- Born
- Birth nameMark Freuder Knopfler
- Height6′ (1.83 m)
- Mark Knopfler recorded his first single at age 16, but it was never released, He started the band Dire Straits in 1977, they were signed to Vertigo Records in 1978 and recorded the album "Dire Straits", which featured their first major hit single, "Sultans of Swing". Their follow-up albums include "Communique" (1979), "Making Movies" (1980) (featuring "Romeo and Juliet" and "Tunnel of Love"), "Love Over Gold" (Private Investigations) 1982, "Alchemy--Live" (1984).
In 1985 the band released its mega-selling album "Brothers In Arms", which has sold more than 30 million copies to date. In 1988 a greatest hits collection was released. That year also saw the band appearing together with Eric Clapton at the Nelson Mandela Tribute at Wembley Stadium, performing seven songs. In 1991 the band returned as a nine-piece group and embarked on a massive two-year world tour to promote their new album, "On Every Street", which included "Calling Elvis", "Heavy Fuel" and "The Bug". Their last album was the live album "On the Night". Knopfler guested on a large number of other artists' albums, including Jeff Healey's "Hell to Pay" and the recent "Read My Licks" by Chet Atkins (1994). He also wrote the soundtrack to five films, including Local Hero (1983) and The Princess Bride (1987).
His other band is "The Notting Hillbillies". They released one album in 1991, "Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time" and, having toured Britain, recorded an episode of the TV show "Rock Steady". In 1991 Dire Straits included Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher (keyboards) with Phil Palmer, Chris White, Chris Whitten, Danny Cummings and Paul Franklin.
In autumn of 1997, Knopfler joined Clapton, Sting and others at the Royal Albert Hall in London for a special charity concert in aid of the people of Montserrat. The concert was organized by Sir George Martin.
In January 1998, Mark's wife Kitty Aldrige gave birth to their daughter.
- IMDb mini biography by: <lwp97cwt@sheffield.ac.uk>
- SpousesKitty Aldridge(February 14, 1997 - present) (2 children)Lourdes Salomone(November 10, 1983 - 1993) (divorced, 2 children)Kathleen U White(1972 - ?) (divorced)
- ChildrenJoseph KnopflerBenjamin KnopflerKatya Ruby KnopflerIsabella Mary Knopfler
- ParentsErwin KnopflerLouisa Mary Laidler
- RelativesDavid Knopfler(Sibling)
- Fender Stratocaster
- Gruff, deep voice and whispering style of singing similar to Bob Dylan.
- Clean, bright guitar tone
- Plays the electric guitar with fingers unlike most guitarists that prefer a pick
- His headband
- Has a dinosaur named after him (Masiakasaurus knopfleri) - The researchers who discovered bones from six specimens in Madagascar reported that they found the fossils whilst listening to Dire Straits tapes.
- Is left-handed, but plays guitar right-handed (claims that this contributes to his style)
- He wrote and recorded the backing track for the song "Private Dancer" for the 1982 Dire Straits album 'Love Over Gold'. Before recording the vocals, he realized that the lyric should be sung by a woman, and the track was shelved. Two years later, the track was re-recorded by Tina Turner, backed by most of Dire Straits, but with Jeff Beck on guitar; the song was the title track on Turner's 1984 comeback album, and one of the biggest hits of her career.
- Fender has a signature stratocaster named after him: Fender Mark Knopfler Stratocaster ®. They come only in candy red and with Mark's signature on the headstock.
- The distinctive "fuzz" sound of his guitar in Dire Straits' 1985 hit "Money For Nothing" was a "happy accident" discovered while trying to replicate the sound of ZZ Top. The sound was produced completely through microphone setup (including one pointed straight down at the floor), and involved no additional processing or effects.
- I feel incredibly privileged, but if anyone can tell me one good thing about fame, I'd be very interested to hear it. It's a by-product of success.
- You should never think it's easy. It doesn't matter how good you are.
- I have a style that's just all...probably all wrong. It would be a guitar teacher's nightmare. I hold a guitar like a plumber holds a hammer [response to CBS TV interviewer Anthony Mason's comment: You have such a distinctive guitar style]
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