Mark, if you read this you were my dads favourite and our house was always playing you through the 80s and 90s. He passed away last year and we played you at his funeral. Thank you for touching so many lives.
Mark has given me the most musical pleasure throughout my life, and I am 70 years of age. Marks guitar playing has often brought me to tears with his moving methods of emotional crescendos and his individual riffs etc. I have not long left on this planet, but I wish I could just meet him to shake his hand and to thank him for what he has done for me and that emotional way he has made me feel so often. His music and the way he plays just sends me to somewhere special God Bless you Mark, thanks so very much mate. You have little idea what your playing means to me. Many will feel the same I know. Mark, you are a special musician, so rare with a gift that I cannot describe. Thank s so much!
Had a privilege to meet Mark & co. in spring 1985. in Split, Croatia, when they were preparing the Brothers In Arms world tour. What humble and kind guys they were and still are. Totally down the earth.
@joesoap39 Sorry soapy, but I don't owe Mark Knopfler's father a god dam thing. It was his job and he had no choice in the matter. Don' be a sucker. So I've straightened you out, but it's OK. You don't have to thank me.
@@maplebones Hahaha - viscious boi. I paid my share when I bought the CDs for a shitload in the early '80s, besides I reckon Mark slung a few quid to the old fella over the years anyway.
Peter Walker... a little harsh, maybe, but when after 20 years of investment in your spawn you realize they've become good decent people able to make their own way in the world, that's more than adequate compensation. Worth every hour and every penny.
My dad won a 1950's Gibson Melody Maker in Toronto at a poker game in 1963. He gave it to me, and that began my lifelong guitar playing life- now almost 60 years along.
me and my brother hitched to manchester,liverpool,chester (120miles away) from age 13 to window shop guitars,then sleep under a hedge in a plastic bag,all on no money at all,,also i learnt with twisted hands that didant even open,,so some of us came up an even harder way,,never had any pocket money,,lucky i got my grandmother to buy me a 2nd hand copy of a fender bass so i could start a beatles copy band,,i never got the fame i wanted,,but i did get the music,,taught 2 that became music teachers,2 that won national championships,and learnt fame wasant really important,,but thanks "mark" you are probably the best guitar player ever..stu
That's me at the cash at 28:21. I just walked in with no idea what was going on. I did recognize John from somewhere. It wasn't until the producer came over and I asked him what they were doing and he pointed Mark out that I realized who it was. Jeez. It really hits you how time flies when your heroes, who you've worshipped since your childhood, suddenly appear. And what do you know. They are 50 years older than you remember them. :) Super easy going guys. Chatted with Mark briefly about 335s and sheepishly asked him to autograph the Rudy's shopping bag with a new slide in it I'd just bought for a friend.
I played Romeo and Juliet one night when my greatest love was staying the night, we both knew it couldn`t ever last - the words made her cry "it`s just that the time was wrong" - we knew it was going to be our last night together before she took her cheating mutt of a Husband back, not for her but for the children..
This was produced 7 years ago and I’m just now watching it. I’m so happy I found it. A true testament to Mark’s statement “Music will be a friend to you all your life”
What a beautiful video... I grew up in Eastern Europe on bootlegged/pirated Dire Straits cassettes (what else?), picked up my older brother's guitar when I was 10 and still play today... and would you please look at the world now and how we lost all the legacy of hand made music with real people and real souls behind. I remember my father bringing the 'Brothers in Arms' LP from his visit in Western Berlin, it was the sound of 'the' real life for us. And how right Mark is saying music can be your friend for life... absolutely. Hats off to John for staying friends with Mark after all this years, not many bandmates are that respectful with each other once a world-class band splits. Just wonderful, thank you!
I'll just say, that some day decades from now a young talented musician will emerge and the smartest critics of luthier music will call that virtuoso the Mark Knopfler of their time.
Mark, if you can read this, I apologize again for the frisbee incident in Offenbach stadthalle in Germany, 1978, You was doing a sound check before the concert, I was working as a local roadie and waiting for the concert to begin so I could operate the audience spots. we were tossing the frisbee across the arena and the frisbee decided to take a side dive and landed on the edge of your strat. I felt really bad about it, you told us to take it outside, I was only 17 at the time and probably a little buzzed, the incident did make an awesome sound. needless to say, you guys put on a wonderful show. Thank you for the memories.
I see a lot of people were deeply affected by this video like I was. I think it has a lot to do with it not being just another hacknied, dime a dozen documentary. It's two dear old friends who've been through a lot and love and respect each other. It has to do with two men who never stopped being kind and heartfelt despite the fame and fortune. To me, this is the what makes this video a gem, a diamond in the rough.
"Guitar will be a friend to you all your life. It doesn't matter what happens, keeping playing it and keep enjoying it." Lovely message from one of the masters.
18 minutes in, when Mark takes the Strat out of it's case , watching him handle it and play it and finally put it reverentially back in it's case, you feel like it's part of his soul - more than any of the other guitars, it's who and what he is. But watching that fragment over and over again, I realised that part of my soul also resides in that guitar, and those chords that he plays. It's not just the soaring beauty of the notes and the effortless way he plays them; it's the soundtrack to my life. The sound of that Strat has been my constant companion for 40 years, and has given me so much pleasure and joy whatever ups and downs I'm going through. Nothing but love and respect for Mark and the rest of the band.
The most humble superstar ever... John, thx for this. My eyes are real wet now.. And it’s religious to me.. Sometimes I forget how much this music means to me.
Oscar deserving production. Full of memories, stories, history of rock’n roll and contains alot of emotion. Flows like water, finishes in a blink of an eye! Mark is the true legend of guitar. And such an inspiring person. Thank you John for your great efforts!
I LOVE YOU, MARK KNOPFLER. A GENIUS. HE TRULY IS GUITAR GIFTED. I LISTEN TO HIM SO MUCH. I LOVE CLAPTON, SRV, BUT, KNOPFLER STANDS OUT BECAUSE HIS PLAYING IS UNIQUE. A POEM..A LOVE...
I always thought he had the greatest touch. His notes and vibrato and tone and precision are breathtaking. Just wonderful. I dont care whether I like the song or not, which is very rare, the playing is compelling. Yeah, Mark Knopfler, impeccable guitar player.
I met Mark in 1977 in a upstairs bar in London a place where musicians could wind down after a gig etc. It was before they became famous and I was lucky enough to know someone who worked with the Phonagram Label whom Dire Straits recorded with and managed to get many VIP tickets to their shows and many other artists On that label, one of them was Thin Lizzy. Great times for me as a musician got to see some great parties with many stars.
Mark Knopfler has always been a favourite of mine (along with David Gilmour). I love how even when he's playing hell for leather, his facial expressions make it look completely effortless. I'm so glad I got to see him during Dire Straits 'On Every Street Tour' in Glasgow 1991. Sultans of Swing was incredible to hear close up and see the genius at play! Also love that he was born in Glasgow.
More guitar stories please. I’ve watched this 4 times now and will never tire of it. It lead me to Rudi's Music Store, cost me a fortune as I now own 3 Pensa guitars and had a wonderful afternoon with Rudy himself where he produced some of the finest guitars from his personal collection. I also played a genuine 1959 Gibson Les Paul, selling for $375k, through a vintage Fender Tweed amp. It all resulted in Rudy giving me a magnificent coffee table book on guitars with a wonderful personal message from him written in the cover. Everybody who visits New York must take a trip to the shop...
My husband many years ago was asked to invest in Dire Straits. It was their very early days before they got fame and recognition. Sadly he turned them down. This is such a wonderful documentary. So natural and classic. How a film of Mark should be. Incredible how this boy from such an ordinary life to the pinnacle of musical fame. A talent not made but born with. He was born to play the guitar and gift us with his music. I see sadly that the last guitar maker, Monteleone, so sadly passed away in Dec 2022! His legacy will live on in his incredible guitars.
@Theo Katman Who among us is not a living legend ? I know I am to some and you surely are as well. If it's idol worship you're proposing then you can count me out. That's the oldest marketing scam in the books.
Quando criança, as músicas que eu mais gostava, eram do Dire Straits. Mas só fui descobrir isso na adolescência, quando saiu a primeira coletânea, e 1988. Hoje tenho uma red strat .Resolvi aprender a tocar depois que vi Mark Knopfler em São Paulo. Mark, vc já entrou para a história. Deus abençoe vc!
Somehow every single interview of Mark I've seen so far is that way. He is calm, humble and so much into music, it seems like he can talk for hours and you'll never get bored, because you constantly learn something new.
@@maplebones I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of guitar skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let Mark Knopfler go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will host you in an evening of whiskey and finger-pickin', almost-shreddin' guitar that you might find moderately enjoyable. You might even learn something.
If I had my top 5 no 1 Mark Knopfler no 2 Mr Knopfler eldest son no 3 Mrs Knopfler's eldest son no 4 David Knopfler's eldest brother no 5 Ruth Knopfler's younger brother Mark so there you have it my top 5 hope I never left anyone out to all M.K & D.S fans God bless you may you all have a merry Xmas and a happy and healthy 2021
Pretty good. Nice to see famous people allowed to be seen as humans instead of the disconnected, worshiped beings they're often presented as to the public. I don't know Mark or John, but I like the fact that they thought this was a good project and it was fun to feel like I shared this little journey with them. Thanks guys!
What a great documentary. I'll be honest, the fact that it's his ex-band mate that actually does the "interview" doesn't bother me one bit. I look at it like 2 old friends that decided to come together again and tell a story and reminisce about the past and the fun they had. What I got out of this film was the confirmation that one of my all time favorite guitar player and singer (yes, singer too) was as passionate about his music as I thought and hoped he would be. Although I never thought that Mark was even remotely phony, I took comfort hearing and most of all, seeing him still have those sparkling eyes, like a child on Xmas in front of wrapped gifts, when he spoke and shared how he felt and developed this special relationship with each instrument he owns. Mark is, as I thought, a pure living legend. This film only adds to this reality. Thx for the film but most of all, thx Mark!
For some reason, Knopfler's music always had more of an "American sound" than almost any other British musician. I am not sure why but it just sounds that way to me.Love his music and persona.
He forgot the Schecter Telecaster (PT)! I know because I was so influenced by him, I went to Rudy's in NYC in '84 and asked for the guitar Mark Knopfler plays. The clerk said to come back the next day because MK always hung out there. I did and met him, and he sold me the same guitar he was using at that period during Dire Straits!And, indeed he did play that on the tour. ( I think he liked the pull pots that allowed him to go single coil to double coil). Great guitar. Still have it.
+Scottland Olds Harbert I had the same Schecter tele..bought late 80's used...too heavy a chunk of wood..as it was a solid ash body, stripped the thick paint off it, stained it with thin butterscotch color, eventually sold it. Now I have a collection of teles, strats, LPs, danelectros, resonators, and mandolins, banjos, and amps of every sort. Too much stuff really, and will start selling some as more space and new guitars are waiting for me. R7 Goldtop LP awaits.
As a mature player coming to this late in my life and an absolute beginner with the guitar. This was one of the most inspiring and humbling pieces of film making I have ever seen. You can see the magic in Mark's eyes when he looks at a guitar even now when he is 70 years old just a bit older than me. The segment in Robin Hoods bay made me smile remembering the long walk up the hill to the Grosvenor after anchoring in RHB and after a few stops on the way up the hill. True legend of the guitar and clearly one of the most down to earth superstars ever. #inspiringpeople #guitarlegend #northernhero
You, sir, are a tit. You are talking about the film-making process (no big deal here) and not the content (directionless script and comments, barely illustrating the various aspects of guitar playing and/or building). This is one worthless piece of crap video.
Dire Straits, Brothers In Arms Tour, Athletic Park, Wellington, New Zealand. And then Mark at the Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Its 2023, I'm 65 now and what fantastic memories of a legend. A wonderful video.
Please be aware that when John and Mark come to the 5th guitar they call the "Pensa" guitar it's actually a "Pensa-Suhr" NOT just Pensa. If you look at the head stock you will see this. Rudy Pensa and John Suhr were business partners building guitars under their joint names until Rusy fell out with John. Sad as it seems, they have deliberately removed John Suhr's name off. John Suhr not only designed the guitar but actually built it. Rudy Pensa was and is just the business man and NOT a guitar builder. He employees professional builders to build his guitars most of the build was also contracted out and assembled in house unlike Suhr guitars which are built by Suhr in his CA factory in full. Sad this has to be pointed out but is an important part of this history. You can still privately order this special guitar from Suhr guitars. Pensa also does a similar guitar. Pensa fell out with Suhr hence the removal of his name. Suhr wasn't happy about buying in and assembling at such a high premium. He wanted to build the guitars from start to finish giving their customers a premium service. Suhr now does this is CA at his factory. "Suhr standard carve top Knopfler." One of Mark Knoplfers main guitars from 1988 onwards. A beautiful instrument. Master builder John Suhr designed and built the instrument back in 88 whilst working for Rudy Pensa in NY USA. Brief history of the guitar, Knopfler needed a guitar for gigging that would sound and play like his 58 Les Paul and his red Fender Stratocaster. It was becoming too much to take all his guitars on the road, some of which were priceless. MK needed a guitar that could give him the two very different sounds in one package. This is where his good friend Rudy Pensa came in. Rudy, a business man not a builder, had a little specialist guitar shop in NY USA where he employed master builder John Suhr. Pensa and Suhr would later team up around the time MK was looking for a new guitar. They became Pensa-Suhr. At the time John Suhr was building his own guitar and both Rudy and MK were so impressed that Rudy convinced Suhr to give it to MK for a set of gigs coming up. This was May 1988. The issue was knopfler needed this new guitar like now. He had a set of important gigs lined up the following month. The first being "The Prince's Trust Gala" on 5th & 6th June 1988, then on the 8th & 9th there was the Mandela warm-up gig with Eric Clapton performing with Dire Straits at Hammersmith Odeon, London and then the televised Mandela 70th birthday gig on the 11th June. Surh had very little time to finish off the guitar, it needed painting and pickups fitting, which you will note later greater a new setbif orobkems. The paint would have only just dried in time for the Prince's Trust gig. John was surprised the paint dried so fast. Cosmetics was another issue. MK wanted to show off this guitar in all it's glory, however he wasn't happy with plastic pickup surrounds. So he requested that the humbucker pickup, the large pickup next to the bridge to be mounted without any pickup holders (the plastic surrounds as seen on his Les Paul). He liked the colour of the EMG active pickups and thought the pickup holder would look messy and out of place. The Floyd Rose. Suhr had already routed out for a Floyd Rose, after all the guitar was for him not Mk at that time. Mk didn't like the Floyd floating trem and asked for it to be fixed back to the body. This created better resonance and he found it more convenient for fine tuning. Mark liked to bend more then one string at a time. A floating trem, he felt would have an adverse affect on the strings. As a result, and sue to the guitar body being extremely thin Suhr had to mount this pickup from the rear of the guitar, a very unusual way of mounting pickups. If you look closely at MK's guitar you will see the two small fixings screws. The other issue John had was fitting the 5 position selection switch. The body was too slim to house so he had to trim down the rear of the switch just enough for the rear control cover to cover it. One other request was the neck to be maple with a rosewood finger board, which John wasn't too keen on due to the body being mahogany like a Les Paul. Fender guitars don't usually use mahogany hence their use of maple necks. John believed, and many would agree that the frequency emitted from the mahogany gets cancelled out with the maple resulting in a damping of the sound. Hence why Suhr always offers the matching mahogany neck with his builds. It really does improve the sound. In 1991 Suhr and Pensa party company. Suhr had become in demand due to his skills and abilities in both the guitar and Amplifier world and wanted more control over the full building progress. He's since built some of the best guitars on the planet. Now labelled "Suhr" with this Knopfler Standard Carve top version being the jewel in the crown. Suhr re. leaving Pensa "Steve Marchione was trained to replace me when I moved to CA to work with Bradshaw in the beginning of 91. Suhr was now able to have full control over the whole guitar build and able to so it in house, unlike at Pensa they used to outside help. Suhr would do all only be doing the delicate work the rest was contracted out. A lovely instrument and if you can ever get your hands on one be sure to buy it as it's a sure investment. Regarding the Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster sounds needed. This created a problem for Suhr to solve and to solve it fast. The guitar was needed within weeks for the upcoming gigs. As we know a Les Paul guitar uses humbucker pick-ups which are two single coil pick-ups mounted together with reverse wiring on one of the pickups to reduce the HUM caused by high gain amplifiers. Single coil pickups, when plugged into a high gain guitar Amps will create a loud hum and the louder you go the louder the hum. It's a pain to control. This is why rock guitarist use humbuckers. Mark Knopfler was wanting this Les Paul humbucker sound for songs like "Money for Nothing" along with single coil Stratocaster sounds for songs like "Sultans of swing." For that twangy strat signature sound. So the guitar would need at least 1 x humbucker (Les Paul sound ) and 2 x single coil pickups (Fender Stratocaster sound) BUT with no hum on all pickups. A tall order. So John quickly fitted the Active EMG range of pickups that where new on the marked, designed to address this common HUM problem. Lace sensor At this time Fender was also addressing the same issue and had employed Don Lace to address this. You will see the likes of Eric Clapton using these Lace Sensor around this time. Lace Sensor is a guitar pickup designed by Don Lace and manufactured by AGI (Actodyne General International) since 1985. This line of electric guitar pickups was used exclusively by Fender from 1987 to 1996. What was the issue? Pick-up Humming. The issue he was with the large number of wired windings around the magnet poles of a single coil pick-up. It was found that by reducing the number of winding (loops) the HUM would reduce to a unnoticed level, however the drawback was a massive reduction in the pick-up out puts levels. Making the sound output really low. To address this EMG designed a circuit board powered by a 9V battery located in the rear of the guitar to amplifier the sound. Bingo u have a stratocaster single coil sound with no hum at a standard volume level. Now there was one other draw back to this technology. The humbucker pickup, as noted above consists of 2 x single coil pickups wired together in series, so the sound is NOT fender Strat like when the selection switch is in the second position. Bridge and neck pickups on together. A lot of Fender Stratocaster players use the bridge and middle combination a lot. It's a common strat sound. Normally a humbucker can have the two pickups split at the wiring loom as there are 4 wires. 2 for each pickup, however the EMG humbucker just has the 2 wires and NO way to split the coil to give a single coil strat sound. This is where John Suhr's electronic knowledge comes in. He had to quickly design a wiring mod to reduce the output of the humbucker to take away some of the bass, bottom end of the sound to give it the Stratocaster high range twang. This is what he did The idea was to put a resistor and capacitor in series on the wiring harness (switch) where the 'humbucker meets switch position 2 (bridge + middle). Suhr used a 22k / .033uf. This drops the volume of the humbucker (the large bridge pickup) a bit and reduces some of the bass. This new sound gives you the fender Stratocaster sound you find in position 2. When the selector is in position 1 you get full bridge humbucker (Les Paul sound) and in position 2 Bridge and middle, the signal passes via cap and resistor to reduce the humbuckers output to balance and "quack" better with the middle and bingo you have the famous Stratocaster sound. (Resistence : metal film 22Kohms 0.25 Watt capacitor : 33 nF (0.033) 63 volts remove the original shunt beetween 1 and 2 move the orange cable from 2 to 1 you have to soldering the 2 components in serial (no polarity) and soldering them beetween 1 and 2)
Somewhat similar to my journey through life with guitars. I had a '64 strat in Spain (late '60's), doing blues gigs in my mid- to late teens. ....had some other guitars, but took a fork in the road at age 22, and joined a rural yogi community. It's not easy to get back on the music track, when one takes a long break to do other things. So Mark and Sting kept focused on music, while I strayed in other directions.
When I was about 15, I was staying over at a distant aunt and uncle's farm, and at the foot of the bed was a big chest. I decided to snoop in the chest due to the fact that everyone went to bed at 9pm and there was nothing to do! The chest was filled with blankets and extra pillows, but at the very bottom was this beautiful weird chrome acoustic guitar in a nice case!!! I had never seen such a thing! I wanted to show-off a bit for my dad as I'd been playing a few years and was semi-decent, but the action on the guitar was terrible (some kind of damage, I assumed). The weird guitar was a National brand, which I thought was a Monkey-Wards brand because my buddy had a "National" LP knock-off from MW. What a a shame the neck and bridge set-up was in such "sad shape", as it was so beautiful! I later realized what I had found that night. Oh well, wish I knew then what I know now. What an interesting and wonderful little documentary!!!
I have watched this video at least 5 times and I still am not tired of it. One of the greatest guitar players playing some of the most beautiful guitars in the world! Love Mark Knopfler.
Where was I,,been watching many great documentaries.I love music,,especially bluesy,,and when I heard Dire Straits for the first time ( back in 1978) bought. Their debut album and Brothers in Arms,,two awesome masterpieces,,This was posted 10 years ago,,,ohh my
For me, as an ageing Geordie exile and amateur guitar player I enjoyed this for the music, the guitars, the technology, Mark's playing of course, and those nostalgic shots of Newcastle guitar shop. Great programme, well done to all concerned.
Having gone to Argentina several years ago, our great family friend there surprised me by being a huge Mark Knopfler fan. And why not? Easily Mark is both an outstanding picker and highly evolved songwriter. Argentina has that Italian influence amount others, and I love to see that the Old World craftsmanship lives on here in America. That outstanding craftsmanship is reflected in Mark’s work throughout his career. It inspires me that people are paid to do exactly what they love, especially when they do it so magically. Mark embodies everything about soul, taste and class.
I'm not a Dire Straits or Mark Knopfler fan, but I'm a guitar player, and I appreciate the instruments, and the talent of players. This video was wonderful.
Same here Justin, Mr K obviously has deep passion for his instruments so that was great to see, but in terms of guitars I'm a telecaster man through and through so was surprised he didn't have one in his 6....
All the way from the casbah of Algiers, discovered Mk about 40 years ago and his unique way to play the guitar absolutely sublime. still and will ever be only ONE Mark Knopfler
Beyond the great history in this video, these few seconds at 19:04 are a wonderful guitar lesson. Watch it in slow motion, practice a simpler version and add complexity, until the insights reveal themselves- the space that creates the bounce, the variations you can come up with on the treble strings that create more interest and complexity... I have been plateaued playing finger style for 30 years in a familiar rut, but somehow never wrapped my head around what he was doing until I sat in a disciplined fashion to watch this in slow motion and make my fingers do it. They rebel and want to hit in all the spaces, or break the machine perfection of the thumb alternation, but forcing that to become natural is where the magic is.
Mark knopfler is truly a talented compassionate gifted individual that we should all take a close look at, and be thankful he struck the match against that stone, that lit the bonfire in our hearts .. For creating the music that so graciously projected out off the tips of his fingers each time he picked up a guitar.. Thank you for the Music and the memories Mark wherever you may be. A true Brother in arms..
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So glad you chose music over journalism Mark Knopfler. Life could have been so empty.
Here's to good health and a long life.........Bless you.
Or Teaching English. He taught English for 3 years.
Mark, if you read this you were my dads favourite and our house was always playing you through the 80s and 90s. He passed away last year and we played you at his funeral. Thank you for touching so many lives.
Mark has given me the most musical pleasure throughout my life, and I am 70 years of age. Marks guitar playing has often brought me to tears with his moving methods of emotional crescendos and his individual riffs etc. I have not long left on this planet, but I wish I could just meet him to shake his hand and to thank him for what he has done for me and that emotional way he has made me feel so often. His music and the way he plays just sends me to somewhere special God Bless you Mark, thanks so very much mate. You have little idea what your playing means to me. Many will feel the same I know. Mark, you are a special musician, so rare with a gift that I cannot describe. Thank s so much!
"Romeo & Juliet " undoubtedly one of best love songs ever written ❤ Yhank You Mark
Had a privilege to meet Mark & co. in spring 1985. in Split, Croatia, when they were preparing the Brothers In Arms world tour. What humble and kind guys they were and still are. Totally down the earth.
Love the way Mark refers to the efforts his Dad made to get him the first guitar, we all owe his dad great thanks for setting him on his journey.
@joesoap39 Sorry soapy, but I don't owe Mark Knopfler's father a god dam thing. It was his job and he had no choice in the matter. Don' be a sucker. So I've straightened you out, but it's OK. You don't have to thank me.
@@maplebones
Hahaha - viscious boi. I paid my share when I bought the CDs for a shitload in the early '80s, besides I reckon Mark slung a few quid to the old fella over the years anyway.
Peter Walker... a little harsh, maybe, but when after 20 years of investment in your spawn you realize they've become good decent people able to make their own way in the world, that's more than adequate compensation. Worth every hour and every penny.
My dad won a 1950's Gibson Melody Maker in Toronto at a poker game in 1963. He gave it to me, and that began my lifelong guitar playing life- now almost 60 years along.
Have to agree, joesoap. If his dad had ignored his desire to play guitar he might have been a truck driver.
You can see why these two stayed together, true friends, true respect, no egos. Great Englishmen...
me and my brother hitched to manchester,liverpool,chester (120miles away) from age 13 to window shop guitars,then sleep under a hedge in a plastic bag,all on no money at all,,also i learnt with twisted hands that didant even open,,so some of us came up an even harder way,,never had any pocket money,,lucky i got my grandmother to buy me a 2nd hand copy of a fender bass so i could start a beatles copy band,,i never got the fame i wanted,,but i did get the music,,taught 2 that became music teachers,2 that won national championships,and learnt fame wasant really important,,but thanks "mark" you are probably the best guitar player ever..stu
Imagine wlking down the street and seeing mark knopfler casually standing there drooling over a guitar in a displaywindow.
I'd love to see that
With John Illsley by his side...
@@moonglimmers what a story
@@moonglimmers
Awesome story. 😲😎
@@rhystaylor8634 I'm too old;
I would have a heart attack
"Music will be a friend to you all your life." -- Mark Knopfler
And also we shall mention this : Music is your only friend until the end...Jim Morrison 😉👍
@@batugoker3158 And books
So perfectly true... 😊🎸👍
@@paranihiaanaru4414 Jim was not a book type person I guess..:-) Happy New Year!
So unbelievably true!
That's me at the cash at 28:21. I just walked in with no idea what was going on. I did recognize John from somewhere. It wasn't until the producer came over and I asked him what they were doing and he pointed Mark out that I realized who it was. Jeez. It really hits you how time flies when your heroes, who you've worshipped since your childhood, suddenly appear. And what do you know. They are 50 years older than you remember them. :) Super easy going guys. Chatted with Mark briefly about 335s and sheepishly asked him to autograph the Rudy's shopping bag with a new slide in it I'd just bought for a friend.
My heart skipped a beat when he started playing Romeo and Juliet- just amazing 👌
Ok but I was wondering how can he play that thing. The answer is the Open Tuning. .
I played Romeo and Juliet one night when my greatest love was staying the night, we both knew it couldn`t ever last - the words made her cry "it`s just that the time was wrong" - we knew it was going to be our last night together before she took her cheating mutt of a Husband back, not for her but for the children..
This was produced 7 years ago and I’m just now watching it. I’m so happy I found it. A true testament to Mark’s statement “Music will be a friend to you all your life”
I was in a relationship where somehow the S.O. made me feel playing my music is a tiny box.
Last time I saw a video this good was the last time I watched this video.
It didn't do that for me. Yuk!
What a beautiful video... I grew up in Eastern Europe on bootlegged/pirated Dire Straits cassettes (what else?), picked up my older brother's guitar when I was 10 and still play today... and would you please look at the world now and how we lost all the legacy of hand made music with real people and real souls behind.
I remember my father bringing the 'Brothers in Arms' LP from his visit in Western Berlin, it was the sound of 'the' real life for us. And how right Mark is saying music can be your friend for life... absolutely. Hats off to John for staying friends with Mark after all this years, not many bandmates are that respectful with each other once a world-class band splits.
Just wonderful, thank you!
When all is said and done, I believe that Mark Knopfler will be remembered as the Mozart of our day, Really!
I've said many times that had he been born 400 years ago, we'd still be listening to Wolfgang Amadeus Knopfler.
You believe wrong.. in guitar world he is like 50th number! He is super underated..I play electric because of him and I'm pretty close sound wise:))
Well he's a real big input in my life and the brothers in arms album means so much to me, Mark Knopfler is really someone I wanna meet.
I'll just say, that some day decades from now a young talented musician will emerge and the smartest critics of luthier music will call that virtuoso the Mark Knopfler of their time.
he's awesome, but then there's chet atkins
My all time favourite band and guitarist.What makes him so special is his humility.Long Live the great,the supremely talented MK.
@Ralph ReillyDon't comment on what you don't understand Ralph.🖕
12:07: two good friends smiling at each other when they play a tune they played decades ago. Pure joy!
20:25 Also pure joy is to hear some old Dire Straits wisecrackery. John having a wee go at Mark, who's having none of it!
@@RideAcrossTheRiverGet outta heeere
My impression is that these are nice people.
Mark, if you can read this, I apologize again for the frisbee incident in Offenbach stadthalle in Germany, 1978, You was doing a sound check before the concert, I was working as a local roadie and waiting for the concert to begin so I could operate the audience spots. we were tossing the frisbee across the arena and the frisbee decided to take a side dive and landed on the edge of your strat. I felt really bad about it, you told us to take it outside, I was only 17 at the time and probably a little buzzed, the incident did make an awesome sound. needless to say, you guys put on a wonderful show. Thank you for the memories.
i can confirm, i was the stratocaster
@@oneovereighty I was the Frisbee!
I was the awesome sound.
I was outside.
I was buzzed.
I see a lot of people were deeply affected by this video like I was. I think it has a lot to do with it not being just another hacknied, dime a dozen documentary. It's two dear old friends who've been through a lot and love and respect each other. It has to do with two men who never stopped being kind and heartfelt despite the fame and fortune. To me, this is the what makes this video a gem, a diamond in the rough.
"Guitar will be a friend to you all your life. It doesn't matter what happens, keeping playing it and keep enjoying it." Lovely message from one of the masters.
18 minutes in, when Mark takes the Strat out of it's case , watching him handle it and play it and finally put it reverentially back in it's case, you feel like it's part of his soul - more than any of the other guitars, it's who and what he is. But watching that fragment over and over again, I realised that part of my soul also resides in that guitar, and those chords that he plays. It's not just the soaring beauty of the notes and the effortless way he plays them; it's the soundtrack to my life. The sound of that Strat has been my constant companion for 40 years, and has given me so much pleasure and joy whatever ups and downs I'm going through. Nothing but love and respect for Mark and the rest of the band.
This man is still humble even after selling 100's of millions copies of his song..he deserves 2 this
The most humble superstar ever... John, thx for this. My eyes are real wet now.. And it’s religious to me.. Sometimes I forget how much this music means to me.
Copter Cop ?
😍
Dire Straits was my soundtrack in my youth. I still love their music. Inimitable sound it's just unique.
As a guitar builder of 40+ years this was a real joy to watch. Thank you.
Imagine being that guy that was ranting about the guys on MTV, and then soon after Money for Nothing comes out!
😂
🤯😂
😲😎👍
That ranting guy unknowingly wrote most of the song. He should get royalties. lol
Oscar deserving production. Full of memories, stories, history of rock’n roll and contains alot of emotion. Flows like water, finishes in a blink of an eye! Mark is the true legend of guitar. And such an inspiring person. Thank you John for your great efforts!
I love how Knopfler still gets excited like a kid looking at Strats in the shop window
May be his music little bit psychologycal because some reason, that Mark soul is like kid. All we are can stay kid's in any age.
Pretty much like every guitarist
Now that he knows he can make these guitars sing, I think he seems even more excited
Thanks for posting this gem. What a celebration of the journey of Knopfler and the respect and reverence for the tools of his art! Beautiful!!!
I LOVE YOU, MARK KNOPFLER.
A GENIUS. HE TRULY IS GUITAR GIFTED. I LISTEN TO HIM SO MUCH. I LOVE CLAPTON, SRV, BUT, KNOPFLER STANDS OUT BECAUSE HIS PLAYING IS UNIQUE. A POEM..A LOVE...
I always thought he had the greatest touch. His notes and vibrato and tone and precision are breathtaking. Just wonderful. I dont care whether I like the song or not, which is very rare, the playing is compelling. Yeah, Mark Knopfler, impeccable guitar player.
That smile between old friends at 12:06 is wonderful.
Such a humble guy, keeps his guitars in good condition. What a lord.
This video is a giant history creation. Mark is a master. I heard about this video and couldn't wait to enjoy it.
A beautiful presentation!
I met Mark in 1977 in a upstairs bar in London a place where musicians could wind down after a gig etc.
It was before they became famous and I was lucky enough to know someone who worked with the Phonagram
Label whom Dire Straits recorded with and managed to get many VIP tickets to their shows and many other artists
On that label, one of them was Thin Lizzy.
Great times for me as a musician got to see some great parties with many stars.
Mark Knopfler has always been a favourite of mine (along with David Gilmour). I love how even when he's playing hell for leather, his facial expressions make it look completely effortless. I'm so glad I got to see him during Dire Straits 'On Every Street Tour' in Glasgow 1991. Sultans of Swing was incredible to hear close up and see the genius at play! Also love that he was born in Glasgow.
More guitar stories please. I’ve watched this 4 times now and will never tire of it. It lead me to Rudi's Music Store, cost me a fortune as I now own 3 Pensa guitars and had a wonderful afternoon with Rudy himself where he produced some of the finest guitars from his personal collection. I also played a genuine 1959 Gibson Les Paul, selling for $375k, through a vintage Fender Tweed amp. It all resulted in Rudy giving me a magnificent coffee table book on guitars with a wonderful personal message from him written in the cover. Everybody who visits New York must take a trip to the shop...
What I love about Mark is that he still looks amazed on what he can actually do with a guitar.
I think he likes to think about playing as much he likes playing.
My husband many years ago was asked to invest in Dire Straits. It was their very early days before they got fame and recognition. Sadly he turned them down. This is such a wonderful documentary. So natural and classic. How a film of Mark should be. Incredible how this boy from such an ordinary life to the pinnacle of musical fame. A talent not made but born with. He was born to play the guitar and gift us with his music. I see sadly that the last guitar maker, Monteleone, so sadly passed away in Dec 2022! His legacy will live on in his incredible guitars.
Mark Knopfler a living legend
Theo Katman so is john islley
thanks Nicolas
+nicolas boehm who
He seems like a good dude too.
@Theo Katman Who among us is not a living legend ? I know I am to some and you surely are as well. If it's idol worship you're proposing then you can count me out. That's the oldest marketing scam in the books.
Quando criança, as músicas que eu mais gostava, eram do Dire Straits. Mas só fui descobrir isso na adolescência, quando saiu a primeira coletânea, e 1988.
Hoje tenho uma red strat .Resolvi aprender a tocar depois que vi Mark Knopfler em São Paulo.
Mark, vc já entrou para a história.
Deus abençoe vc!
Extraordinary and moved to tears, such humbling people.
Incredible warm and down to earth documentary about Mark and his guitars, John is an incredible host. One of the finest programs I have ever watched.
100% enig.
Somehow every single interview of Mark I've seen so far is that way. He is calm, humble and so much into music, it seems like he can talk for hours and you'll never get bored, because you constantly learn something new.
Don't get out much ?
@@maplebones I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of guitar skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let Mark Knopfler go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will host you in an evening of whiskey and finger-pickin', almost-shreddin' guitar that you might find moderately enjoyable. You might even learn something.
@@maplebones you really are a brain dead idiot
If I chose my five guitarists of all times Mark would certainly be one of them.
i agree
If I chose, Mark Knopfler would be all of them
If I had my top 5 no 1 Mark Knopfler no 2 Mr Knopfler eldest son no 3 Mrs Knopfler's eldest son no 4 David Knopfler's eldest brother no 5 Ruth Knopfler's younger brother Mark so there you have it my top 5 hope I never left anyone out to all M.K & D.S fans God bless you may you all have a merry Xmas and a happy and healthy 2021
@@TheCharliebeardog l
13:10 : goosebumps when he starts playing Romeo & Juliet...
Making Movies is the best album in history... amazing!!! Tunnel of Love... Hand In Hand... Romeo and Juliet... Solid Rock... SO GOOD!!!!
Same. And when it transitioned to the studio version of the song. One of the most beautiful music that has ever made.
First time I heard that intro I could never figure out what instrument it was. It sounds like something between a banjo and a harp.
This is perfection, personified…..Thankyou👍🇮🇲💪
What a wonderful tribute to all of those involved in this life long journey. We are all so fortunate to have tagged along for the ride.
Favorite part is when he started playing Romeo and Juliet on that National. Awesome sound.
Wonderful video. Mark Knopfler is such a brilliant and very much underrated guitar player. Loved hearing his stories. Thank you for posting this.
Mark is always so down to earth
Pretty good. Nice to see famous people allowed to be seen as humans instead of the disconnected, worshiped beings they're often presented as to the public. I don't know Mark or John, but I like the fact that they thought this was a good project and it was fun to feel like I shared this little journey with them. Thanks guys!
What a great documentary. I'll be honest, the fact that it's his ex-band mate that actually does the "interview" doesn't bother me one bit. I look at it like 2 old friends that decided to come together again and tell a story and reminisce about the past and the fun they had. What I got out of this film was the confirmation that one of my all time favorite guitar player and singer (yes, singer too) was as passionate about his music as I thought and hoped he would be. Although I never thought that Mark was even remotely phony, I took comfort hearing and most of all, seeing him still have those sparkling eyes, like a child on Xmas in front of wrapped gifts, when he spoke and shared how he felt and developed this special relationship with each instrument he owns. Mark is, as I thought, a pure living legend. This film only adds to this reality. Thx for the film but most of all, thx Mark!
i loved that he still had the guitar his Dad gave him.
Thank you to Mark's dad.
Here's a man who talks quietly and means all that he says. An elegant soul with a seemingly effortless talent. Thank the gods for him and his like.
Incredible journey enjoyed every minute. Thank you Mark and John.
For some reason, Knopfler's music always had more of an "American sound" than almost any other British musician. I am not sure why but it just sounds that way to me.Love his music and persona.
I've watched this several times. Its a great story about a phenomenal guitar player. Never gets old.
He forgot the Schecter Telecaster (PT)! I know because I was so influenced by him, I went to Rudy's in NYC in '84 and asked for the guitar Mark Knopfler plays. The clerk said to come back the next day because MK always hung out there. I did and met him, and he sold me the same guitar he was using at that period during Dire Straits!And, indeed he did play that on the tour. ( I think he liked the pull pots that allowed him to go single coil to double coil). Great guitar. Still have it.
+Scottland Olds Harbert
I had the same Schecter tele..bought late 80's used...too heavy a chunk of wood..as it was a solid ash body, stripped the thick paint off it, stained it with thin butterscotch color, eventually sold it. Now I have a collection of teles, strats, LPs, danelectros, resonators, and mandolins, banjos, and amps of every sort.
Too much stuff really, and will start selling some as more space and new guitars are waiting for me. R7 Goldtop LP awaits.
That’s a helluva story. So lucky!
that is a great story!
Never ever sell it, unless it's to me!... Yep awesome show!
As a mature player coming to this late in my life and an absolute beginner with the guitar. This was one of the most inspiring and humbling pieces of film making I have ever seen. You can see the magic in Mark's eyes when he looks at a guitar even now when he is 70 years old just a bit older than me. The segment in Robin Hoods bay made me smile remembering the long walk up the hill to the Grosvenor after anchoring in RHB and after a few stops on the way up the hill. True legend of the guitar and clearly one of the most down to earth superstars ever.
#inspiringpeople #guitarlegend #northernhero
You, sir, are a tit. You are talking about the film-making process (no big deal here) and not the content (directionless script and comments, barely illustrating the various aspects of guitar playing and/or building). This is one worthless piece of crap video.
Troll gonna troll, lol...
Mark Knopfler is the most underrated musician alive.
Mark is one of the reasons I got into guitar and bought my strat.
Me too...
Me too
Haha, me too - and it had to be a red one!
Me too!
So nice that Mark kept his first guitar his Dad bought him.....
Dire Straits, Brothers In Arms Tour, Athletic Park, Wellington, New Zealand. And then Mark at the Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Its 2023, I'm 65 now and what fantastic memories of a legend. A wonderful video.
Very laid back video, very pleasing to watch. Mark's guitar sound is absolutely unique no matter which guitar he has in his hands.
Please be aware that when John and Mark come to the 5th guitar they call the "Pensa" guitar it's actually a "Pensa-Suhr" NOT just Pensa. If you look at the head stock you will see this. Rudy Pensa and John Suhr were business partners building guitars under their joint names until Rusy fell out with John.
Sad as it seems, they have deliberately removed John Suhr's name off. John Suhr not only designed the guitar but actually built it. Rudy Pensa was and is just the business man and NOT a guitar builder. He employees professional builders to build his guitars most of the build was also contracted out and assembled in house unlike Suhr guitars which are built by Suhr in his CA factory in full. Sad this has to be pointed out but is an important part of this history.
You can still privately order this special guitar from Suhr guitars. Pensa also does a similar guitar. Pensa fell out with Suhr hence the removal of his name. Suhr wasn't happy about buying in and assembling at such a high premium. He wanted to build the guitars from start to finish giving their customers a premium service. Suhr now does this is CA at his factory.
"Suhr standard carve top Knopfler." One of Mark Knoplfers main guitars from 1988 onwards. A beautiful instrument. Master builder John Suhr designed and built the instrument back in 88 whilst working for Rudy Pensa in NY USA.
Brief history of the guitar,
Knopfler needed a guitar for gigging that would sound and play like his 58 Les Paul and his red Fender Stratocaster. It was becoming too much to take all his guitars on the road, some of which were priceless.
MK needed a guitar that could give him the two very different sounds in one package. This is where his good friend Rudy Pensa came in. Rudy, a business man not a builder, had a little specialist guitar shop in NY USA where he employed master builder John Suhr. Pensa and Suhr would later team up around the time MK was looking for a new guitar. They became Pensa-Suhr.
At the time John Suhr was building his own guitar and both Rudy and MK were so impressed that Rudy convinced Suhr to give it to MK for a set of gigs coming up. This was May 1988. The issue was knopfler needed this new guitar like now. He had a set of important gigs lined up the following month. The first being "The Prince's Trust Gala" on 5th & 6th June 1988, then on the 8th & 9th there was the Mandela warm-up gig with Eric Clapton performing with Dire Straits at Hammersmith Odeon, London and then the televised Mandela 70th birthday gig on the 11th June.
Surh had very little time to finish off the guitar, it needed painting and pickups fitting, which you will note later greater a new setbif orobkems. The paint would have only just dried in time for the Prince's Trust gig. John was surprised the paint dried so fast.
Cosmetics was another issue. MK wanted to show off this guitar in all it's glory, however he wasn't happy with plastic pickup surrounds. So he requested that the humbucker pickup, the large pickup next to the bridge to be mounted without any pickup holders (the plastic surrounds as seen on his Les Paul). He liked the colour of the EMG active pickups and thought the pickup holder would look messy and out of place.
The Floyd Rose. Suhr had already routed out for a Floyd Rose, after all the guitar was for him not Mk at that time. Mk didn't like the Floyd floating trem and asked for it to be fixed back to the body. This created better resonance and he found it more convenient for fine tuning. Mark liked to bend more then one string at a time. A floating trem, he felt would have an adverse affect on the strings.
As a result, and sue to the guitar body being extremely thin Suhr had to mount this pickup from the rear of the guitar, a very unusual way of mounting pickups. If you look closely at MK's guitar you will see the two small fixings screws.
The other issue John had was fitting the 5 position selection switch. The body was too slim to house so he had to trim down the rear of the switch just enough for the rear control cover to cover it.
One other request was the neck to be maple with a rosewood finger board, which John wasn't too keen on due to the body being mahogany like a Les Paul. Fender guitars don't usually use mahogany hence their use of maple necks. John believed, and many would agree that the frequency emitted from the mahogany gets cancelled out with the maple resulting in a damping of the sound. Hence why Suhr always offers the matching mahogany neck with his builds. It really does improve the sound.
In 1991 Suhr and Pensa party company. Suhr had become in demand due to his skills and abilities in both the guitar and Amplifier world and wanted more control over the full building progress. He's since built some of the best guitars on the planet. Now labelled "Suhr" with this Knopfler Standard Carve top version being the jewel in the crown.
Suhr re. leaving Pensa "Steve Marchione was trained to replace me when I moved to CA to work with Bradshaw in the beginning of 91.
Suhr was now able to have full control over the whole guitar build and able to so it in house, unlike at Pensa they used to outside help. Suhr would do all only be doing the delicate work the rest was contracted out.
A lovely instrument and if you can ever get your hands on one be sure to buy it as it's a sure investment.
Regarding the Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster sounds needed. This created a problem for Suhr to solve and to solve it fast. The guitar was needed within weeks for the upcoming gigs.
As we know a Les Paul guitar uses humbucker pick-ups which are two single coil pick-ups mounted together with reverse wiring on one of the pickups to reduce the HUM caused by high gain amplifiers.
Single coil pickups, when plugged into a high gain guitar Amps will create a loud hum and the louder you go the louder the hum. It's a pain to control. This is why rock guitarist use humbuckers.
Mark Knopfler was wanting this Les Paul humbucker sound for songs like "Money for Nothing" along with single coil Stratocaster sounds for songs like "Sultans of swing." For that twangy strat signature sound.
So the guitar would need at least 1 x humbucker (Les Paul sound ) and 2 x single coil pickups (Fender Stratocaster sound) BUT with no hum on all pickups. A tall order.
So John quickly fitted the Active EMG range of pickups that where new on the marked, designed to address this common HUM problem.
Lace sensor
At this time Fender was also addressing the same issue and had employed Don Lace to address this. You will see the likes of Eric Clapton using these Lace Sensor around this time.
Lace Sensor is a guitar pickup designed by Don Lace and manufactured by AGI (Actodyne General International) since 1985.
This line of electric guitar pickups was used exclusively by Fender from 1987 to 1996.
What was the issue? Pick-up Humming.
The issue he was with the large number of wired windings around the magnet poles of a single coil pick-up. It was found that by reducing the number of winding (loops) the HUM would reduce to a unnoticed level, however the drawback was a massive reduction in the pick-up out puts levels. Making the sound output really low. To address this EMG designed a circuit board powered by a 9V battery located in the rear of the guitar to amplifier the sound. Bingo u have a stratocaster single coil sound with no hum at a standard volume level.
Now there was one other draw back to this technology. The humbucker pickup, as noted above consists of 2 x single coil pickups wired together in series, so the sound is NOT fender Strat like when the selection switch is in the second position. Bridge and neck pickups on together.
A lot of Fender Stratocaster players use the bridge and middle combination a lot. It's a common strat sound. Normally a humbucker can have the two pickups split at the wiring loom as there are 4 wires. 2 for each pickup, however the EMG humbucker just has the 2 wires and NO way to split the coil to give a single coil strat sound.
This is where John Suhr's electronic knowledge comes in. He had to quickly design a wiring mod to reduce the output of the humbucker to take away some of the bass, bottom end of the sound to give it the Stratocaster high range twang.
This is what he did
The idea was to put a resistor and capacitor in series on the wiring harness (switch) where the 'humbucker meets switch position 2 (bridge + middle). Suhr used a 22k / .033uf. This drops the volume of the humbucker (the large bridge pickup) a bit and reduces some of the bass.
This new sound gives you the fender Stratocaster sound you find in position 2.
When the selector is in position 1 you get full bridge humbucker (Les Paul sound) and in position 2 Bridge and middle, the signal passes via cap and resistor to reduce the humbuckers output to balance and "quack" better with the middle and bingo you have the famous Stratocaster sound.
(Resistence : metal film 22Kohms 0.25 Watt capacitor : 33 nF (0.033) 63 volts
remove the original shunt beetween 1 and 2 move the orange cable from 2 to 1
you have to soldering the 2 components in serial (no polarity) and soldering them beetween 1 and 2)
Thanks for elaborating, this was a really informative comment
lol this comment is nuts… thank you for this
Thanks‼️👏🏻👍🏻😎
That was Rudy's Music Stop. Been there in 90s...OMG.! The grails they had there was amazing.😎👌🤘
Thank you!!!!! I was waiting for them to say something. Love my Suhr standards!
This video is a must for any Mark Knofler fan He is a great guy and a great player.
Somewhat similar to my journey through life with guitars. I had a '64 strat in Spain (late '60's), doing blues gigs in my mid- to late teens. ....had some other guitars, but took a fork in the road at age 22, and joined a rural yogi community. It's not easy to get back on the music track, when one takes a long break to do other things. So Mark and Sting kept focused on music, while I strayed in other directions.
12:04 melts my heart. Nothing beats the feeling of getting together with an old pal and making music.
"It's time to make sawdust!" This ageing musician suddenly got something in his eyes.
Mark is fabulous, John is no slouch on bass. Fantastic video of historic value
When I was about 15, I was staying over at a distant aunt and uncle's farm, and at the foot of the bed was a big chest. I decided to snoop in the chest due to the fact that everyone went to bed at 9pm and there was nothing to do! The chest was filled with blankets and extra pillows, but at the very bottom was this beautiful weird chrome acoustic guitar in a nice case!!! I had never seen such a thing! I wanted to show-off a bit for my dad as I'd been playing a few years and was semi-decent, but the action on the guitar was terrible (some kind of damage, I assumed). The weird guitar was a National brand, which I thought was a Monkey-Wards brand because my buddy had a "National" LP knock-off from MW. What a a shame the neck and bridge set-up was in such "sad shape", as it was so beautiful! I later realized what I had found that night. Oh well, wish I knew then what I know now.
What an interesting and wonderful little documentary!!!
That story about the Money for Nothing lyrics was brilliant, I had never heard that before and never would've guessed that
Great video with lots of amazing info. Thank you, Marco, for posting this. And you 358 people who gave this a "Thumbs Down": y'all need some help.
Great story. Mark is a very special person.
Musical virtuoso's, like Knopfler, that have survived into their golden years with their health are absolute treasures.
It is a real peaceful hour, and you feel in good company. Thank you so much.
What an amazing piece. Mark Knopfler has always been my musical idol, this is just another testament to his majesty. Such a humble and real guy.
Larry Hamilton Me too Larry a musical genius
Thank you for making this and sharing you are both legends
I have watched this video at least 5 times and I still am not tired of it. One of the greatest guitar players playing some of the most beautiful guitars in the world! Love Mark Knopfler.
I particularly liked the story of his last guitar. It’s not often that someone writes a song about an instrument-maker. 🙂
This guy is a far king genius, never had a music lesson in his lfe
Absolutely the Picasso of modern creative music … hadn’t been beat in the last two centuries …
Where was I,,been watching many great documentaries.I love music,,especially bluesy,,and when I heard Dire Straits for the first time ( back in 1978) bought. Their debut album and Brothers in Arms,,two awesome masterpieces,,This was posted 10 years ago,,,ohh my
What a beautiful video! Such love for music and instruments. thank you for posting this. I love Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits!
For me, as an ageing Geordie exile and amateur guitar player I enjoyed this for the music, the guitars, the technology, Mark's playing of course, and those nostalgic shots of Newcastle guitar shop. Great programme, well done to all concerned.
merci pour ce delicieux reportage ma jeunesse etait avec votre musique et se soir par hazare je regade avec emotion quelle joie merci merci merci
Having gone to Argentina several years ago, our great family friend there surprised me by being a huge Mark Knopfler fan. And why not? Easily Mark is both an outstanding picker and highly evolved songwriter. Argentina has that Italian influence amount others, and I love to see that the Old World craftsmanship lives on here in America. That outstanding craftsmanship is reflected in Mark’s work throughout his career. It inspires me that people are paid to do exactly what they love, especially when they do it so magically. Mark embodies everything about soul, taste and class.
Fantastico!!!
True guitar legend...
This was quite possibly the best video I have watched of Mark Knopler....ever
BRILLIANT just BRILLIANT 👍😁👍😁👍
I'll listen to Mark's music 24/7... a true treasure in the music world.
Don't even know how many times I've watched this❤️❤️❤️
I'm not a Dire Straits or Mark Knopfler fan, but I'm a guitar player, and I appreciate the instruments, and the talent of players. This video was wonderful.
Same here Justin, Mr K obviously has deep passion for his instruments so that was great to see, but in terms of guitars I'm a telecaster man through and through so was surprised he didn't have one in his 6....
Mark Knopfler is a Guitar legend
All the way from the casbah of Algiers, discovered Mk about 40 years ago and his unique way to play the guitar absolutely sublime. still and will ever be only ONE Mark Knopfler
I was born in East Dulwich, my mum lived in that council estate in Depford.
" Way on down south, London town."
Beyond the great history in this video, these few seconds at 19:04 are a wonderful guitar lesson. Watch it in slow motion, practice a simpler version and add complexity, until the insights reveal themselves- the space that creates the bounce, the variations you can come up with on the treble strings that create more interest and complexity... I have been plateaued playing finger style for 30 years in a familiar rut, but somehow never wrapped my head around what he was doing until I sat in a disciplined fashion to watch this in slow motion and make my fingers do it. They rebel and want to hit in all the spaces, or break the machine perfection of the thumb alternation, but forcing that to become natural is where the magic is.
What an awesome video experience. Thank you John and thank you Mark.
Mark knopfler is truly a talented compassionate gifted individual that we should all take a close look at, and be thankful he struck the match against that stone, that lit the bonfire in our hearts .. For creating the music that so graciously projected out off the tips of his fingers each time he picked up a guitar.. Thank you for the Music and the memories Mark wherever you may be. A true Brother in arms..