<![CDATA[ Latest from Guitar World in Dire-straits ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/tag/dire-straits Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:23:04 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “I pushed him towards the Les Paul. I can see him now, holding those notes. I don’t think he could have played those parts on any other guitar”: Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits’ inner circle look back on Brothers in Arms – their world-conquering “fluke” ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/mark-knopfler-dire-straits-brothers-in-arms-guitar-interview uvDQcsMJHQsAAWkbTijBiH Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:23:04 +0000 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:58:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I confess I pushed him more towards the Les Paul sound. I felt a resistance early on. But I persevered”: Why Mark Knopfler’s guitar tech convinced him to play Les Pauls – and how they impacted his tone and playing ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/why-mark-knopfler-guitar-tech-convinced-him-to-play-les-pauls UbkkdeLo2vj3Fxx9knS5mc Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:35:36 +0000 Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:57:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ A rare 12-string guitar that Mark Knopfler “borrowed” for 50 years is now up for auction ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/a-rare-12-string-guitar-that-mark-knopfler-borrowed-for-50-years-is-now-up-for-auction XmCtjN6i29g5BNamFedmRD Mon, 01 Sep 2025 16:19:27 +0000 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:04:57 +0000 <![CDATA[ “People have bought tickets and you can see them thinking, ‘That’s not ‘Brothers in Arms’”: Mark Knopfler on why one of the Dire Straits’ most iconic tracks hinges on this four-note guitar intro ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/mark-knopfler-on-why-this-dire-straits-track-hinges-on-this-four-note-intro dMeQky9d6SJ7DAAH7EV9EA Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:59:13 +0000 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:51:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Being called a guitar hero was just awkward. Whether I’ve written a good song or not, that’s what counts to me”: Mark Knopfler on 40 years of Dire Straits’ Brothers In Arms – the guitars, the riffs… the pressure of learning to play in time ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/mark-knopfler-brothers-in-arms-40th-anniversary PKNDUaN55sg5SoQU9kdgDG Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:15:06 +0000 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:37:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Chet had such facility and knowledge, and yet what he wanted to do was play two chords all morning long. He’d say to me, ‘You’re pretty good, but you’re no Mark Knopfler’”: Mark Knopfler looks back on his jams with fellow fingerstyle legend Chet Atkins ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/mark-knopfler-jamming-with-chet-atkins Bps5wkgguo2wWhBPM7t4Nd Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:56:29 +0000 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:51:12 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He reached under the sofa and pulled out this dusty old case. And he says, ‘Mark, I want you to have this guitar. I don’t play it anymore’”: Mark Knopfler on the treasured Gibson he received as a gift from a rock hero – which became his studio go-to ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/mark-knopfler-on-the-treasured-gibson-he-received-as-a-gift-from-a-rock-hero E99cWagbnc2i6JwQSchz7d Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:13:03 +0000 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:51:30 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I gave up trying to be a great guitar player. I have enough to get by in the studio – I got away with murder”: Mark Knopfler on why he doesn’t consider himself a “guitar god” – and the ones in the industry who deserve that title ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/mark-knopfler-on-why-he-doesnt-consider-himself-a-guitar-god ee4f2G2gJ3nUh4ZxsR85j3 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:15:16 +0000 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:51:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I didn’t take it to the extreme of getting into trouble”: Mark Knopfler recorded this solo on a cheap guitar and did “everything wrong” with it – but it’s still his favorite ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/mark-knopfler-on-his-best-guitar-solo BvT3XhNAYPJSdWPguTQytE Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:53:22 +0000 Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:15:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The four-chord pattern riff is unoriginal but the dynamic contrasts add to the potency of one of the best guitar riffs of the ’90s”: Nirvana track named the best guitar riff of all time by surprising new study – which leaves out some huge hits ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/udiscovermusic-best-guitar-riffs-of-all-time-poll R5CdknXSKstmMDBQHNXXE8 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 12:37:35 +0000 Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:33:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I don’t think they do too well living in a case all their lives”: Mark Knopfler parted ways with his guitar collection – but he hopes they all get played ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/mark-knopfler-guitar-auction qMWvKTB4QRVtZiGSDnjisZ Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:27:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ A master of making major key licks sound moody, Mark Knopfler is one of guitar’s true alchemists – take your melodic phrasing to new heights with this lesson in the Dire Straits icon’s soloing style ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/artist-lessons/learn-mark-knopfler-tasty-soloing-style BYpwGSPYXmhJ46E7863scj Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 11:01:24 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Fingerpicking came from not having an amplifier. After dad forked out for the guitar, I didn't have the nerve to ask him for one”: Mark Knopfler says the lack of a guitar amp growing up helped him develop his now-iconic fingerpicking style ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/mark-knopfler-fingerpicking-style-origins 4UPELTE4bz8RUr3YXHoWz9 Mon, 05 Aug 2024 16:22:11 +0000 Tue, 20 Aug 2024 12:34:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I couldn’t believe it… the list of players could have gone from here to Leeds!” Mark Knopfler on how he enlisted Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and dozens more for the all-star Guitar Heroes version of his Local Hero theme ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/mark-knopfler-on-the-making-of-going-home-theme-from-local-hero L3zwcW7eYqKuSCgbSNPyKG Tue, 14 May 2024 10:02:27 +0000 Tue, 14 May 2024 10:02:38 +0000 <![CDATA[ “You couldn’t sell them and you wouldn’t want to sell them because they’d be just too hard to say goodbye to”: Mark Knopfler on the guitars he couldn't bear to part with, and the six-strings that surprised him on One Deep River ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/mark-knopfler-one-deep-river mBVHi8BYjXGM94xrL2KzE9 Tue, 07 May 2024 18:45:49 +0000 Wed, 22 May 2024 14:48:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ “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 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/mark-knopfler-sold-money-for-nothing-les-paul-but-kept-sultans-of-swing-strat iuApiWLib84S38GdBUjEUn Wed, 03 Apr 2024 11:50:40 +0000 Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:54:23 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Eric came in, played great, just one tasty lick after another. Jeff Beck’s contribution was spellbinding”: Mark Knopfler enlists Clapton, Townshend, Iommi, Slash and dozens more for all-star charity single ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/mark-knopfler-guitar-heroes-going-home-local-hero-theme-featuring-jeff-beck-final-performance mfYj9bUrymmytWVbbR2vdC Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:54:51 +0000 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:21:52 +0000 <![CDATA[ “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 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/inside-mark-knopfler-christies-auction m3VmZLYpBsdkpnrgHSqSo6 Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:09:52 +0000 Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:08:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ “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 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/mark-knopfler-guitar-auction-raises-11-million-dollars s956sjJw8c5zKbMnihJWrY Thu, 01 Feb 2024 11:54:31 +0000 Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:26:50 +0000 <![CDATA[ “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 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/phil-palmer-session-man 2KFjxAgbrj8yjswKhyGgTe Fri, 22 Dec 2023 10:31:16 +0000 <![CDATA[ “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 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/mark-knopfler-guitar-auction LmJdcW7ApgdTFUpnTWbJqS Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:18:40 +0000 Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:09:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Let me know if you like it or you think I ruined it!” Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing becomes Sultans of Shred as Sophie Lloyd gives the guitar anthem a high-gain makeover ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/sophie-lloyd-sultans-of-swing-shred yACpTWPbddygCP5dXueZSa Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:30:10 +0000 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:25:48 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A genuine guitar enthusiast who loved to play, jam, and talk guitars and amps all day”: Dire Straits’ ‘other guitarist’ Jack Sonni passes away, aged 68 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/jack-sonni-dire-straits-guitarist-dies-aged-68 Q86wc54dyNxVhFxPtPtTYb Mon, 04 Sep 2023 14:10:28 +0000 <![CDATA[ How to play Money for Nothing on guitar ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-to-play-money-for-nothing-on-guitar nvVxYdFDQXvoLqtK5nuiRA Tue, 07 Feb 2023 11:58:58 +0000 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 12:06:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ Learn the rhythm and lead secrets of Mark Knopfler with this in-depth guitar lesson ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/dire-straits-mark-knopfler-guitar-lesson JXPBKy2ZUw2qTX9JEcFWyb Sun, 11 Dec 2022 14:00:47 +0000 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:19:21 +0000 <![CDATA[ Learn Mark Knopfler’s game-changing rhythm and lead styles ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/mark-knopfler-dire-straits 6VCRmAyRZgMvKqHnKvHxB Fri, 22 Jul 2022 17:43:04 +0000 Thu, 28 Jul 2022 17:44:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ John Illsley reflects on Dire Straits' stadium-rocking success, the pressure it put on Mark Knopfler, and tells us what makes a great bass part ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/john-illsley-dire-straits zaqmBjNG5haPuLhntMTy9i Thu, 16 Jun 2022 11:57:20 +0000 Wed, 29 Jun 2022 16:34:23 +0000 <![CDATA[ Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler perform Cocaine in 1988 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/eric-clapton-and-mark-knopfler-perform-cocaine-and-sultans-swing-1988 wGfzYeyCsA45zjhELouqKY Mon, 12 Aug 2019 21:30:25 +0000 Mon, 12 Aug 2019 21:36:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ Hear Mark Knopfler's isolated guitar from Sultans of Swing ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/hear-mark-knopflers-isolated-guitar-sultans-swing NvQCuebtdwc69T3gkbEyNP Mon, 12 Aug 2019 16:24:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ Mark Knopfler is using Kemper for his onstage sound ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/mark-knopfler-using-kemper-profiling-amps-for-his-onstage-sound vDDF8DDfqpxxVNZ3Xm3Hfn Mon, 20 May 2019 13:46:24 +0000 Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:38:36 +0000 <![CDATA[ Mark Knopfler Demonstrates His Acoustic Fingerstyle Technique ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation/acoustic-nation-mark-knopflers-acoustic-fingerstyle-technique-lesson fb8J4FQ7ywwsKC5AKbvWgh Tue, 16 Apr 2019 19:36:14 +0000 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:48:11 +0000 <![CDATA[ How to Play Mark Knopfler-Style Guitar ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-to-play-mark-knopfler-style-guitar U3CrYWRZKCvqtYLSiH5fRg Wed, 27 Mar 2019 15:41:10 +0000 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 21:02:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ Mark Knopfler Shares New Song, "Back On the Dance Floor" ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/mark-knopfler-shares-new-song-back-on-the-dance-floor 2m3QcwTLmpWDNaaP2izgjF Mon, 05 Nov 2018 16:13:38 +0000 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 17:09:12 +0000 <![CDATA[ Mark Knopfler Announces 2019 North American Summer Tour ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/mark-knopfler-announces-2019-north-american-summer-tour PFUKxSyTHmgWDgwfV43tMN Mon, 22 Oct 2018 14:12:56 +0000 Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:02:15 +0000 <![CDATA[ Listen to a New Song from Mark Knopfler, "Good On You Son" ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/listen-to-a-new-song-from-mark-knopfler-good-on-you-son tiREfzCuSqfAwE52kAv3mi Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:53:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ DSL Dire Straits Legacy to Embark on First U.S. Tour ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/dsl-dire-straits-legacy-to-embark-on-first-us-tour n5arWKddnJNeWhBMWCbMWg Wed, 29 Aug 2018 16:30:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ The Six Coolest Stratocaster Solos — Ever ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/fender-stratocaster-60-six-coolest-strat-solos pCqQ5SZNTTtu8E72AgyzMh Mon, 02 Jul 2018 18:23:16 +0000 Tue, 25 Feb 2020 16:28:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ The 10 Greatest Steinberger Moments ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/the-10-greatest-steinberger-moments Kr82GBb2h8eFB85Zbof4Eh Thu, 01 Mar 2018 21:11:14 +0000 Wed, 23 Oct 2019 22:04:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ Bon Jovi, Dire Straits, Moody Blues Lead Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2018 Inductees ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bon-jovi-dire-straits-moody-blues-rock-hall-2018-inductees oE2kWZBJApxgc8Gs3igAUJ Wed, 13 Dec 2017 15:51:06 +0000 <![CDATA[ Bon Jovi Leads 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Fan Vote ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bon-jovi-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame QMk5vDSXVVkYo6RDq4V8wV Wed, 06 Dec 2017 16:46:52 +0000 <![CDATA[ Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing” in the Styles of 12 Famous Guitarists ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/dire-straits-sultans-swing-styles-12-famous-guitarists AKTaFthf2e6Edf5tW3jEA9 Thu, 23 Mar 2017 13:00:48 +0000 <![CDATA[ Mark Knopfler: “The Six Guitars That Defined My Career” ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/mark-knopfler-six-guitars-defined-my-career gHgeMWeUqWf6HjxTMdjey6 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 15:08:45 +0000 Tue, 22 Oct 2019 22:04:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ Three Incredible Guitarists Play Dire Straits' "Sultans of Swing" ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/three-incredible-guitarists-play-dire 5Go7yXLf6SqVGuqDkD2MZD Fri, 12 Aug 2016 13:10:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ Mark Knopfler Discusses His '61 Strat and "Sultans of Swing" ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/mark-knopfler-discusses-his-61-strat-and-sultans-swing YshHYQZonH5vSvXGE4zgv8 Fri, 12 Aug 2016 13:07:53 +0000 Wed, 23 Oct 2019 22:13:32 +0000 <![CDATA[ Forgotten Guitar: Mark Knopfler’s Inspiration Behind Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/blogs/forgotten-guitar-mark-knopflers-inspiration-behind-dire-straits-money-nothing rwu9eHzHuMGxDUrzv8FStG Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:51:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ Exclusive Song Premiere: Mark Knopfler — "Got To Have Something" ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/exclusive-song-premiere-mark-knopfler-got-have-something p4q92BbtXBCJ2UDWiZQFEd Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:27:45 +0000 <![CDATA[ Interview: Voice Teacher and Producer Peter Strobl Discusses Recording Mark Knopfler ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/interview-voice-teacher-and-producer-peter-strobl-discusses-recording-mark-knopfler 8zGLreruuGVddd7TKmkf2A Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:04:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ So Far Away: Why Aren't Dire Straits in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/blogs/so-far-away-why-arent-dire-straits-rock-and-roll-hall-fame p4mviSMKNduxnANhPCd4sV Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:31:32 +0000 <![CDATA[ Bob Dylan to Tour with Mark Knopfler This Fall ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/bob-dylan-tour-mark-knopfler-fall eWRAsnVjw4s4Q8pcSCfX6Q Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:25:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ 101 Amazing Licks - Lick 8 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/101-amazing-licks-lick-8 L5wRM6aWqqBNAiPY5bNs6S Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:38:21 +0000