To Mark Knopfler. No longer constrained by circumstances (37 photos + 13 videos)
Mark Knopfler turns 75 
British rock musician, guitarist, singer and songwriter, one of the founders and leader of the band Dire Straits Mark Freuder Knopfler (Knopfler, as an option) was born on August 12, 1949 in Glasgow (Scotland) in the family of the Hungarian architect Erwin Knopfler and the English teacher Louise Mary Laidler. Being Jewish, his father fled from pro-fascist Hungary to Great Britain in 1939. He was an avid chess player and even took 2nd place in the Scottish Championship in 1953. On December 27, 1952, another son, David, was born into the family.
The brothers grew up on the coast of North-East England, in the industrial city of Newcastle upon Tyne (or simply Newcastle, the capital of Northumberland County, now the administrative center of the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear), where the family moved some time after the birth of the younger one.
Mark was always interested in music - at the age of 5 he tried to play the piano without notes, at 8, having heard boogie-woogie on the piano performed by his uncle Kinsley, he quickly learned the tune and played without stopping, driving the family "to white heat". And at the age of 13, his dad taught him to play the violin.
He is left-handed. "I was playing tennis when I was at school, and my cousin said, 'No, no, you have to turn the racket the other way!' So I did."
And when Mark got bored with tennis at the age of 15, he persuaded his father to buy him a guitar, choosing a red Hofner - just for the color.
"It was a symbol of disobedience. Compared to traditional orchestral instruments, this red thing from outer space looked amazing!" (from the memoirs of M. Knopfler). 
And he began to play this "right-handed" guitar with the fingers of his right hand - using his own version of sound production, similar to playing the banjo. This style implies the absence of a pick when playing, both on acoustic and electric guitars.
In one of his interviews with French television, Knopfler said that he uses a pick only when recording in the studio or to work on rhythm parts.
And in 1968, in Newcastle, he met Steve Phillips when they, as journalists, interviewed a local blues and country guitarist for the local daily newspaper "The Yorkshire Post" (where Mark worked part-time as a junior reporter and wrote articles about the city's musical life) from a local blues and country guitarist, also, by the way, Steve Phillips. Both guys played guitars, so they decided to create a group. This is how the Duolian String Pickers duo appeared, in which they began to play together. And it was Steve who revealed to Mark the secrets of playing solo guitar, which he himself had once spied on the American blues artist Alonzo "Lonnie" Johnson, as well as the technique of that very finger picking in the country blues style. 
But in 1970, their joint work was interrupted - Knopfler went to study at the University of Leeds (West Yorkshire). After graduating from the university with a degree in English, the aspiring rocker moved to London to seriously pursue a musical career there. 
And in 1977, Mark, together with his brother David, created the group Dire Straits (Tight Circumstances), where until 1995 he was the frontman, lead guitarist and vocalist, as well as a songwriter.
The original line-up, in addition to the Knopfler brothers, included bassist John Illsley and drummer Pick Withers. Despite the fact that the group was formed during the reign of punk rock in Britain, DS's style could be described as melodic blues-rock, strongly influenced by country, rock and roll, folk and jazz. Melancholic compositions prevailed in the group's work. 
Dire Straits (1978, Hamburg). Left to right: Illsley, Mark Knopfler, Withers, David Knopfler
Also in 1977, DS recorded a demo with 5 songs, including their future hit "Sultans of Swing", as well as "Water of Love", "Down to the Waterline", "Wild West End" and "Sacred Loving" written by the younger Knopfler. They took the tape to Charlie Gillette, a DJ on the BBC Radio London program "Honky Tonkin". The musicians simply wanted to ask for advice on whether to continue in the same spirit, but Gillette liked the music so much that he released "Sultans of Swing" on the air. And after only 2 months, DS signed a contract with the label "Phonogram Records".
In October of the same year, the band prepared demos of the songs "Southbound Again", "In the Gallery" and "Six Blade Knife" for "BBC Radio London", and in November - demos of "Setting Me Up", "Eastbound Train" and "Real Girl". 
Their debut album with the straightforward title "Dire Straits" was recorded in London's "Basing Street" studio in February 1978. It cost a whopping £12,500 to create. This album was rather weakly "promoted" in the UK by the label of the "Phonogram" division "Vertigo Records". However, the released record attracted the attention of talent scout Karin Berg, who worked at Warner Bros. Records (New York, USA), who decided that this was exactly the kind of music the public was missing.
That same year, the band began touring, opening for the New York new wave band Talking Heads. The result was the signing of a contract with Warner Bros. Records. And by the end of the year, DS were selling their debut all over the world. 
Although the band's greatest success was in the States, they also topped the charts in other countries: Canada, Australia and New Zealand. And eventually, the album "Dire Straits" entered the Top 10 of almost all European countries.
The following year, DS went on their first tour of North America, where they played 51 concerts in 38 days to packed houses! And their "Sultans of Swing" reached #4 in the US and #8 in the UK. The song became one of the band's biggest hits and was always performed at concerts. 
In total, over 120 million copies of their albums were sold, and DS itself became one of the most commercially successful bands in the history of rock music. (According to legend, the New Zealand Minister of Transport even called off a stewards' strike so that DS could fly in and perform a concert in the country).
The band's most popular album, "Brothers in Arms," sold over 30 million copies worldwide. 
And in 2018, DS were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland, Ohio, USA). 
Knopfler's guitar sound changed from "clean" in the early years to "rocky" overdriven, and then to soft and warm in solo projects.
In 1983, Classic Rock magazine wrote about the musician's performing style: "Knopfler's minimalist songs and his dizzying guitar solos were a breath of fresh air against the thundering rock dinosaurs and one-dimensional punk grind of the late '70s. He is peerless as an artist and virtuoso." 
And his vocals are best described by the German term "Sprechgesang" - not quite singing, but not conversational speech either - a kind of husky, intimate half-recitative. Knopfler has always preferred quiet, old-fashioned, rootsy music. Folk, blues, country, rock and roll, leisurely, juicy guitar passages and quiet muttering instead of loud screams... 
The musician collaborated with his childhood idol, the American virtuoso guitarist Chet Atkins (the album "Neck & Neck" (1990) became their largest joint work). 
However, back in 1986, Mark decided to leave the successful band and created the group The Notting Hillbillies, inviting his old friends - Phillips, Brendan Crocker and Guy Fletcher to perform music in the style of blues and country rock. However, the group released only one album "Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time" (1990). 
The Notting Hillbillies
But the next and long-awaited DS album was released only in September 1991. "On Every Street" caused a mixed reaction, but still took 1st place in the UK hit parade. An exhausting world tour of 300 concerts followed, tickets for which were bought by more than 7 million fans. However, it did not bring joy to Mark. Relationships within the team were at the limit. The emotional and physical stress that exhausted the participants of the tour led to the disintegration of DS.
Knopfler spent 2 years recovering from the experience, which negatively affected his creative and personal life. … And quietly disbanded DS and started a solo career. 
"I always loved touring: the travelling, the crew, the friendly banter and all that. But when it all got bigger, suddenly there were three stages, 20 assistants whose names I didn't know... That scale didn't feel right. Plus, I was really tired. I was burnt out. I felt like a tattered sweater. There were holes everywhere... I needed to go home and put myself back together again, if possible" (from an interview with M. Knopfler on British TV). 
And from 1996 to 2024, he recorded 12 solo records, several film soundtracks, a couple of albums with country star Emmylou Harris, as well as other famous musicians... In general, he did not waste time and continued to create. He also produced albums of musicians, among whom were Tina Turner, Chris Rea, etc.
Knopfler never refused anyone who asked him to record a guitar solo, a joint song, or somehow participate in this or that project. The list of his creative collaborators is staggering: Bob Dylan, Phil Lynott, Stevie Nicks, Van Morrison, Randy Newman, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Bryan Ferry, Phil Everly, Sting, James Taylor and many others. However, Mark's friends and colleagues always responded to his call to play and sing with him on his solo albums. 
He also wrote tracks for such films as Local Hero (1983), The Princess Bride (1987), Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989), Metroland (1997), Wag the Dog (1997), and Call (2013), among others.
And in 2003, Mark had an accident on his Honda motorcycle in central London, which resulted in extensive injuries, including a broken collarbone, a broken shoulder and 7 broken ribs. He was unable to play for 7 months and then needed over a year of physical therapy to regain his previous mobility. As a result, a number of concerts and a tour in support of the album "The Ragpicker's Dream" (2002) were cancelled. 
And on April 25, 2024, Knopfler and AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson teamed up to create the documentary series Johnson And Knopfler's Music Legends. It was commissioned by the British television channel Sky Arts and Entertainment and produced by Somethin' Else TV, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
The idea is that Johnson and Knopfler will hold a series of meetings with famous performers, but it's not just interviews, but also joint music-making in the form of jam sessions. 
Mark Knopfler and Brian Johnson
"Join Johnson and Knopfler as they share their incredible stories with each other, and chat casually with the stars of rock and pop. Viewers will be taken on a fascinating journey through decades of music. Guests tell stories from their careers and discuss the songs that shaped them as musicians, and Mark and Brian add their own commentary to the conversation. The result is a fascinating picture of musical life, intertwined with historical events and seasoned with the participants' humor" (from the series announcement).
The series consists of 6 parts. And its guests are: British pop singer Sir Tom Jones (episode 1), British singer-songwriter Sam Fender (episode 2), American pop singer and actress Cyndi Lauper (episode 3), American musician, composer and guitarist Nile Rodgers (episode 4), Mexican-American guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana (episode 5), American singer and social activist Emmylou Harris (episode 6). The total duration of the series is 4 hours 36 minutes. 
"When two rock 'n' roll legends open their address books they find they're full of other celebrities' phone numbers - and it's brilliant! We're delighted to be bringing viewers this absolutely delightful series that spans a wide range of genres. The guest list is fantastic - and not only are these people big stars, they're also great conversationalists. It's a treat to see them!" (Phil Edgar Jones, Director of Sky Arts). 
Knopfler's latest album to date was also released in April 2024. It is called "One Deep River".
Knopfler has been married three times: his first marriage to school friend Katie White ended in 1973 when he moved to London; in his second marriage (1983-93) to Lourdes Salomon, the musician had twins Benjamin and Joseph in 1987; in his third marriage to Kitty Aldridge, he had two more daughters: Isabella (1998) and Katya Ruby Rose (2003).
According to the weekly "Sunday Times", in 2018, Knopfler was among the 40 richest British musicians, with a fortune of about £75 million. Mark did not look like a rock star even in his most "star" times: no scandals or superheroics, a rather modest and inconspicuous gentleman with a guitar under his arm and an invariable bandage on his head. Despite his triumphant past, enormous fortune and status as the leader of one of the most commercially successful bands in the world, he still easily walks the streets practically unrecognized and uses public transport. 
He still supports his favorite football club Newcastle United FC, collects classic cars, and occasionally participates in races. He usually drives a Maserati 300S or Austin Healey 100S. Mark even has a song in his repertoire written on behalf of the racing driver - "Speedway at Nazareth". 
He loves to spend time in the company of his guitars, humming old and new songs to himself, which always find a grateful listener. 
By the way, Knopfler is probably the only musician who has the legal right to call himself a "rock dinosaur" - a dinosaur species is named after him - "Masiakasaurus knopfleri": scientists who discovered the remains of these predatory theropod dinosaurs from the noasaurid family in Madagascar in 2001 loved listening to DS songs during excavations. 
In addition, Mark can call himself a real "star" - an asteroid 28151 Markknopfler (1998 UG6), discovered on October 22, 1998 in the Main Asteroid Belt by astronomers of the OCA-DLR (ODAS) - a European scientific project, a collaboration between the French Observatory of the Côte d'Azur (OCA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), was named in his honor.
Knopfler's name is also mentioned in popular literature, namely in the novel "So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish!" (1984) - the 4th part of the 6-volume humorous SF-cycle by the British writer Douglas Adams "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (1979-2009): "Mark Knopfler has a wonderful gift - to make the guitar "Schächter Custom Stratocaster" sing and howl like angels on a Saturday night, when they are tired of behaving all week and want a strong beer." 
Knopfler is ranked number 27 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. 
"Music has to be a part of you. It's what keeps you going. You have to have this fire inside you. You fall in love with the music, with the guitar, you're completely absorbed in it. I still feel that way when I walk into a rehearsal room and see the instruments. This is the ground under my feet" (M. Knopfler). 
Awards and prizes:
Mark Knopfler is a 4-time Grammy Award winner (with DS and three times with C. Atkins), Grammy Awards are an annual music award presented by the American National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/The Recording Academy (formally the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; abbreviated (NARAS), awarded based on the results of voting by members of the academy, including artists, musicians, producers, studio engineers and other professionals from the world of sound recording. It is the highest award in the music industry. The award is given in 30 music-related areas, divided into 84 categories.
1986 — «Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal» — for the song «Money for Nothing»
3-time winner of «BRIT Awards» (with Dire Straits) — an annual British music award in the field of pop music, founded in 1977 by the British Phonographic Industry. It is the British analogue of «Grammy»:
1983 — Best British Group;
1986 — Best British Group;
1987 - Кращий британський альбом: Dire Straits "Brothers in Arms"
А також премій:
"Джуно"/Juno Awards (Жюно/Джуно) - основна музична премія Канади, що вручається щорічно з 1970 року. "Джуно" - канадський аналог "Греммі". Представники музичної індустрії Канади 1974 року сформували оргкомітет щодо «Джуно». Ця організація взяла на себе повне управління Juno Awards з 1977 стала називатися Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) (з Dire Straits);
"Штайгер"/Steiger Award або Der Steiger - міжнародна нагорода, заснована в 2005 році, присуджується щорічно спеціальною організацією, розташованою в місті Бохумі (Німеччина). Назва нагороди можна перекласти як «Гірський майстер», тому вона відображає такі якості, як відповідальність, чесність, відкритість і старанна праця, які так цінуються в регіоні Північний Рейн-Вестфалія, де й присуджується. Премія має нагадувати про позитивні якості цієї професії та сприяти культурному, соціальному та суспільному розвитку регіону Рейн-Рур. Премію було ініційовано Сашком Хелленом (власником компанії «Hellen Medien Projekte, GmbH»). Лауреатів премії не обирають публічно, а імена членів комісії не розголошуються. Перші 2 гала-концерти премії проходили в казино Hohensyburg Дортмунда (Німеччина). З 2007 року місцем проведення церемонії стала зала 100-річчя Бохума/Jahrhunderthalle Bochum. Лауреатів вітають відомі діячі, а потім їм вручають чорний шматок кам'яного вугілля, закріплений у кулю зі свинцевого скла, що спочиває на кришталевому цоколі. Кубок вагою понад 2 кг виготовляється фірмою Joska Kristall. Присуджується щорічно тим, хто був відзначений особливими досягненнями у благодійній діяльності, музиці, кінематографі, ЗМІ, спорті, захисті довкілля та будівництві європейської спільноти.
В 1993 Нопфлер отримав звання почесного доктора музичних мистецтв Ньюкасльського університету/ Newcastle University. Доктор музичних мистецтв (DMA) - академічний ступінь у галузі музики. DMA поєднує поглиблене вивчення прикладної галузі спеціалізації (зазвичай музичного виконання, музичної композиції або диригування) з академічним вивченням на рівні випускника з таких предметів, як історія музики, теорія музики або музична освіта. Для отримання ступеня зазвичай потрібно близько 3-4 років очного навчання (на додаток до ступенів магістра та бакалавра), що готує студентів до того, щоб стати професійними виконавцями, диригентами та композиторами. Як остаточний ступінь, DMA дає право працювати на викладацьких/дослідних посадах в університетах, коледжах та консерваторіях.
У 1999 році Нопфлер став офіцером ордену Британської Імперії. Був заснований королем Георгом V 4 червня 1917 р. Спочатку орден призначався для нагородження осіб, які відзначилися в роки І Світової війни, але не брали безпосередньої участі в бойових діях. Надалі орденом стали нагороджувати підданих за заслуги в різних галузях: військова та державна служба, підприємництво, громадська та благодійна діяльність, освіта, наука, культура, спорт та ін. Орден має 5 ступенів: лицар (або дама) Великого хреста, лицар- командор (дама-командор), командор, офіцер, член. При нагородженні 2 вищими ступенями одночасно надається лицарське звання (крім священнослужителів та почесних членів ордену). 
Дискографія М. Нопфлера:
з Dire Straits: "Dire Straits" (1978), "Communiqué" (1979), "Making Movies" (1980), "Love Over Gold" (1982), "ExtendedancEPlay" (1983), "Alchemy: Dire Straits Live" (живий концерт, 1984), Brothers in Arms (1985), Money for Nothing (збірка, 1988), On Every Street (1991), On the Night (концерт, 1993), Live At The BBC» (концерт, 1995), «Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits» (сб., 1998), «Brothers In Arms 20th Anniversary Edition» (2005), «Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations» (зб., 2005) 
Солоно: "Golden Heart" (1996), "A Night in London" (1996), "Sailing to Philadelphia" (2000), "The Ragpicker's Dream" (2002), "Shangri-La" (2004), "One Take Radio Sessions (2005), Kill to Get Crimson (2007), Get Lucky (2009), Privateering (2012), Tracker (2015), Down the Road Wherever (2018), One Deep River» (2024). 
Спільні альбоми:
З Стінгом: "...Nothing Like the Sun" (1987);
З The Booze Brothers Дейва Едмундса: "The Booze Brothers" (1973);
With Bob Dylan: "Slow Train Coming" (1979), "Infidels" (1983);
With David Knopfler: "Release" (1983);
With John Illsley: "Never Told a Soul" (1984), "Glass" (1988);
With Chet Atkins: "Neck and Neck" (1990);
With The Notting Hillbillies: "Missing... Presumed Having a Good Time" (1990);
With William Topley: "Sea Fever" (2005);
With Emmylou Harris: "All the Roadrunning" (2006), "Real Live Roadrunning" (2006);
With Tina Turner: "Private Dancer" (1984), "Break Every Rule" (1986);
With Guy Fletcher: "Inamorata" (2008);
With Zucchero: "Black Cat" (2016). 
Soundtracks to the films: "Local Hero" (UK, dir. Bill Forsyth, 1983), "Cal" (USA, dir. Brad Anderson, 1984), "Comfort and Joy" (UK, dir. B. Forsyth, 1984), "The Princess Bride" (USA, dir. Rob Reiner, 1987), "Last Exit to Brooklyn" (UK/Germany/USA, dir. Uli Edel, 1989), Desperado (USA/Mexico, dir. Robert Rodriguez, 1995), Metroland (Spain/France/UK, dir. Philip Saville, 1998), Wag the Dog (USA, dir. Barry Levinson, 1998), A Shot at Glory (UK/USA, dir. Michael Corrente, 2001), Altamira (France/Spain, dir. Hugh Hudson, co-starring Evelyn Glennie, 2016). 
Video:
