I surprised myself with the talent of Mark Knofler.

[leftyguitarman]

Mark is the man. As far as I'm concerned, he's the greatest songwriter of all time and his guitar playing is just unreal. The first time I heard the album Sailing to Philadelphia, track one titled "What It Is" I told myself "I am buying a guitar." And I did. Saved up my money and my dad gave me my last $15 to get my first guitar.

By the way, in case you didn't know, his seventh solo album, titled Privateering, comes out on September third. And Mark's catalog is GIGANTIC. He has written many, many movie scores, done some albums with other bands and even played on a couple Bob Dylan albums. His collection of B sides are some of his best work, and sadly, not available anywhere, unless perhaps you send me a PM.

Here's the press kit.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kipHScbV6kw]Mark Knopfler Privateering Press kit - YouTube[/ame]

Mark is the last of my top three favorite guitarists that I have to meet. I've met Haynes and Bonamassa; Mark is next.

How can he be any good? He doesn't use a pick!

This, actually, is not true. He mainly uses his fingers, but he uses picks also. A lot of people think he NEVER uses them, but he uses them in the studio a lot and even live on Shangri-la, So Far Away, and others.

 

[acstorfer]

Under appreciated? How can anyone say he is under appreciated? I'll say it again, dude's got a dinosaur named after him. What honor could possibly be as cool as that? Hell, even having an element named after someone isn't even close.

 

[mudfinger]

He was my first mentor, albeit from afar, when I switched from using a pick to playing electric with my fingers.

Brilliant player, good singer, too. And, his songwriting? No slouch in that department, either.

 

[Ledheadforlife]

Mark's finest hour

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPGNe8JZC2I]Mark Knopfler Prank Calls Amanda White - YouTube[/ame]

 

[leftyguitarman]

Mark's finest hour

Mark Knopfler Prank Calls Amanda White - YouTube

I'll never forget the first time I heard that. I laughed so hard, for hours. That dude was fvckin PISSED!

 

[TheWelder]

Here is a cool video that show Mark discussing how to play the iconic riff from 'Money for Nothing.' Classic - that riff/tone is just absolutely killer! He also talks about how he got the inspiration for the song:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0Pq_yxNQB4]How to play Money For Nothing - lesson by Mark Knopfler himself - YouTube[/ame]

 

[ptate]

I got the humbuckers on my les paul built specifically to emulate Knopflers '58....The guy is an incredible guitarist and truly a musical genius with a beautiful ear for melody....

 

[DHBucker]

The quote below is but one of the reasons I have always appreciated him, because he says things from a down to earth prospective. No pretension, no bullshit, no hidden agenda. He speaks with common sense in interviews and with heart and soul in his songs. What could be better?

I would love to see him and Mike Campbell get together for a project. I can only imagine what greatness would come from that partnership.

"Those and other themes and characters on the album are viewed through the prism of Mark's childhood, spent in Glasgow until he was eight, when the family moved to Newcastle. "Do we ever get away from our childhoods?" he muses. "Some of the things we're attracted to when we're very small stay with us all our lives."
That's certainly true in his case. "At the bottom of Salters Road in Newcastle, there was a little record shop," he remembers. "One day there was this Fender Stratocaster in the window, and it was just a thing of magic. It was literally nose to the window. I think I was still in short trousers, and that's it, a little boy coming home from school, being completely fascinated by it. I still cross the road now to look into a guitar shop.
"That's what sustains you, and probably what makes me go on is the thrill of trying to make something, just getting something made. That's it. Obviously things do change a little bit, we do grow up to a certain extent, but I try to keep those bits of me young."

Baloney Again....

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-ejCQBCLg0"]Mark Knopfler - Baloney Again - YouTube[/ame]

 

[GNR4EVR]

He makes it look so easy, and hes singing while hes doing it and smiling like theres no tomorrow. Makes me sick...lol