Mark Knopfler speaks out on potential Dire Straits reunion

Virgin Radio

9 Apr 2024, 14:40

Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler has spoken out on the possibility of the band reforming once again. 

The legendary singer formed the band with brother David alongside John Illsley and Pick Withers in 1977, and had major success with singles including Romeo and Juliet, Private Investigations and Twisting by the Pool. 

Straits originally called it quits in 1988, before reforming for the first time in 1990. They then split for a second time in 1995. 

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mark explained that it’s unlikely fans will see the band back together for a third time. 

He explained:  “I don’t think so for a number of reasons, one of them being that I’ve built my own studio, which I really love and and I haven’t had a bad day in there. And it’s given me the chance to really push. I mean, this last album, I have done far too many songs…”

On a potential reunion, Mark shared: “I don’t think so. I love Dire Straits and I loved doing all that but what I wanted to do was just to expand and work with different players and have a bigger line-up.”

He continued: “The last time I had the band in, and that’s the high point for me, I would probably have had about six or seven guys. Bigger than the little four-piece that was stripped down when we had it, and that was great, I loved it.”

Mark’s confession comes after he managed to get some of rock’s biggest names in one room for the re-recording of his anthem Going Home (Theme From Local Hero) for a very good cause.

The charity single, which features over 60 legendary musicians, is all to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust, and was produced by longtime collaborator Guy Fletcher.

It was a massive undertaking too, with some of music’s biggest names involved, from Slash to Pete Townshend, and the track opens with Jeff Beck’s final recording before his death in January 2023 aged 78. 

Performed by the incredible line-up, dubbed Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes, Going Home has The Who’s Roger Daltrey on the harmonica, The Beatles’ Ringo Starr on drums alongside son Zak Starkey, and Sting on bass. 

Going Home (Theme From Local Hero) is out now.