Dire Straits Newcastle City Hall 1980 and 1982
Dire Straits returned to the City Hall in 1980, and again in 1982. By this time they were on their way to mega-stardom and could easily sell out a venue of this size. In fact on both occasions the band sold out two nights at the City Hall. If you look at the two ticket stubs, you can see that both gigs were on the 9th December, exactly two years apart from each other. The line up of Dire Straits had changed, with David Knopfler leaving his brother’s band, and the members for the 1980 tour being Mark Knopfler (vocals and guitar), John Illsley (bass), Pick Withers (drums) and new band members: Alan Clark (keyboards) and Hal Lindes (guitar). The albums at the time were Making Movies (1980), and Love Over Gold (1982). The nine times platinum Brothers in Arms was to follow a few years later in 1985. 
Dire Straits developed a lot during these early years of their career; the songs were longer, more involved and more complex, with greater opportunity for Mark to solo. This was the period of great tracks such as Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love, and Private Investigations, all of which are epic songs, and they all soon became big favourites of their live shows. Although I enjoyed those City Hall gigs in 1980 and 1982, I also missed the bar band who had broken onto the scene with Sultans of Swing. If you compare a Dire Straits setlist from 1979 with one from 1982, the contrast is quite stark and quite obvious. In 1979 a typical Dire Straits show featured around 20 (quite short) songs. By 1982 the length of the songs had increased to the extent that a typical set comprised around only a dozen songs. 
Also by now the gigs had no support act and no interval; these were evenings of pure Dire Straits music, and quite long shows. A typical setlist from 1982: Once Upon a Time in the West; Industrial Disease; Expresso Love; It Never Rains; Romeo and Juliet; Love Over Gold; Private Investigations; Sultans of Swing; Twisting by the Pool; Two Young Lovers; Portobello Belle; Tunnel of Love 
I saw Dire Straits twice more in concert, both at large gigs. In 1985 I saw them at Wembley Stadium when they appeared at Live Aid, and again at Knebworth in 1990 during the Silver Clef concert. It was 21 years till I saw Mark Knopfler again, when he co-headlined with Bob Dylan in Glasgow. I was disappointed that he didn’t play Sultans of Swing, although looking at setlists from previous gigs it seems that he does still include it his set. For me, Sultans is his supreme moment; his guitar playing seems so simple, so effortless and yet so complex, and his lyrics tell the story of his band at the time. Just perfect.
Thanks to John for the scan of the Brothers in Arms programme. I checked out the setlists for Live Aid and Knebworth. For Live Aid at Wembley Stadium 1985, they played Money for Nothing and Sultans. At Knebworth in 1990 they played Solid Rock; I Think I Love You Too Much, and Money for Nothing. Those were the last times I saw Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler is touring again next year and playing the Newcastle Arena. I met well go along and see him.
30 Aug
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