I'm a huge fan of
Mark Knopfler.
Have been for a good decade or so & most likely will be for a long time to come.
However, I tend to get hooked on a performer or band every so often & I'll end up listening to mostly that performer for a few weeks until they wear off & then I'll get hooked on something else. A few months ago it was
U2 & until recently it was
Pearl Jam.
I'm now completely hooked again on the works of Mr Knopfler, especially the really early Dire Straits recordings.
The horrible part about all this is that on the 18th of March, Mark took a fall from his motor bike & broke six ribs & his collar bone. This news was the trigger that has got me listening again.
There is something special about the old DS records. Mark had a percussive feel to his playing that was sort of country in it's nature but totally rock & roll in its delivery.
When I started playing the guitar back around 94, it was this style I was aiming for & being that his playing is all finger picking rather than with a plectrum, learning the technique is the most valuable thing I have. Guitar teachers would hate it because it's far from being technically correct, but it sounds a treat, so I won't be changing now.
Now after listening to MK's work after getting caught up with other bands for a while, I'm going back to playing pick-less & as a result, I'm falling in love with the guitar again.
It's a good feeling. It's just a pity the inspiration comes from a traffic accident half a world away.
