Check out Tim's new record and tell him Otis sent ya! timobrien.net/

@PeterVred

Жыл бұрын

Right, I’m shocked that I love this approach to music so much.

This video makes me happy because it confirms that Knopfler is what I thought he was.

True story: When I was a teenager I managed to get Mark's towel, at the end of the show. He used to come on stage rubbing his guitar with a towel, then tossed it on the floor. I kept my eye on it and at the end I asked a stage hand to toss it to me. The towel had the hotel logo on it, LOL.

Not only is MK an amazing musician, but he's one of the few guys in the business I consistently hear is very humble and easy to get along with.

@xaj1543

9 ай бұрын

Gunners_Mat In the eighties he came to Australia and was invited to drive in the celebrity race at the Melbourne grand prix. Local celebrity John Blackman, also in the race told how he introduced himself to Knopfler, and got the cold shoulder, Knopfler wouldn’t talk to him or anyone else in the race and was rude to the media and acted like a total a-hole. On the day of the race I think Knopfler was the fastest qualifier. He flew off the mark and at the first turn he ran off the track, hit the barriers and broke his collarbone. I can tell you there was a quiet grin of satisfaction on many faces when that happened. Maybe you think he has changed now but back then he was an arrogant, rude, piece of crap!

Although Mark Knopfler is understandably appreciated as being a guitar great, he also happens to be one of the very best lyricists IMO

@gabrielepresby9120

11 ай бұрын

Absolutely! I love his stories/songs.

@marciocintra2988

11 ай бұрын

Yes, he is one of the very best lyricists. He makes songs about actual people. That's what I like the most about them.

@velmex12

11 ай бұрын

Helps to be an English major.

@TheHumbuckerboy

11 ай бұрын

@@velmex12 Yeah but I am thinking that Mark would have a far superior grasp of English than any teacher that I ever had in school ! lol

@TheHumbuckerboy

11 ай бұрын

@@marciocintra2988 Yes, even Bob Dylan was impressed by Mark's lyrics during Dire Straits early songs.

My favourite story about Mark Knopfler; He said in one interview that some people like writings songs, some like arranging & recording them, and some like playing them live. Often songwriters don't like one or more of these three aspects. But Mark says he absolutely loves All of them. He likes creating a song, then he really enjoys arranging and recording them, and then he loves playing live to give joy and entertainment to his audience. Nuff said. Lovely stories from Tim O'Brien.

Great interview. We backed DS in 1979 on the Sultans Of Swing tour around the UK, previously we’d done gigs with them around the London scene, Marquee Club etc. They drove themselves in a hire car and we all stayed in the same hotels, not rubbish, but certainly not 5*. Mark and drummer Pick were our favourites, helpful and friendly. They were very focused then and hardly drank anything. We helped them out! Happy days.

Gibbs's shut up and listen interview style is the very best. Everyone he interviews seems really relaxed and it just flows so honestly from the artists every time. These are gems that will be around forever.

@martinriepma5009

Жыл бұрын

Amen to that! I’m sure there’s some questions asked, but we just get the good stuff.

@melodymakermark

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, Tim is a great interview. All have been for that matter. The Kenny Vaughn stuff is pure gold. I’d have given anything if Otis could’ve gotten a sit down with Jeff Beck, but not sure the “shut up and listen” style would’ve worked. Jeff wasn’t much of a rambler. Robert Zimmerman, get your arse over to Otis’ house! (Yeah, right).

@DavidLee-rx6uo

Жыл бұрын

Otis is the best.

@banjopops67

Жыл бұрын

100% 👍🏼👍🏼. He lets the story teller tell their story their way.

@SmilingAtheist

Жыл бұрын

Probably goes along with his age and maturity. Not to throw anyone under the bus but younger interviewers 20’s -30’s ish , are terrible interviewers on KZread I feel. Because they always have to be talking and there’s a lot less asking questions. They’re mostly more concerned with getting views , which is fine , but they’re doing it distastefully and wrong.

Mark Knopfler is one of rhe guys at the very top of my list of musical heroes. Hearing these musings from Tim O. , another of my favorites, is simply an inspirational joy.

Knopfler is gracious to audience, introducing all band members, little stories.

@judythompson8227

10 ай бұрын

I think you can see that by watching his behavior on stage. He's totally focused on what he does, but not showy. He is totally who he is.

@japayne21

10 ай бұрын

Mostly agree. At Berkeley in 2019, he called out someone in the audience shining a bright light right in his face. Stopped mid song and told him to turn the f-ER off. Then continued the song. Amazing show.

So many things about Knopfler and his story continue to fascinate me. He was paying rent and teaching English in the mid-70s and by the mid-80s he was leading the biggest band in the world. He was also best friends with Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Chet Atkins. These men were very famous and very talented and they all loved our Mark. That tells us he is honest, kind, builds rapport, maintains trust and can even nurture a rival ego.

@groundcontrol-888

11 ай бұрын

What the same story as sting and they are from the same areA

@TheJpep2424

11 ай бұрын

they were never the biggest band in the world.

@zoltanrudolf

11 ай бұрын

@@TheJpep2424 They played 20 nights in a row to wrap up the Brothers In Arm tour. There was no bigger band in 1986. Even CCR were the biggest band in the world for a brief period in 1969. Get over yourself!

@vicvega3614

11 ай бұрын

@@TheJpep2424 yea they were

@JeanBodie

11 ай бұрын

He was also very good friends with Phil Everly of the Everly brothers

Knofler is an awesome musician. His name is already written down in rock history.

@whynottalklikeapirat

Жыл бұрын

Where can I find rock history?

@steveoconnor7069

Жыл бұрын

@@whynottalklikeapirat Arr Matey, It's all about ye wherever you look and or listen.

@whynottalklikeapirat

Жыл бұрын

​@@steveoconnor7069Aaah but wherever I look and listen I find myself in the present rather than in history. And when I look through my bedroom, where I am currently at, I find no sign of it (and I was even out playing a gig last night - rather non-historical in scope -and the closest evidence of any contemporary connection to rock history is the sweaty t-shir I threw in the corner upon my return) Be that as it may - where in all this surrounding rockhistoryness may I find his name written down - or indeed “hewn in rock” as it were?

I have seen Knopfler live several times. Always incredible.

I thought I would regret watching this as I'm a big fan of Mark Knopfler. On the contrary it more or less confirmed what I've always thought. A great insight to someone that I consider to be one greatest songwriters and musicians of all time.

What a fantastic clip! I've been a touring musician for 25 years, and a TM for 15, and these stories sound like a dream. It's the kind of music, crew and atmosphere anyone would dream of. And who's better than Knopfler?!

Communique is one of my all time favourite albums. Very underrated.

@sealisa1398

11 ай бұрын

Single-Handed Sailor is hypnotic imaginative fabulous story….

@artboy789

11 ай бұрын

@@sealisa1398Yeah I agree. I have never listened to that one before. The outro guitar goes on and on

@iamjesper

5 ай бұрын

thats my favorite album with DS too!!

@jjc5407

16 күн бұрын

@@sealisa1398 Such fantastic metaphors in that song. "The mother and her baby and the college of war. In the concrete graves."

I LOVE Knopfler's 'round' sounding fingerstyle guitar approach!

First concert I saw was Dire Straits. 1984 or so in Los Angeles.

@gertfroebe3175

Жыл бұрын

lucky dog you

Great insider story. I've seen Mark many times and he's one of my great musical heroes -- particularly his later solo stuff.

Great interview, of course. “. . .we’re fools to make war on our Brothers in Arms.” Wrote that line with tears in my eyes, just like every time I play that song. 🙏🏻

Love these road stories. Had no idea Tim toured with Knopfler...the guy gets around.

I appreciate the brilliance of MK, and all his music. But: Tim is also brilliant and I like this story about touring with Mark. Very cool insider stuff. If you don't know Tim, he's also the whole package: writer, singer, instrumentalist. I wish I could have seen one of these shows. But I have heard Tim many times and always been uplifted. Go Mark Knopfler; Go Tim O'Brien!!!

Great stuff. Mark has it all, top of the game musician, incredibly underrated songwriter and vocalist......such a great talent!

@JohannesLabusch

Жыл бұрын

You use that word "underrated" ... I don't think it means what you think it means. He's one of the most highly acclaimed songwriters of his generation.

@dougmartin893

Жыл бұрын

Incredibly underrated? You sure?!!

Tim talking about Mark... Can't get any better. Love both. Thanks Otis.

Many of Mark's full concerts are on KZread. I love to watch each concert from each city. And yes, you can see how Mark is the concert director.

Thanks for this. I loved the stories of passionate people creating musical experiences for us all. Mark is a legend.

The first time I saw Tim O'brien play live he sat in with Phish in June 1999 in Antioch,TN outside of Nashville and he played fiddle on several songs one being "Doin my time" that he also sang. I'll never forget it was awesome!. Jerry Douglas and Ronnie McCoury were also out there with Phish doing their version of bluegrass music. He wasn't there in June 2000 at the same venue but several if not all the McCoury band was there, Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs were there and Wynona Judd came out and sang Freebird for the encore but Tim O'brien only sat in with them twice ever the first being at Red Rocks in 1996. I know this has nothing to do with this interview but seeing these videos reminded me of that show at the old amphitheater

Always Loved Dire Straits The first solo record I fell in love with and wore out was Shangri La . I'm a little young to see Dire Straits but saw his solo act about ten years ago and it was probably top 5 concert I ever saw.

@gertfroebe3175

Жыл бұрын

Me too but probably top 3 behind Pink Floyd and Page and Plant. Sometimes that number changes according to my mood and number of beverages! LOL

Those are some great Knopfler stories, I really enjoyed them.

@pierrepellegrin4213

11 ай бұрын

Hello rylieriley .did you hear about the story behind sultan of swings. Very funny 😊

4:16 Song about stock car racing is Speedway At Nazareth, the guy that started McDonald’s is Boom Like That, and retiring cargo ships is So Far from the Clyde.

The stock car racing song is Speedway at Nazareth and the McDonald's song is Boom Like That. Telegraph Road is the one that really blows me away --- a song about the birth, life and death of a small town over about a 100 year span. Also Song for Sonny fascinates me -- as the forgotten fighter that catapulted Ali to fame by defeating him. IMHO he and John Prine are about the best of the best.

@Mr_Rob_otto

13 күн бұрын

Thanks for clarifying that. I knew he wasn’t describing Telegraph Road, which is an epic song and one of my favorites of all time. I lived in the Metropolitan Detroit area and there is a Telegraph Road that starts in Colorado through Ohio as a rural road and in Michigan becomes a major multi-lane road. At the time the song was released I always wondered if Knopfler was referencing the actual road. I was driving on Telegraph Road during rush hour one evening playing the song when the lyrics about six lanes of traffic, three lanes moving slow came up. He had to be singing about this road, I thought. There was no internet back then so I couldn’t easily look it up. Of course he was singing not just about a road but what it represented, being the advance of society resulting in the working man getting screwed in the end. I later found out that on tour, his bus travelled Telegraph Road through rural Ohio into Michigan ending up in Pontiac no doubt, where the town was suffering from the economy and closing down shops, thus inspiring the song. A truly epic song, that holds a lot of meaning for me.

@DanC-go9lc

12 күн бұрын

@@Mr_Rob_otto Not from Michigan but I know the Detroit area some. Did you ever go to Callahan's Music Hall in Auburn Hills ? I heard it is now closed. Telegraph Road definitely one of my favorite all time songs. Blessed to have seen it Live 3 times, with Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler and friends.

Otis, you're hitting it out of the park with these interviews!

That tour was stunning. Good to know Mark had such good people backing him up.

Thank you, Otis, for introducing me to Tim O'Brien's music. What a joyous find! Tim, you have another new fan.

One of favourite tours was Mark with Emmylou Harris. The stock car song is Speedway to Nazereth which is a masterpiece

@StevenQ74

11 ай бұрын

Isn't that song about Indycar?

@realityjunky

11 ай бұрын

That song has such a unique, hypnotic rhythm and the way it keeps building until the end is amazing. I burned a cd of MK "car songs" which quickly turned into two discs...cars, motorcycles, trucks, race cars...all heavenly. I usually google the vehicle in the lyric to see what he was thinking about.....the giant Mark X jag, the Cobra, the Silver Eagle....

Wow! What a great recounting of Tims experience on the road with MK and company. I'm a huge MK fan and I find it so very interesting listening to someone who's actually been in the band recounting stories . I've always thought Mark was a perfectionist but had no idea to what extent. THe story about playing banjo during what must have been Speedawy at Nazerath was great as I can only imagine what he thought when Mark and Richard were doing their dueling Les Pauls at the end of that classic song! And then the story about the one glass of wine lol...Sounded like Mark took it all in stride . Side note on Sailing to Philladelphia. I was at the Greek Theatre in LA for The Sailing tour and Mark brought out Jackson Browne to do Sailing to Philladelphia song with him, Jackson totally screwed the words up too so Tim's in good company ! Thanks for posting !!!

@danieljulian4676

11 ай бұрын

You're probably right, but "Speedway" is about Indy cars and "The Car Was The One" is about stock cars. My guess is that Tim doesn't care about the difference. I love both Knopfler's and O'Brien's music. "Odd Man In" ca. 1991 is one of my all time favorites. I agree, this was a terriffic interview. Not really an interview, as much as a series of anecdotes with a little commentary on true musical greatness, and what a glass of wine can do.

Big thanks for posting this Otis, it's always interesting to hear new stories about Mark Knopfler. I've seen Knopfler live three times in my life, and I've seen David Gilmour live two times. Mark and David are my two personal favorite guitar players, cause no one else plays as beautiful as Mark and David. They are both on the top of the podium. If there's anyone who haven't heard Dylans masterpice album, Slow Train Coming, check it up, cause Mark is playing guitar on it.

@lorenzo-agnes

Жыл бұрын

Ditto on favorites 👍

@double00spy

Жыл бұрын

Agree ... David and Mark are best of the best!

@lapelcelery42

Жыл бұрын

Interesting that so many people choose the two of them together. And agreed, they have a style, tone and ear for melody that marks them apart from everyone else, but keeps them in the same category as each other. My two favourites as well.

@alanjackson1691

11 ай бұрын

The thing about Knopfler and Gilmore isn't the speed of play or how many rifts they're putting out. Rather, it's the spaces between their chords or expressions that allow the sound to wallow in your ear, heart and soul. Obviously not a musician here 🤫

@twoshirtman7096

11 ай бұрын

Big thanks for all the comments, I think that all of you are puttning the hammer right on the nail. There is something very special and unique with Mark Knopfler and David Gilmour. They never play any drop away notes, every single guitar tone is there for a reason, and both of them are playing every guitar tone with 180 % feeling and perfectionism.

Marvelous stories. Thank you for sharing them so generously. The first leg of the tour started in Seattle on 18th April, 2010. I had the pleasure of seeing the band on this tour in the US in Temecula, and from the front row in Prague.

Once again your interview winds through many waters and lovely countryside. Always a nice trip. Thanks

Love his music and what he writes about

Great interview. A lot of wonderful insight there. I love how Mark paints a picture with his songs. A soundscape that blends so well with the lyrics. I can so often 'see' his songs. I see the big wheel turning with neons burning up above. I can see, hear, and smell the roar of dust and diesel as he stood and watched her walk away. I see the barman ringing the last orders bell and shouting 'Goodnight thank you now it's time to go home'. And so many others. His solos grace the painted picture and take the song from here to there. I mean....they are not just fills. They have variation in space, speed, tone, and volume. Yeah...i like him...Pffff.

@rozzerbob

11 ай бұрын

I see them too, each one like a short play!

Nice to hear all about the workings behind scenes, how much joy Tim had and also about the acknowledgment of contributing to something that's bigger than any one person, even if it is centred on one person

got to meet Mark a few years ago nice guy.

I’m pretty sure the stock car racing song is ‘Speedway At Nazareth’. Great tune with an interesting outro. The Mason and Dixon song is ‘Sailing To Philadelphia’

That was a fantastic interview. I've listened to 3 or 4 of them and you're starting to grow on me Otis. All have been well done. You've got a new subscriber. Tim's a talented and interesting fella. When he mentioned two of my favorite songwriters, Steve Earle and John Prine and then brought up Mark's songwriting ability it was kind of a light bulb moment for me. I've never really put that much emphasis on Knoplers lyrics because his guitar playing just grabs my attention so much. But now I'll be looking at his songs in a new light, because he is a great lyricist.

Gosh! I love these interviews. Keep it up, Otis.

Sailing to Philadelphia & Romeo & Juliet - caught them in their first tour in States in the 80's in Philly @ the Tower Theater. The show was suppose to be at the Grendel's Lair , but they sold out in seconds they moved the show to the Tower Theater.

@TomMarvan

Жыл бұрын

What’s interesting is that they played again at he tour theatre again early 2000’s, and the Sailing to Philadelphia (the wine story in this interview) was particularly well received, especially the chorus, “We are Sailing to Philadelphia.” At that time Mark sang both characters’ lines, but on the last tour in 2019, long time drummer and percussionist Danny Cummings sang the second character (James Taylor) part.

Ive heard Phil Palmer who served as Mark's sideman for the On Every Street Tour talk similarly of the exacting detail MK puts into rehearsals. There was one song they were working on in the studio where Phil did something close to 20 takes for one small section - and in the end Mark said the first one was the one they would use. To have that quality of listening and hearing alone is quite something.

Great stuff! Thanks Otis & Tim.

Yet another gem. Thnx otis

Thanks Otis. Love Tim O. I've seen him many times in some great configurations. Love hearing these stories.

Another excellent interview with some great behind the scenes insights into our heroes

"You just realize how good the guy is." Tim O'Brian on Mark Knofler. True enough, Tim O'Brian but you ain't chopped liver either, brother. I have been awed by you for years.

Another great interview! Thank you Otis and Tim!

So glad I got to see Mark on his last tour, for the first and probably last time at the 02 arena in London, back in 2019 I think.. the Dire Straits songs he played were obviously a highlight but the song "My Bacon Roll" was amazing.. so much feeling in a song about breakfast!!

Great share Otis! Keep em coming!

I'm very much heartened to hear that MK seems like a really nice supportive guy to his band. And I'm definitely in the "not even one" policy when it comes to drinking before performances. I used to have a couple (sometimes more) but I found that as I got more confident I didn't need that to get up on stage and play, and even one drink noticeably affects my performance. My enjoyment of the evening up until I play is basically the same with one beer as it is with zero, so when I joined the band I'm in currently I decided that I wouldn't drink (alcohol) before or during performances. Fortunately most venues tend to have at least a couple of decent alcohol-free beers. After I've played I like to have a few but only when the actual work is done.

Great Interview Otis- thank you!

Love this as much as reading Tony Levin's Peter Gabriel tour I/O diaries ☮💜🎼✊

Keep em coming Otis. These interviews are gold! What a nice bloke Tim is

Great final story! Awesome listening to this!

Have loved MK and TOB for as long as I can remember. Thanks, really enjoyed that!

Thanks for this wonderful post......Made me smile!!

"Songs have a lot of power." 🤙🏽🍻💥

thanks for this. great interview!

That was really enjoyable, great to have these kind of insights and particularly a perspective from a muso who isn't otherwise experienced or totally a fan of MK. Felt like a genuine discovery followed by earnt admiration.

Oddly, my favorite interviews are with people I don’t know. Great channel, Mr. Gibbs. Keep the content rolling-we love it!

A thoroughly captivating interview, I enjoyed every second of it.

Mark's work for other people is amazing too. The guitar on "Valentine" for Bryan Ferry is possibly the most beautiful that I've ever heard. It's almost like a zither, and the melodic choices are just a bit off and startling. Ferry has some amazing guitarists that he works with, so I figured that it was one of his usual 8 or 10 geniuses. When I heard it was Mark, it snapped perfectly into place and I'm sure I smiled for quite a while with the realization. Of course it was him. How could it have been anyone else?

@AnneDowson-vp8lg

5 ай бұрын

Brian Ferry also comes from the North East of England, a little mining village called Witton le Wear, in County Durham. Some of my ancestors lived there in the 18th century.

@eightiesmusic1984

2 ай бұрын

@@AnneDowson-vp8lg Great attention to detail. I am from England near Liverpool. I knew Bryan Ferry was from County Durham but not exactly which village. I knew he came from a working class background. I assume you are referring to people who emigrated to America at some point.

More Tim! Thanks Otis!

Thank you for sharing such great stories, All that detail in the approach, and still kinda loose about it. Thanks for those great insights. All best from Netherlands, Michael

thanks for posting. great interview

Great story-telling! I could listen to these all day..

Wonderful interview.

This is fantastic for me, Dire Straits were my favourite band as a kid and the main reason I learned guitar, and to hear these stories of how it was touring with Mark is really interesting. Also that he was such a perfectionist with everything and heard everything is impressive. Shame about all that wine and food gone to waste! 🙂

What a great interview. Thank you so much - subscribed!

Incredible insight here. So great. Thanks so much for this.

I walk long trails with my dog and my favorite music to listen to in the woods is dire straights greatest hits. Last half is the best. My meditation.❤️

thank you for this nice interview

My Tim O’Brian story… one year Tim played the Calgary Folk Festival the same year as the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Eliza Carthy Band. We used to have a room in the host hotel where the volunteers and the musicians would mingle at night after the last performance. One night I was sitting in the corner having a beer and over a short period of time sitting around me were Tim, Rhiannon Giddens, Craig Korth (a fine banjo and guitar player from western Canada), and the accordion player from Eliza Carthys band whose name escapes me at the moment. The instruments came out, and you could not have got me to leave my seat without lighting a stick of dynamite. One of my favourite music memories.

What a great perspective that you get from your interviewees!

Very enjoyable to hear stories about Mark. Thank you.

Fantastic Interview !!!

What a great interview

Thanks, Otis and Tim. I love MK.

Interesting stories as always. Great channel! Still watching as I type.

Excellent inteview - loved Hot Rize back in the day. Just increases my respect for Tim O'Brien to hear this. Oh, and Mark Knopfler!

Immensely enjoyable, been a subscriber for a while now, haven't heard a bad story yet , thank you

Your style is perfect. Stay frosty, Mr. Gibbs.

Great video! The two songs he references are "Speedway at Nazareth" and "Sailing to Philadelphia."

@PartyBoy0274

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, he's mixed up Speedway with Telegraph Road.

Great interview!

Yeah man, I've been asking the same question about alcohol....is just a little OK?? A resounding...NOPE! I won $200 in a pool match tonight drinking water. My new best friend :))

The stock car song might be "Speedway at Nazareth". Great "sounds like what it says" song.

Gawd dang. Otis, these stories are gold ..

I’ve been lucky to be backstage several times in my life and Tim’s stories take me back there.

@xaj1543

Жыл бұрын

The story I remember about Mark Knopfler is not good. He was invited to take part in the Aust grand prix celebrity race in 1986 in Melbourne, and qualified fastest and started on pole. According to local celebrity John Blackman, who also took part he tells how he went up to Knopfler during training to introduce himself and was given the complete cold shoulder when Knopfler virtually told him not to talk to him. He treated the other participants the same way, not to mention the media, and was basically a total pig. On the first lap of the race he ran off the track hit a concrete wall and fractured his collar bone. I’m sure there was a collective, “yessss,” from everyone who had to deal with this sub standard human being for the 4 days of the race.

Dire Straits is the tightest band I've ever seen.

Being one myself.....i love musicians, noone understands half of what we say and they twist or make up the other half about us😂. You rock Otis ...hats off my friend

Speedway to Nazareth (the car racing song) is so great in concert

Great little anecdotes. Cheers buddy

What a really nice guy. Other thing Mark has been is a great judge of who to hire and when to let them go