Mark smirking like a godfather when John quickly tells a credible version of the “David Story”!!!!

Mark on every interview: i didn't have an amplifier 😂❤

This was always Marks band. He wrote the music, wrote the lyrics crafted the feel. When the little brother gets salty because he's not as talented it's time to cut him loose. There is no Dire Straits without MK.

In 2022 I have been able to help my 7 yr old granddaughter fall in love with Dire Straits......; and I was only 14 when I first heard Sultans of Swing. Thanks Mr. Knopfler.

Mark Knopfler is my musical hero, and the reason I play guitar, but I feel for David Knopfler. It’s gotta be tough to be second fiddle to someone with such extraordinary talent, even though David is clearly talented himself. I get the sense that there was a lot of sibling power dynamics, and Mark could be a bit of a “my way or the highway” kinda guy. Hard to blame him, too, being as brilliant as he was, but I don’t blame David for wanting to go his own way. Apparently, they’re on friendlier terms these days, which makes me happy.

I'm so glad Mark Knopfler learnt to finger pick, he, and his bandmates have given us all untold listening pleasure.

Great Great Great rhytmic guitarist was David Knopfler..Bravo David .

Mark Knopfler… living legend.

Every great band has it's problems and personality clashes. For a start - if you are as talented as MK, you're not going to suffer fools or mediocrity. They were all great musicians in their own rights, as was Terry Williams when he joined (see Sultans of Swing - Alchemy tour for an example of this). Maybe this was the good old days - when bands were not overly polished for interviews - you actually see the nerves and fidgety responses rather than rehearsed answers to scripted questions of promotional tours today. At any rate, I'm very thankful for the fantastic content they produced over the years - even if they didn't always get on, they made millions of people happy and so did a lot of good.

Thank you for sharing this is a true gem. I appreciate it very much.

This is one band I'd like to see reform, if only for one gig. The original line-up had such a distinctive sound and it's be a real shame if Mark and David never played together again.

I saw an interview with David Knopfler in which he said that it was hard as a brother to be the only one to stand up to Mark from time to time and that all the others were bowing for Mark : "How can you hold your position when there are people around him who even bring him an ashtray in the right colour if he asks for one.."

Thanks a lot for sharing. 🎸

Wow never saw this, very precious, Thanks a lot for sharing

hi from Czech republic pals, so I must confess that this english is very difficult for me, but I am very glad for this video, so have a good time and sun not only in the sky

Dave left and we have Pick Witnes.

Mark Knopfler was really a solo artist all along as he sang and wrote everything in Straits.

Bravo d avoir retrouvé cette pépite.

I haven't read any books on Dire Straits (although I would love to). But I have a hunch that David was also a big personality and being Mark's brother made him somewhat subversive. David is also talented but Mark's talents are so off the charts so he was going to be the leader, and this probably created some awkward "family friction" within the band.

Love Pick Withers❤

Everyone in this interview looks as if they're facing a death sentence. So nervous and at some points lying through their teeth. Spooky! Why not just say David and Mark had a big bust up and the younger one left? Independent record producer? Gimme a break!

wow, this is surely a rare video

Yeah , MK looks totally embarrassed like a brother who has done the wrong thing by his sibling and has to answer for it . Egos always exist in the performing arts . You've got to have one to want to do it - to show off , win approval at some level . Mark has admitted in interview that he was an a88hole back then . There are things he regrets . Thing is - artful genius nearly always ruffles feathers . MK was on a huge roll artistically and no one can argue with that . I'd always thought of David as the little brother , the rhythm guitarist , backup singer - but the more I look at it I see how good he was and is . Especially now as an older guy with nothing to prove but some great songs to deliver he has come into his own . Funny how much his voice sounds like Mark, and they both are now writing classic folk songs with Celtic influence . I knew a sax player in Melbourne Aust . Paul Williamson - who at age 23 was picked up by Dire Straits to fill in part of their tour through Australia , NZ and Asia in the early 80s . (must have been before Bros in Arms album) . Paul was already (obviously a good sax player ) but he was pretty surprised to be asked . He was playing little Jazz clubs around Melbourne mostly at the time . DS were in Australia on tour and they'd lost their sax player , and someone suggested that Paul was capable . He told me it was a great experience , and that Mark was a good boss , was nice to him , and he was well looked after ...not to mention getting great money compared to what he normally earned . You've also got to remember that at the time Dave left , the band was being driven hard by management . 3 or 4 years of being pushed through the grinder with everyone else making shiploads of money while the band sweated their asses off . I just finished John Ilsley's book . It was quite shocking how hard the management pushed the touring schedule , while the band members were still only making peanuts . Sure , they might get driven to a gig in a flash car to look good , but the record companies charged every cent for their keep , luxuries , planes , trains , cars , food and lodgings - all to come out of any profits before they saw a cent for themselves . Show biz is brutal , and my point is that it would stress anyone out , and people sometimes act badly when they're stressed .

Merci 👍

David left because he wanted more input.

Love this era of ds! Wish they kept this line-up longer! Pick was a great drummer and it seems they were more of a "band" when he was there! After Love over gold this really became MK's solo band! I love brothers in arms ofc, but i really like this version of ds before they became huge!

Wow it is rare!

Uau! Que lembrança boa!! Herois! 🎸💕👏🏻💥👏🏻💥

Would like to know how you attach and hold the pick. Great playing!!

Strange interview. A rather uneasy feel and a heavy atmosphere, as if they didn't want to be there.

me gustaba mucho como tocaba, sencillo pero mantenía la estructura de la canción. pero se cansó de no pintar nada y de ir de concierto a concierto y de un país a otro. una pena. sobre todo para Mark, perder un hermano. Pink withers era para mi otro puntal.

Should reform they’d make millions what a awesome band n sound they had

Lips Against The Steel by DK is a masterpiece!

Wasn’t soon after this that pick left as well

Q buenoo❤❤❤

It was the best line-up of Dire Straits

Mark has the cutest smile ever

I think its just a sibling rivalry. Also, David wants another kind of music...

Pick Witnes?? :)

MK was Dire Straits. That said, I would have had more respect for MK in this interview if he had just spoke up and said something on the lines of "Sibling rivalry meant that David had to go." Instead of which, he gets JI to tell some unconvincing lies while he smirks in the background. Bit sinister, me thinks.

Do you have the full interview? Would be awesome.. Where did you get this from?

Heros

Dave knopfler wanting to be a record producer Hahahah what Rubbish

David was Shafted out of the group some people have said ?

Is this really a 3m 26s video or should it be longer and has some been cut out? I never heard any mention of David Knopfler. Where is the rest of this interesting early interview with MK and DS? Incidently, there's a Terry Williams YT video of his attendance at a local Swansea drum clinic (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nNGhjbh1xtS7hJc.html ). At 8m 10s, he explains why he left DS during the recording session in Guadaloupe. I love DS and MK's music but reading between the lines of what Terry says, MK must have been a strong, decisive, perhaps 'difficult' man to work with. In my business life, I've noticed that ultra-successful men are almost always incredibly demanding, pernickerty and fussy about ALL the details (I actually agree with this approach) so it doesn't surprise me that it looks like MK fits into this mould. I've never met a mild-mannered, wilting violet, successful businessman. Even Richard Branson's 'woolly pully' image was manufactured by image consultants.

Never had mark pegged for a smoker

Input MK : strong confident believer with genius visionary and talent with control freak, micro detailer, persistence with commitment to his agenda Results: egocentric mania and believing his own confidence who must rise above others and show leadership or autocracy to protect his own agenda and take care of business as all others will then need get behind him or vanish into ash. That’s format of DS a solo artist dedicating and take control and opportunity for his music. Straits were never a band with equal say or lyrical credits only apply to MK see DS copyright

These guys are *really* British.

Mark’s solo albums are just as good (maybe even better) than DS

Pick Witnes?

And finger pick he can!

Alan is having tea. Literally how British can it get😂

Pick Withers

Wry smile on MKs face on cut away from John explaining why David left…..

MK big "bad" boss....but a genious; John trying to communicate with a big lie..........Pick still trying to have fun.........Hal overplaying his joy, Alan not quite sur of what he can say...................This interview stinks hypocrisy .....

Fans are like sheep. Even here, you can see the ego personality of the "star". If you listen to the last 10 albums, there is little there to want to play twice. But i challenge all reading here to dig up Davids album listing and have a listen. Brilliant stuff, and clearly who was the main talent for the soul of Dire Straits. Mark had the prominent "sound", and mouth, but thats all. Notice that there is nothing of substance since David had the guts to turn his back on arrogance and walk away. If you're angry at my comment, go listen before you attack. You may be musically enlightened by the truth.

Only tea for these guys? Lol 😆

Very first cord and bong the string snaps off, now we know why Mark only uses his fingers. 👋 😂

Well know that MK is an ogre to work with

Missing badly real D S sound but not the MK as a: "My way" or the hghway type of personality. EC is so relaxed on stage no matter who plays solo guitar next to him. MK all in a knots next to EC, barely managing to have sincere smile.. Long live y'all guys ✌ 7

David quit because he was not up to the task. He was weak, he still is.

Bull shit pr

JOHN ILLSLEY was, in this interview, the one who got (probably for him) the VERY uncomfortable task of presenting the propagandic version of why David had to leave the Straits!! Cause David was literally FORCED out, you can't question that!! And John was acting like a news anchor, if you know what I mean?? The hugest liar of them all is Mark, and no one else!! Regards...me...

Mark has no backbone. He makes entertainment to keep the people from thinking. Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton and especially Roger Waters are real artists with backbone, doing what real artists should do.

Gran banda

Control freak comes to mind?