David Knopfler
Great Britain- Biography of David Knopfler
- Formation of Dire Straits
- Early Career with Dire Straits
- Solo Career
- Other Endeavors
- Songs for the Siren
- Humanitarian Work
Biography of David Knopfler
David Knopfler, an English guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, singer, and songwriter, was born on December 27, 1952, in Newcastle, England. He grew up in Newcastle-upon-Tyne with his older brother Mark. David attended Gosforth Grammar School and later enrolled in the Polytechnic University in Bristol. After completing his education, he worked as a social worker in southeast London, sharing an apartment with his friend John Illsley, who would later become the bassist of the band "Dire Straits".
Formation of Dire Straits
During this time, David, his brother Mark, and John met drummer Pick Withers and formed the rock band "Dire Straits". Their blues composition "Sultans Of Swing" caught the attention of a London DJ and gained popularity in the Netherlands before making its way into the British charts.
Early Career with Dire Straits
David played rhythm guitar on the band's first two albums, "Dire Straits" and "Communiqué", while his brother served as the band's leader. However, during the recording of their third album, "Making Movies", David left the band to pursue a solo career.
Solo Career
In 1983, David released his debut solo album, "Release", featuring the titular single "Soul Kissing". He followed it up with his second album, "Behind the Lines", in 1985, and his third album, "Cut the Wire", in 1986. After a short hiatus, he signed a contract with the US record label "Cypress Records" and released his fourth album, "Lips Against the Steel", in 1988. His fifth album, "Lifelines", was released in 1991, followed by "The Giver" in 1993. "Small Mercies" and "Wishbones", produced by Harry Bogdanovs, were released in 1995 and 2001, respectively. The album "Wishbones" featured Chris Rea. David's ninth solo album, "Ship of Dreams", was released in 2004.
Other Endeavors
In addition to his solo career, David Knopfler worked on collaborative projects with Amilia Spicer and Wendy Lands. He also composed soundtracks for several films and television shows, including "Treffer" (1984), "Bathory" (2000), "Laser Mission" (1990), "Shergar" (1984), and German productions such as "Der grosse Bellheim" and "Jakob hinter der blauen Tur" (1989).
Songs for the Siren
David Knopfler, along with keyboardist and producer Tony Carey, released their tenth album, "Songs for the Siren", in September 2006 in Germany and the UK. The album consisted of eleven new compositions based on David's own lyrics.
Humanitarian Work
In the fall of 2006, David performed with Karin Polwart at the Globe Theatre London to support the organization "Reprieve", which provides legal and charitable assistance to individuals facing the death penalty.
