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EXPLAINED: 3 | Vintage Vibes

“I chose the wrong key”: Mark Knopfler reveals the Dire Straits song that “didn’t come out the way I wanted”

He’s previously referred to its lengthy outro as “pointless”

MusicRadar

“Some guitars are just that little bit special that they work their way in, you know?” Mark Knopfler on why he had to keep his Sultans of Swing Strat – despite selling his Money for Nothing Les Paul and the rest of his collection

The Dire Straits icon recently sold off his most famous and valuable instruments – but there were a few notable exceptions...

Guitar World

"The dreams of a teenage kid... to me it's always been the fuel that keeps you going": Mark Knopfler releases achingly poignant new single Watch Me Gone

Watch Me Gone finds former Dire Straits man Mark Knopfler in typically reflective mood

Louder

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“Those Dire Straits songs walked away from me long ago. They belong to you now”: the life and times of Mark Knopfler, rock’s reluctant superstar

Ex-Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler on motorbike crashes, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and his complicated relationship with his old band

Louder

Dire Straits star Mark Knopfler unites world guitar heroes for charity record

Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd are among the stars to feature on the record for the Teenage Cancer Trust

Evening Standard

"The BBC said, We don’t want to play this song because there are too many words in it": Why Dire Straits had to break America before they were embraced in England

Dire Straits may have been the biggest English rock band of the '80s, but it took recognition in the US to kickstart their success in their homeland

Louder

“These guitars illustrate the musical journey of one of popular music’s greatest artists”: Inside Christie’s’ epic $11.2 million Mark Knopfler guitar auction

We got an up-close look at some of the most storied, rare and collectible of Mark Knopfler's guitars, just before they went under the hammer

Guitar World

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Mark Knopfler's Brother In Arms Les Paul is the most valuable sale in his guitar auction that raised over $11 million

But the Dire Straits icon is not done buying more guitars

MusicRadar

“Staggering”: Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Collection has sold at auction for over $11 million – with a record-breaking ’59 Burst sale and 28 guitars fetching over $100K

The 122 lot sale included the Dire Straits man’s Money for Nothing Les Paul and Walk of Life Schecter, alongside his custom Suhr guitars

Guitar World

Dire Straits Legend's Guitars Garner Six-figure Sales

Several guitars put up for sale by Mark Knopfler, the former frontman of British rock group Dire Straits, on Wednesday fetched hundreds of thousands of pounds each at auction.

International Business Times

Throwback: Phil Collins, Sting and Mark Knopfler in 1986

Take a nostalgic journey back in time with Phil Collins as he shares a vintage image from 1986 featuring Sting and Mark Knopfler. Relive timeless moments o...

Top News

"I said, 'I wish Sting was here', and they said 'He is, he’s here on holiday!'": Mark Knopfler, George Martin and more on 10 years, 70 albums, massive hit singles, a hurricane and a volcano – the incredible story of AIR Studios Montserrat

Best of 2023: The Police, Dire Straits, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Duran Duran are just a few of the AAA names who enjoyed the most idyllic of recording studios, but it didn't end well for this particular AIR

MusicRadar

“At four in the morning, I got a call from David Bowie. He said they needed a guitar player for Iggy Pop’s album”: As right-hand man for everyone from Mark Knopfler to Eric Clapton, ‘Session Man’ Phil Palmer more than earned his nickname

Armed with a Nocaster given to him by his uncle, the Kinks’ Dave Davies, Palmer became a go-to guitarist for some of music’s biggest names, landing an official role in Dire Straits – and narrowly missing out on playing Clapton’s MTV Unplugged set

Guitar World

Changing the lyrics to hit songs might be increasingly noticeable – but it's a longstanding musical practice

Electronic dance music band The Prodigy are the latest act to attract attention for changing the lyrics to a longstanding hit in recent live shows. They now repeat the opening line “change my pitch up” in place of the song’s title “Smack My Bitch Up”. The song’s been a source…

The Conversation

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MusicRadar

Learn four guitar chords from Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits songs

Check out guitar George, he knows all the chords

MusicRadar

Is Prince's Purple Rain really the second-greatest guitar riff of all time? A new survey says 'yes'

And Seven Nation Army is the only riff recorded after the '80s to make the top 20

Zenger

Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ Voted Best Guitar Riff Of All Time

Poll of music fans reveals iconic rock classics and modern hits in the top rankings.

Louder

“I’ll be sad to see them go but we’ve had wonderful times together and I can’t play them all”: Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler is selling off his guitar collection

Dire Straits' leader Mark Knopfler is putting 120 guitars up for auction in January

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The Independent UK

Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler is putting some of his guitars up for auction

Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler will sell off a collection of guitars he considers “old friends” at a Christie’s auction in London next year

Guitar World

“I never thought that my signature would be on anything – never mind Fenders, Gibsons, and Martins, they're the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost of guitars”: Mark Knopfler is selling off 120 guitars, including his Money For Nothing Les Paul

See the Scottish guitar great talk through highlights of his immense collection of signature models, custom builds and guitars used on Dire Straits’ most iconic tracks

The Guardian - UK

Ex-Dire Straits singer Mark Knopfler to sell guitar collection for charity

‘I’ll be sad to see them go but we’ve had wonderful times together,’ says musician ahead of London auction

The Independent UK

Mark Knopfler auctioning guitar he played on Dire Straits song ‘Money For Nothing’

Grammy-winning artist says he has ‘more than enough’ instruments left over after collecting hundreds during his 50-year career

MusicRadar

Mark Knopfler to auction 120 guitars –including his Dire Straits Brothers In Arms Les Paul and a '59 Burst

Money for something, bids + fees, with 25% going to charity

The Independent UK

Money for something: Dire Straits in demand as ‘huge amounts offered’ for reunion

Rock band are regular source of reform hopes – but it seems like it might never happen

MusicRadar

"I said, 'I wish Sting was here', and they said 'he is, he’s here on holiday!'": Mark Knopfler, George Martin and more on 10 years, 70 albums, massive hit singles, a hurricane and a volcano – the incredible story of AIR Studios Montserrat

The Police, Dire Straits, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Duran Duran are just a few of the AAA names who enjoyed the most idyllic of recording studios, but it didn't end well for this particular AIR

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