In the summer of 1977, Mark Knopfler started Dire Straits in London with his guitar-playing brother David and bassist John Illsley. If Knopfler, a shy homebody, happened to note 2007's auspicious 30th anniversary he did so, undoubtedly, quietly with his family.
As the singer and songwriter in Dire Straits, Knopfler was the voice behind the internationally embraced band and the one man to appear on all six of their albums. Never quite what you'd call a rock star, he has nevertheless had an illustrious career crafting a mostly reserved — though at times dramatic — blend of rock, folk, country, blues and rockabilly. With Dire Straits he won a pair of Grammy Awards and made one of the most popular albums of the '80s (Brothers In Arms). An acclaimed and exceptional guitarist, Knopfler has played with a staggering list of disparate performers, including Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Waylon Jennings, The Chieftains, Steely Dan and Sting.
Even before Dire Straits hung 'em up in 1995, Knopfler had begun a side career as a solo artist and soundtrack composer that now boasts more recordings than the number of albums he made with Dire Straits. He also recorded a 1990 disc (Missing ... Presumed Having a Good Time) with some old friends as The Notting Hillbillies, and he's done joint ventures with the late Chet Atkins (1990's Neck and Neck) and Emmylou Harris (All the Roadrunning in 2006). In September 2007, Knopfler released his fifth solo offering, Kill to Get Crimson.
Provenance: Glasgow, Scotland, though he was raised in Northeast England and later moved to London.
Latest release: Kill to Get Crimson (2007)
© 2007 Nigel Music Media LLC. Used by permission.
Mark Knopfler
