David Knopfler (born 27 December 1952, Glasgow) is a British singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and co-founder of the rock band, Dire Straits.
Knopfler grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, where he attended Gosforth Grammar School. By age 11, he owned a guitar, a piano and a drum kit, and by age 14, he was performing his own songs in folk clubs. After attending Bristol Polytechnic, he became a social worker in London, where he shared a fla...
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David Knopfler (born 27 December 1952, Glasgow) is a British singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and co-founder of the rock band, Dire Straits.
Knopfler grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, where he attended Gosforth Grammar School. By age 11, he owned a guitar, a piano and a drum kit, and by age 14, he was performing his own songs in folk clubs. After attending Bristol Polytechnic, he became a social worker in London, where he shared a flat with John Illsley.
Knopfler introduced Illsley to his older brother Mark, and they (together with drummer Pick Withers) became the founders of Dire Straits. A friend of Mark Knopfler's assisted in deciding the name, a reference to their financial situation. Knopfler, however, asserts at his website that "[t]he notion that the band were literally in dire straits is largely retrospective myth making and not really factually supportable. We all had day jobs until we got a whacking big advance from Polygram".
Knopfler played rhythm guitar behind...
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