David Knopfler

David Knopfler (born 27 December 1952) is a British musician. Together with his older brother Mark Knopfler, John Illsley, and Pick Withers, he founded the rock band Dire Straits in 1977, serving as rhythm guitarist on their first two albums. After quitting the band in 1980 during the recording of their third album, Knopfler embarked upon a solo career as a recording artist.

Early life

Knopfler was born in Glasgow, to an English mother, Louisa Mary (née Laidler), a teacher, and a Hungarian Jewish father, Erwin Knopfler, an architect. When Knopfler was four, his family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne, where he grew up and later attended Gosforth Grammar School. By the age of 11, Knopfler owned a guitar, a piano and a drum kit, and by 14 he was playing and singing his own compositions in folk clubs. After graduating from Bristol Polytechnic with an honours degree in Economics, Knopfler became a social worker in London.

Personal life

Knopfler is married to the former American art professor Leslie Stroz, who illustrates much of David's CD artwork. He lives with his family in Wolborough, which is a parish of Newton Abbott in Devon. Knopfler was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2023 Teignbridge District Council election, in which he stood as a representative for the South Devon Alliance.

Career

Dire Straits

Knopfler introduced his older brother, guitarist Mark Knopfler, to his bassist flatmate John Illsley. After gaining the interest of drummer Pick Withers, the four founded the rock band Dire Straits.

Knopfler played rhythm guitar beside his brother, who was the lead guitarist, lead vocalist and the main composer in the band. David Knopfler appeared on Dire Straits' first two albums: Dire Straits (1978) and Communiqué (1979). The stress of composing, arranging songs, recording the then-requisite two albums and tours to support them took its toll on the brothers, and David left the band during the recording of their third album, Making Movies (1980), leaving him uncredited on the album. The album was supported by the single "Soul Kissing" on the label of Peach River Records. The single peaked at No. 87 in the UK Singles Chart, after Knopfler retrieved the rights from the bankrupt record label.

Behind the Lines, his second album, was released in 1985 and his third solo album, Cut the Wire, followed in 1986.

Knopfler scored the soundtracks for the films Shergar (1984) and Laser Mission (1989),

Lifelines in 1991 released by Phonogram, was recorded in Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios. That album was followed in 1993 by The Giver, In 2001, Knopfler worked with Bogdanovs again to co-produce the album Wishbones, which has guest appearances by Chris Rea

He played various acoustic and electric gigs in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Turkey and Australia from 2007 to 2009 with Harry Bogdanovs and his band. The double CD Acoustic, containing unplugged renditions of new and old songs, was released in 2011.

Knopfler continued to tour in Spain, Germany, the UK, the United States and Canada in 2012 to 2015. The first-ever limited edition live album, Made in Germany (recorded in Erfurt, Germany during the 2012 tour with Bogdanovs), was released in April 2013 exclusively via CDBaby.com.

The album Last Train Leaving was released in 2020. Songs of Loss and Love was released in December 2020, with Shooting for the Moon (2021) and Skating on the Lake (2022). Crow Gifts was released in 2024.

Discography with Dire Straits

1978 – Dire Straits
1979 – Communiqué
1980 – Making Movies (Knopfler left the band toward the end of recording sessions in August 1980, and does not appear on the final release as his contribution was re-recorded. There are, however, a number of pieces of video showing him playing tracks from the album, among them "Solid Rock" and "Les Boys")
1988 – Money for Nothing (compilation)
1995 – Live at the BBC
1998 – Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits (compilation)
2005 – The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations (compilation)
2015 – The Honky Tonk Demos (EP)
2023 – Live at the Rainbow, 1979

Solo discography

1983 – Release
1985 – Behind the Lines
1986 – Cut The Wire
1988 – Lips Against The Steel
1991 – Lifelines
1993 – The Giver
1995 – Small Mercies
2001 – Wishbones
2004 – Ship of Dreams
2006 – Songs For The Siren
2009 – Anthology: 1983–2008
2011 – Acoustic (with Harry Bogdanovs)
2013 – Made In Germany (Live in Erfurt) (with Harry Bogdanovs)
2015 – Grace
2016 – Anthology Vol. 2 & 3
2019 – Heartlands
2020 – Last Train Leaving
2020 – Songs of Loss and Love
2021 – Anthology Volume Four
2021 – Shooting For The Moon
2022 – Skating On The Lake
2024 – Crow Gifts