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31 Jan 12 - 07:04 AM (#3299567) Subject: DVD of Dire Straits 85/86 Tour Finale From: GUEST,DaveA In April 1986, Dire Straits played the last concert of their hugely successful World Tour at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. The concert was simulcast live on FM Radio and analogue TV though the radio broadcast was slightly (a few seconds) delayed to foil home recording. Last year, with no publicity, a DVD of that concert was released & is available on Amazon UK. As living proof that daughters are wonderful people, Tara found this out & got me a copy as a surprise birthday present. It is absolutely sensational and if there are any fans of Mark Knopfler & the band out there you really ought to get it. The band line-up is: Mark Knopfler John Illsley Jack Sonni (Rhythm) Terry Williams Alan Clark & Guy Fletcher (Keyboards) Chris White (Sax & Flute) As you would expect from the age, the presentation is very simple; beams of light on the soloists, one video played on the big screen during one song & minimal use of smoke. The sound is adequate rather than state of the art (2012) but the involvement of both the band & the audience is second to none. Knopfler produces the most incredible riffs as though he was merely tuning and then turns to Illsley & gives a schoolboy grin in pleasure at what he's done, Chris White does his best to steal the show with some wild sax and haunting flute and Sonni has Knopfler doing a Chuck Berry "Duck Walk" across the stage with unfortunate results. It is marvellous. The content is mainly "Making Movies" & "Brothers In Arms" with a couple of earlier numbers (including a superb "Sultans of Swing"). Play time is a bit over 2 hours. And, it does finish with the main theme from Local Hero (after a spontaneous verse & chorus of Waltzing Matilda sung by the audience). Worth waiting almost 26 years for as far as I'm concerned. I hope that there are a few fans who are interested in what the band sounded like at the end of a 100 city tour (& 21 nights on the trot in Sydney) Cheers Dave |