt out from performance 67-70 the greatest band in all the multiverses of The Cosmos but unable to get it together to play a few shows cos they really didn’t need the money or the game of fame... Large measure of reinvention with Sgt Pepper... Small spark of reinvention with Billy Preston... Over and out...
One can understand why the likes of say Ringo would go off and play drums elsewhere or Charlie Watts playing drums in another genre just my observation
Remember, all songs of DS was written by MK alone. Am i right? Am i wrong? Terry Williams is fantastic too. MK is too popular than all of you guys. MK is a true genius. And very humble. A unique human being admired by many. That i knew. Period.
Agreed. He's a genius but I bet he's an extremely difficult person on many fronts. You can see it in interviews; he has a certain air about him. It's his way or the highway.
@@RideAcrossTheRiver John Fogerty is an absolute monster if you ask the other members of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Yet, I hear a lot of good things about other people that have worked with him.
Did I mishear him? He was told that the interviewer was so impressed with him that he WASN'T going to publish the interview or put him on the cover? That doesn't make any sense to me. Not cool of Knopfler to rip the magazine out of his hands though.
What he meant to say was that the interviewer was only supposed to do a piece in the magazine about Pick but was so.impressed he put him on the front cover!
@@lindawithers3611 yeah, I’ll bet that really pissed MK off. Maybe instead of jealousy on pick and his brothers part, MK is probably pretty insecure; insecure enough to snatch a magazine out of another persons hands. Hands that supported MK and their developing style in the lean years through to the success we now know them for. I don’t blame him one bit for leaving.
I actually sat here for 5 minutes wondering why he kept saying, "Mark." It's because I thought it was Mark at first, lol. I had to re-watch with my head now right because the story made no sense. Terrible.
Pick Wither's playing on "Making Movies" remains one of the greatest drumming performances ever laid down on vinyl! Thank you, Pick for the endless joy you have brought this listener over the last 40+ years!
You mean laid down on tape, then pressed onto vinyl !!!
Making Movies is the masterpiece. What a record.
@@gibsonlespaul796 So is tape better than vinyl?
Pick was perfect for the band, not until Mark went solo, did he employ some decently suited drummers.
@@freddykabulaschnitza2475. Yeah, guys like Terry Williams, Omar Hakim and Jeff Porcaro...what a bunch of slouches!
Best drummer ever, so subtle and evocative. SO underrated. Great to see and hear how well he's doing!
I use Pick´s playing on "Sultans" to explain to my daughter how to use the cymbals without drowning the whole track. That drumming is so sweet and subtle, still rocking in a big way. Pick is one of the world´s best drummers ever, nice to see he´s doing great!
I've noticed a trend in comments of music related videos where people can't seem to accept that someone they admire musically might be a flawed human being. People like Mark Knopfler, Steve Perry, Sting or whoever can be musical geniuses while still being insufferable pricks at times. The music might be great but it doesn't mean we have to fool ourselves as to how wonderful these people must be like when we were teenagers with posters on our walls.
Knopfler is a Leo, a man who likes to be in control.
@@CoolCoyote they all found roger waters difficult
@@CoolCoyote we are all human and have good moments and bad moments, everyone of us are capable of being pricks at times and also capable of good moments, Mark knopfler is no different, he melowed as the years went on but I have no doubt that pick and david were jealous of the attention he was getting even though they won't admit it , John was a different kettle of fish , liked being in the background and was and still is very loyal to Mark, the life in a band is not a normal one , in particular a successful one
iE The movie Immortal Below ved
@@palynch7459 Very well said. MK is a very humble person. Jealousy, i thought of that too.
MK is too popular than them, a true genius. And yes, MK & John still good friends until now.
Pick Whiters was essential to DS, the first album is absolutely amazing. I even think that David Knopfler was essential because the band was originally patterned after The Shadows. The great melodic guitar out front, the modest but essential strumming in the back. It was swinging, lean and laconic and absolutely great. Both Mark Knopfler and Pick Whiters also shine on Dylan's 'Slow Train Coming'.
Clearly a man who stays true to himself. I like Pick a lot.
Love Picks legendary drumming ❤
I dont doubt that this happened but being in a band can be tense situation just like families, watched an interview this morning with the guitarist that mark has been working with for the past 26 years , he spoke very highly of mark as a musician and most of all as a man , he said mark was an extremely humble and warm and generous human being , maybe this has come with age but remember the early days of dire straits was a pressure cooker and this can lead to the break down in relationships, mark is no saint but remember there are 2 sides to every story and as someone said before all of us a pricks in somebody's eyes
Definitely-it’s easy to take sides, but none of us were there, and I can’t imagine the pressure and demands of so much fame put on four young men. I’m glad they’ve all gone on to do well in their own right, and just hope there aren’t too many sour grapes. These lads were all brilliant and responsible for some of the best music I’ve ever heard.
I've always loved his unique drumming style
Always loved his style, he could swing and rock!
I started playing drums around the time their first album came out. When “Sultans of Swing hit the airways, there was nothing like that on the radio.
“Making Movies” and “Love Over Gold” are masterpieces!
Great interview .. wow
Mr. Withers is one of my all time favorite drummers. And DS' first two albums are still the best for me.
Agreed
And me too
Agreed. I actually think "Communique" was their BEST LP. I know that's not the popular opinion but I think it showcased the Original Band at the height of their powers. I'm a drummer and I've always appreciated Pick's drumming: understated yet with swing and feel at the same time. "Lady Writer" sounds like NOTHING ELSE - it's a SONIC MASTERPIECE all the way around imho. Still gives me chills - never get tired of hearing it. "Where Do You Think You're Going" is another incredible song. Plus I like the production on "Communique" - it was stripped down as opposed to the grandiose and OVERPRODUCED 80s Studio Production/Mix of the later albums. Just my .02
@@chrisburk9424 What was "grandiose and OVERPRODUCED" on _Brothers In Arms_ ? That album is mostly space.
Always interesting listening to many former DS members commenting about Mark, always a story like this comes out. DN will happily describe his and Mark's strained relationship, I don't think MK has ever commented publicly on it. I tend to respect public silence more than public airing of differences.
Me too. By all accounts Mark was a tough boss which is probably why DS were so successful. I was sad when Pick left but Terry Williams was a fantastic drummer, up there with Phil Collins IMHO.
MK is a leader and got to the top by bloody hard work and being good at what he does. Being in a band is great but can be tough and leading one is even tougher especially when you are doing the writing, lead guitar and playing gruelling world tours. Every leader has to be tough and at times MK made errors. I’m sure MK was an ar##hole at times. Every top CEO, boss or manager has a bad day and upsets someone. But without MK we wouldn’t know Pick Withers full stop . Saying that I think PW is a great drummer
Spot on
Exactly! These guys have massive ego and don't know the word loyalty. They were blessed to even be in Dire Straits full stop. You can replace a drummer you can't replace MARK!
A deep and considered man both interesting and entertaining. In summing up, he highlights that there are different types of musicians, just as there are sculptors, painters and actors some are happy to toe the line, make a decent living and treat what they do as almost a regular job. Others veer towards a more spiritual, self fulfilling side. Knopfler and a myriad of writer performers are interested primarily who can do their bit, cause the least fuss and be reliable, hence the involvement of session players. At the end of the day, Knopfler, Springsteen, Christie Hynde, Elvis Costello etc etc have the pressure of fronting a band, they have to do TV/press/radio interviews on tour and are constantly in demand, this is something that rhythm sections seem to forget, they can sleep later than a front person who is being photographed from the second they leave a hotel room, they don’t have to preserve their voice in order to sing well each night. I think the front person in a band hasn’t time for in depth discussion in the dressing room or deal with the trivia of personal band issues. There are two sides to every story and I find it fascinating. 🇬🇧😊🇺🇸 much love from London UK x
Pick stayed at my home in the mid 70's when playing with Magna Carta It was embarrassing that all beds were taken so Pick and I stayed up all night talking
Shortly after he met the Knolflers and that's history
I have never forgotten that night. A great privilege
Great drummer. Dire Straits were never quite the same after he left. Although Brothers In Arms is a masterpiece.
on everystreet is also a masterpiece !!!
I agree in toto 👏
Mark Knopfler's music benefitted greatly from the fine support of Pick, David, John and others who passed through Dire Straits. It may have been his band but they helped to make it a great band. If only Mark would say as much.
I think John and Mark are still friends. I wish Mark could forgive himself and make up with David. Seeing the two of them playing together in a mini tour would be great!
Thanks for reminding me Mark was a teacher (for three years).
Wild West End. My favorite song from Mark, where one can picture that angel in the crowd < wink >. Picks drumming on the song is so sweet.
.. " Close-ups can be rough...
My fav. trk., as well.
Very "picturesque."
Fav as well. Sublime
I don't blame Pick for leaving. In all my time of being a huge Dire Straits fan Mark struck me as someone who would be difficult to work with. One thing I know about Mark is that he's a perfectionist.
Not intending to be disrespectful, I watched a doco on Mark a day or two ago, and Mark himself stated that he doesn't believe in perfection and it's impossible to achieve. He then claimed that he could point out all the mistakes in the Dire straits recordings, I've picked out a couple on the first album, but not much else.
Huh. Since the time that Dire Straits disbanded, Mark Knopfler has worked closely with many top shelf, world class musicians. Many or most of those musicians have consistently recorded and toured with him for years and years, far longer than Dire Straits were a band. There are many video documentaries of Mark with these guys - essentially at least one for every solo album released. The friendship, affection, collaboration and respect is clearly evident in the playing and the interactions between band members.
There’s a UA-cam video done by John Illsley (bassist for Dire Straits) all about Mark Knoplfer’s guitars. It is very evident that the friendship and admiration between those two gentlemen has endured as well.
No one likes to see or hear about emnity between former colleagues or especially between brothers (Everly Brothers, Bee Gees, the Davies brothers in The Kinks, the Gallaghers of Oasis, Mike Love’s painfully obvious jealousy and inferiority to cousin Brian Wilson and so on), but creative differences and talent disparities between band members is often a given in the music business, it seems.
It’s always refreshing when previously embattled colleagues are able to forgive, reconcile and move on.
I get the impression that Mark wasn't always happy during the DS days, and probably grumpy to work with. He seems like a super down to earth and calm guy since he went solo though. And maybe age has calmed him down? Love DS and his solo stuff BTW!
Mark is not a bad man. I think he is indeed a perfectionist. It shows in all his recordings. It's probably the reason he built British Grove studios.
@@freddykabulaschnitza2475 I think being a perfectionist is more complex. He may not see himself as one, but by saying he can point out all of the errors means he is one, at least in a sense.
What he probably meant, was that he does not strive to achieve perfection. But that is probably true for anyone with blues roots - blues can never be perfect; if it was, it would not be human. Because blues is always about people and their suffering. In production, you shall not quantize blues to a grid, for example, as you do in modern pop music - Rick Beato has a great video on that.
But still, there were people we see as 'perfectionists', back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. You can try to make a recording sound really really really good. You can get really really good musicians. He did that. Always. I remember that after Pick, the new drummer had to have "the perfect" drum sound. So go figure...
A lot of people probably don't know that Pick played drums on Bob Dylan's Slow Train Coming album (Knopfler played on it too).
Le meilleur batteur des Dire Straits. Point final.
Quel touché, quel finesse ! Knopfler n'a jamais retrouvé un batteur tel que lui par la suite.
Im a huge admirer of Knopfler he has influenced my playing and i love what he does he is a genius playing writing is just amazing and unique.
I remember being in a very well known and very expensive music shop down the kings road in London drooling at the instruments i could never afford and inevitably the discussion ambles towards players and of course Knopfler came up (as he always does when i talk guitar) I have heard all the stories about Mark and I am well aware of the huge responsisbilty he has even today but one of the guys summed it up perfectly when he said that Mark is a lovely fella but he would'nt want to work for him.
I guess people that are driven and operate on levels us mere mortals can only dream about, are always gonna be different and maybe something gets lost in translation between gods and men.
there you have it
What a drummer. All that 'space' that was left for Knopfler's outrageous Strat sound (and playing) in DS tracks thanks to Pick's uniquely brilliant drumming was never replicated after he left and I think DS and Mark Knopfler's songs/tracks were diminished by this. Never the same. Something lost for us all. The first four albums had such a great sound.
Good luck to Pick.
Friends, everyone writes that Pick Withers is a great drummer. I won't dispute that.
I have only one question for you: why didn't any of the famous bands invite him after leaving the band of the "great drummer"?
Look at the facts, no matter what Pick says, everyone knows him as the drummer of Dire Straits. It was with this group that he became famous all over the world. And we should be grateful to Mark Knopfler at least for that.
When I was a kid I always found it difficult to comprehend why bands would split up or members would leave especially when they are successful. Now I've come to the reverse perception and marvel at how a band can stay together especially over a long period of time.
It is often painful to listen to confessional interviews of favorite bands that have broken up. I remember watching one of a tearful Rik Emmett lamenting the pressure he felt when he was in Triumph. Contrast that with the camaraderie and affection between the members of Rush. And even in bands that survived like Emerson Lake & Palmer they described themselves more as co CEOs rather than friends.
Good points about bands staying together. I’ve had the same change of perspective on this too
Interesting. Thanks. I saw Dire Straits on their first US tour at a club in San Francisco. That was the time to see them! What a show. Pure joy.
Pick deserves so much respect, and much more spotlight, as a fantastic rock drummer with a unique voice. He served every song that he played on-the breakdown section of ‘Tunnel of Love’ will always be one of my favorites, but there are so many moments one could analyze. He was essential to the original, and best, lineup of Dire Straits.
It makes me sad to hear how he was overshadowed and in some ways stifled by Mark, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest guitarists of all time, but of course that doesn’t mean he was easy to work with. I’m glad Pick found satisfaction in his later career.
Interesting interview, goes to show people just want to be themselves... great chat... good listening technique, as an ex interviewer I look for those things and it's quite refreshing to see the guys that know how to do it...x
Best drummer in dire straits ever.
I really like this series. He makes a lot of sense. I cannot fathom someone grabbing a magazine out of my hands like that and not expect to have a hard time playing that evening.. You do not do that to and adult. You shouldnt do it to a child. Then again, drummers are easy to find, but tough to find the right one who has his own kit. Maybe its me... but I have had several drummers over the years and before they joined with me, they had never entertained writing anything... and they became disenchanted and started writing themselves... Heck.... I started out playing drums in school band from 2nd to the 9th grade.. only moving to keyboards when I saw/heard my cousin destroy Color My World and get massive applause from the family..
Love it!
After listing to pick withers he has gone right high in my opinion I always did like and respect him but you can feel his tension really straight guy and great musician
Heartfelt.
I remember Illsley saying on an interview that the real reason Pick and David left was because they were jealous of Mark. To some extent I can understand it, but success and time proved him right in the end. That being said, to me real Staits will always be the first line-up.
I would suggest listening to Pick's and David's interviews might provide a slightly different perspective.
Pick said he didn‘t like the musical direction that Mark was taking. David stated Mark had treated him as a mere rhythm guitarist, told him what to play and refused to allow any other musical input (songs, arrangement suggestions etc) from David. It was too much of a dictatorship for David, so he left. Even if Mark is a genius, I can see David‘s frustration. You‘ll find the interviews on YT.
Agree totally, the stadium drummers lacked the fitness of, Pick and the music suffered for it. Early Straits were more groove oriented and with masterful syncopation. Even though the tunes were still great, they had the potential to be so much better.
@@freddykabulaschnitza2475 Alchemy was the first album without Pick. Honestly, it's difficult to imagine them to play even better.
@@danielfisch389 Success, drug use, adulation all feeding a massive ego will do that to most people. This is generally the dynamic that fractures most bands (DS, Pink Floyd, Eagles, KISS, etc.)...certain people begin to think and believe they are the sole reason for the success, justifiably or not, and begin to act this way, which is the part that is unacceptable.
In other words, he didn’t want to live namelessly in Mark’s shadow. I don’t blame him.
King of the jungle...
Pick was a drummer and didn't write songs as far as I'm aware of, therefore he needed Mark's talent to taste huge success. If Pete best had talent, he could have written his own string of hits, but had to rely on Lennon and McCartney to get anywhere.
Fabulous band, but the very best were the originals and their best album was the first one. Thanks for the memories pick and those grooves 👍
Pick, in the very early 90's, once played in my Pup. I guess he was with the Dave Edmunds Band back then. I was so excited. I drunk the whole afternoon and and became quite annoying for him because of my ongoing questions about DS and Mark. Sorry Pick! I didn't know what i was doing back then. You know when you are in your roaring 20's. Sorry Pick!
Pick for me is one of the most melodic drummers ever. I love his style of playing until today. It helped me l getting a better understanding for playing the piano.
I wish he was on Brothers in Arms. This is the only thing this album is missing.
Terry Williams was the drummer on Brothers in Arms - what's not to like?
@@SuzyQ334 Omar Hakim was hired to play on Brothers in Arms. Terry only played the drum solo in Money for Nothing. He must have been gutted 😞
You can replace a drummer, you can't replace Mark the creator of the songs. This guy would be nothing without Dire Straits beginnings and he can't even humble himself to say the name.
A great "keeping in time and subtle drummer", This is a good material and he seems like a great and funny guy. In all bands, there are tensions and a relationship there, unfortunately, we do the same within families, where we're not always kind in that setting either to one another and within that, we often are harsh to each other. We find it harder to believe that our favorite bands and members act on those outspoken emotions and actions and we take for granted that they are human too. It certainly doesn't excuse rudeness by any means, but that's just humans for you.
Pick lived in a cottage with an acquaintance down my way near to Rockfield studios Wales where he was resident drummer for a while....
He was on a progressive band called Spring before of Dire Straits
Pick! The human metronome!
👍🇦🇺
Good for Mr. Withers, fine percussionist, I spent my life doing something I had grown tired of. Live Love Life...
Brilliant drummer!
Pick Withers kind of explained the magic of the first D S LPS,and now i know who was contributing BIG TIME :Pick Withers,,,thank you no limit
Excellent!
Talks lot of sense !
He makes so much sense
not saying he's lying but this is one side of a story
He looks so much like the actor Richard Wilson! I thought it was actually him in the thumbnail.
i don't believe it!
It was Mark’s band. Dire Straits was Marks’s band!
I think Mark joined In with John and David, but took over by supplying the music, and became the focal point.
@@freddykabulaschnitza2475 But without Marks guitar and writing it would be just another band, nothing special
May be true, but doesn’t mean Mark wasn’t a dick.
@@craigkerr2764 I’m sure PW was a dick on one occasion
Without Mark Knopfler as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, songwriter, and leader of DS, members will not be as popular as of today. And that's include you Mr. PW. MARK KNOPFLER made DS popular and on top during '80s & '90s. What MK wants as the leader is the 100% commitment of ALL members to the band. And why is that i only heard from Mr. PW and Mr. DK say some not good things about MK? That Mark was/is like this/that? And John Illsley is the opposite of you two because everytime he is being asked or gives interview about MK and DS, he has only nice and good things to say. And by the way, there were/are plenty of best drummers in this world. Unlike Mark Knopfler who is unique, the true genius and one of the very few who are above all.
I think Alchemy sums up exactly what you are saying. The band was pushed into an image and style, made to conform almost!
First saw him on OGWT backing Rab Noakes with Charlie Harcourt and Rod Clements. That's a band I'd have liked to have seen live.
Mark's ego is as big as Roger Waters ego. We love them but, nevertheless, silly egos
Pick, your sobriety and ethical thinking is amazing. I love Dire Straits and I think you were their best drummer and element that made them great.
Been a dire straits fan since I was a kid didn’t realize till recently that pick withers and I have the same name . I know it don’t mean shit , but I’ve been a drummer since five years old and pick and Neil peart was my all time drummers and never took the time to look up pick to see we have the same last name . Like I said before it’s not crazy but the fact that I am a drummer and we bother have the same last name and pick is the one I learned how to do tempo and remedy changed and jazz up songs and do crazy rolls . Still to this day I love jamming out to sultans of swing and so far away
For all the virtuoso guitar artist he is, Mark Knopfler is also a jerk at times. I am not surprised Pick (and David) felt frustrated by the bossy MK. I don't blame them for leaving Dire Straits. I would.
Even David admits without Mark's unusual facility on the guitar Dire Straits would not have been the success it became and that Mark's decisions on what music to record turned out to be right in the end.
You're a definitely man of principle, and let's face it, who hasn't been a jerk at times. I think I would stick it out and found a compromise, as knopfler has a lot of great personal qualities too.
@@bigbirdwpg I grant that musically MK is way ahead of DK. But still he should've found a way to accommodate his brother and Pick (and their musical input) in a friendly way rather than rule with an iron hand. MK had later success without the two former band mates but I personally think no drummer ever complemented MK's style of guitar than Pick did. From that angle, I would rate PW as a genius too. Period. (Just hear the opening sounds of Water of Love!)
4:48 a phonecall from 'Hil-ver-sum' , Holland haha
I would definitely be interested in seeing a video of your 10 favorite Elton John songs of this millennium (2000 to the present).
I don’t beleeeeeeve it!!!! It’s Victor Meldrew!
It was a shame Pick was treated with such disrespect
How was he treated so?
When he left, the groove, the soul of the band was gone too. After, it was just another rock band with an excellent guitar player, that's OK, but the unique feeling of the first two albums just disappeared. Just compare "In the gallery", "Portobello Belle" with this stoopid huge MTV song that everybody knows and revere as the Pinnacle of the band...
"Making movies" was already going to the rock side, but with such beautiful songs like "Tunnel of love" and "Romeo and Juliet", I still loved the band.
"Telegraph road" then was epic, but a bit pompous. And I prefer not to talk of the rest.... ;o)
Finally, when Mark started his solo career, he went back to what he did the best in the late 70's. I still think that this wonderful band has been killed by stadiums.
Bandleaders are often egomaniacs and don't like anyone else in the band talking ,been in many semi pro bands like that and never been happier to not be in a band! I compose my own songs and don't require a soul it's wonderful!
Great drummer.
Yes it is hard not to be the star of the band....
It is usually the singer,not the drummer sadly.
Phil Collins in Genesis! Star singer, star drummer!👍🏻
Yup. Pick was the drummer (a drummer), not the star. Great drummer? Absolutely! Replaceable? Obviously.
Well, I love Pick and still think he's one of the greatest drummers Mark has ever worked with but let's be honest: we wouldn't have heard of him if it wasn't for Mark's songs and Mark's band. Surely Mark had a weird moment back then ( who hasn't?) but it doesn't look good either when someone still remembers that ( after more than 40 years). Not sure why Pick thought it would be worth mentioning now but it seems he's a bit nitpicking and embittered.
Just listen to John's talk about Mark, what a different view. Starts at 10:55
ua-cam.com/video/zrZBGvIEcZQ/v-deo.html
In fairness now , ofc Mark was the creative force behind the Straits but without the band - he wouldn't have made it either - afterall John paid 5 monkeys for the first demo tape ( such was his faith in Mark's ability ) - nonetheless , being in this band was a grind sometimes and little petty things become amplified in the pressure cooker ...
A drummer can be replaced. Mark is the most humble musician and living the quiet life he wanted creating songs in the shadows. @@paulseoighemcgee5772
look for Pick Withers on the hilarious gem.. Badges, Posters, Stickers and T Shirts...
found on Twisting by the pool vinyl ep & a later cd single bonus track...
and prob here on YT...
“Married to the money”. Interesting expression.
So, who has the bigger ego? Pick or Mark? I wouldn't mind playing second fiddle to Mark, but I understand wanting to do your own thing.
It just goes to show, we can never place people on a pedestal. We're all human, and we all have big flaws.
Great Drummer
Jealousy is a terrible thing. It really alienates people. There were more than enough kudos to go around. The band was so big yet Mark still acted insecure. Very sad indeed.
interesting but....what is the point with those punch lines aiming to dislike MK ?
Love the Pickmietser !
Fascinating and a bit sad. I wonder what motivated MK to snatch that magszine off PW. A small act but quite devastating and unforgettable. People are strange. I wonder if MK remembers it with pain and regret. We've all got a momrnt or two like that.
Mark Knopfler has freely admitted that he was an egomaniac when Dire Straits were at their peak and that he was unhappy at that time compared to now.
Knopfler described himself specifically as an "egomaniac"?
These interviews need subtitles. Sometimes hard to understand.
Absolutely
Learn English
@@tomlorenzen4062 :
Wye-aye mon🤪
May the Force
be with you.🌀
(-: :-)
It’s The English, as it is really spoken.
it hes subtitles ;-)
but you need to turn it on.
Great drummer, lets keep it to that.
One can see this kind of a sad situation in other famous bands too. Take The Eagles for example. Don Henley and Glen Frey behaved like absolute monarchs and had a final say in all things musical. That won't work when you have great artists like Don Felder and Joe Walsh in the lineup. Money also played a huge role in the acrimony. John Lennon and Paul McCartney did that to George Harrison whom I rate a superior songwriter. Coming back to MK, can anyone see how many times MK credited others in songwriter credits? He was like the only one on 90% of DS songs. Does that mean he gets the lion's share of the royalties? That'll explain why MK's net worth is like $95M while John Illsley's is about $5M.
You may rate Harrison as a superior songwriter to Lennon and McCartney, but that doesn't mean that he was.
@@catherinewilson3880 I base my opinion on the brilliance of "All Things Must Pass" album and on watching Bobby Whitlock talk about GH on his UA-cam channel.
That incident would have been on his mind, certainly would have pissed me off.
Sounds like Mark could be a bit of a jerk. I don't think he's like that now and that doesn't detract from his music.
Wouldn’t it be good if the original line up of Dire Straits just ...... one can dream
Most bands are real
for 2-3 years...
After that,
if they are still together,
it’s because they’re milking success or still trying to
defeat failure
by reinventing themselves
or both...
Even The Beatles
were subject to this dynamic
57-60 worst band in Liverpool
60-63 best band in Hamburg and Liverpool
63-66 the most famous band in the world but burnt out from performance
67-70 the greatest band in all the multiverses of The Cosmos
but unable to get it together to play a few shows cos
they really didn’t need the money or the game of fame...
Large measure of reinvention with Sgt Pepper...
Small spark of reinvention
with Billy Preston...
Over and out...
"It's a church now which is another sad story".
He is right! ...another brainwash-factory.
Poppycock
One can understand why the likes of say Ringo would go off and play drums elsewhere or Charlie Watts playing drums in another genre just my observation
Remember, all songs of DS was written by MK alone. Am i right? Am i wrong? Terry Williams is fantastic too. MK is too popular than all of you guys. MK is a true genius. And very humble. A unique human being admired by many. That i knew. Period.
i see a lot of hardness in MK, Even tho I admire him as a composer
Agreed. He's a genius but I bet he's an extremely difficult person on many fronts. You can see it in interviews; he has a certain air about him. It's his way or the highway.
I have seen several different interviews that indicate that while a brilliant guitarist, Mark Nopfler was a total butthead.
Everyone hates the person with the good ideas. Every time.
@@RideAcrossTheRiver John Fogerty is an absolute monster if you ask the other members of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Yet, I hear a lot of good things about other people that have worked with him.
It is personal
Is guy related to Victor Meldrew.
Front man egos rule the day......bit like Sting in Police
something must have been wrong cause Pick left and so did Marks brother David.
Wow, antithetical to everything I’ve heard about knopfler
Terry Williams was a better a drummer than pick for me
Mark Kopfler is creative and boring at the same time
He reminds me of Bobby Fisher.
Did I mishear him? He was told that the interviewer was so impressed with him that he WASN'T going to publish the interview or put him on the cover? That doesn't make any sense to me. Not cool of Knopfler to rip the magazine out of his hands though.
Yes. You misheard. The interviewer said that he wasn't going to publish UNTIL he could put him on the cover.
What he meant to say was that the interviewer was only supposed to do a piece in the magazine about Pick but was so.impressed he put him on the front cover!
@@lindawithers3611 Aha!
@@lindawithers3611 yeah, I’ll bet that really pissed MK off. Maybe instead of jealousy on pick and his brothers part, MK is probably pretty insecure; insecure enough to snatch a magazine out of another persons hands. Hands that supported MK and their developing style in the lean years through to the success we now know them for. I don’t blame him one bit for leaving.
Looks like and sounds a bit like Mark Knopfler!
I actually sat here for 5 minutes wondering why he kept saying, "Mark." It's because I thought it was Mark at first, lol. I had to re-watch with my head now right because the story made no sense. Terrible.
Pick, you are THE seminal Dire Straits drummer. Hearing that hard rock drumming approach to your songs on Live Alchemy is laughable!
Dire Straits benefited not just from Pick Withers being a band member but from the fact JJ Cale influenced everything they did,
JJ Cale maybe on a couple songs from the first album.