Dire Straits co-founder David Knopfler arrived yesterday for three days of concerts this weekend as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of Hard Rock Cafe in Malta.
In a light-hearted moment, the renowned music writer, who arrived with “guitar legend” Harry Bogdanovs, was quick to point out that Skylife magazine on Air Malta had made a small mistake by accidentally calling him the legend instead.
On his arrival, Mr Knopfler was presented with a book by the Malta Tourism Authority. He said he wanted to visit the catacombs although they looked claustrophobic.
He will be performing over the three days, together with Maltese bands, he chose, Creepers, Jules Verse & Band and singer Fiona Cauchi, at the Manoel Theatre and looked forward to playing a range of songs from the past and the present.
When asked if he thought people would rather hear the classics, Mr Knopfler replied a tribute band to Dire Straits was likely to attract more people looking for nostalgia and if he impersonated himself he would probably make more money.
He said being an artist was about creating and developing the talent and as an artist it was really important he was authentic and “didn’t just dig up the ghosts of the past to make the corpses jibber”.
Furthermore, he had played the Sultans of Swing about 300 times between 1977 and 1980 and if he didn’t have to play it ever again that would be fine.
The two musicians will be playing unplugged numbers from Mr Knopfler’s recent albums, Songs For The Siren and Ship of Dreams, while entertaining the audience with some well known songs tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.
Mr Knopfler was driven from the airport in a silver convertible Porsche, making the most of the good weather and accompanied by some 30 bikers, to the Phoenicia Hotel, Floriana, to meet the Maltese bands.
The concert is being organised by Lidea Events.
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