There are a few musicians I'd love to spend some time with: Ray and Dave Davies - separately for obvious reasons. Mark Knopfler - used to chat with him in the line up in a mates chippy in Headingly when he studied (English?) there in the late '60s/early '70s when his music genesis/genius was just starting. I had no idea who he was (other than a student who played with a local band), but my chippy owner mate told me years later. Neil Young - the missus knew his father Scott. I knew his music - 6 months older than me - he still has a few stories to tell. Bob Dylan - no chance, I'd love to see if he's just as obscure in real life as his lyrics tended to be? Joan Baez - for extra insight into Dylan, but her music/voice was wonderful and it was a specific period in time I loved the most. She most likely has lots of interesting stuff to relate. Ian Anderson - fantastic frontman of a top band and super intelligent musician.
Was MK a known musician at the time? Ironically I was introduced to Dire Straits at Leeds Uni through a housemate in Chapeltown, around 1983
Local venues in Leeds - embryonic period of development. He either lived in Headingley or played in "The Original Oak" in Headingley - Friday nights, or both. Can't remember, but I vaguely remember quite a few discussions about the Shadows ( & Cliff Richard) in the chippy lineup. "In 1968, after studying journalism for a year at Harlow College,[18][20] Knopfler was hired as a junior reporter in Leeds for the Yorkshire Evening Post.[21] During this time, he made the acquaintance of local furniture restorer, country blues enthusiast and part-time performer Steve Phillips, one year his senior, from whose record collection and guitar style Knopfler acquired a good knowledge of early blues artists and their styles; the two subsequently formed a duo called "The Duolian String Pickers", which performed in local folk and acoustic blues venues.[22] Two years later, he decided to further his education, and later graduated with a degree in English at the University of Leeds.[23] In April 1970, while living in Leeds, Knopfler recorded a demo disk of an original song he had written, "Summer's Coming My Way". The recording included Knopfler (guitar and vocals), Steve Phillips (second guitar), Dave Johnson (bass), and Paul Granger (percussion). Johnson, Granger, and vocalist Mick Dewhirst played with Knopfler in a band called Silverheels; Phillips was later to rejoin Knopfler in the short lived side exercise from Dire Straits, The Notting Hillbillies." extract from... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Knopfler#Early_life_(1949–1976)
I'll be over 80 soon - still quite a few strokes below my usual score. What's that old saying - I'm aiming to score my age? If I live long enough, I may achieve that goal.
Wow, Memphis, eh? Underrated and a great place to visit. I hope you like ribs. The wife and I had a great weekend planned for Memphis last year. Stupid Covid, indeed.
I've been lucky enough through my job to visit many countries all over the world, the only 2 I haven't visited, which I would like to, are Australia and N Zealand.
Being vegan I don't eat ribs, but I'm sure there would be plenty of options. Still like to do the trip sometime, but it'll be a while no doubt.
If you want big landscapes go to Brazil. The forest is immense, hard to take in how big it is. Do some canopy walkways, fly over it in a small plane, go on the river, wider than the English Channel in parts.
New Orleans is a wonderful place to visit but personally I’d give Memphis a miss, it’s declining rapidly, population dropping and I couldn’t find anywhere in Beale Street that actually played blues musical all I heard was heavy rock. Only reason for going there is Sun city studios and Graceland .Nashville is the opposite, vibrant, fantastic bars with amazing acts paying for tips still as its always been.
I've got a lot to answer for here, tc. I've been a big fan of Billy since I found myself pissing myself laughing listening to his gigs when I was around 16 Yr old. This gig was a vinyl record and I had to put a coin on the arm to stop it jumping I didn't go though, that's typical of me. I always think there will be a next time. I'm the same as you though mate, there is no one in the world I'd rather have a pint with than Billy Connolly.
