On this day in 1977, the first Dire Straits demos were recorded at Pathway Studios, North London. Wild West End / Sultans Of…..
Mark Knopfler, the lead singer of Dire Straits, sold guitars and amplifiers at auction for more than £8 million, significantly more than was anticipated.
Twenty-five percent of the revenues from the sale of Knopfler’s more than 120 guitars and amplifiers went to charity.
Knopfler’s 1959 Vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard, which sold for £693,000 and set a new global auction record for the model, was the star of the show.
The musician described the auction as “an amazing experience.”
“I am thrilled that these beloved instruments will discover new musicians and melodies, in addition to generating funds for charities that hold great significance for me,” he went on.
“Seeing how much these guitars mean to so many people has warmed my heart, and I am happy that the music we have made together over the years will continue to make many happy.”
“I wish you all the best, my fellow players, fans, and collectors.”
61 countries sent bidders and buyers to the London auction, where a final total of £8,840,160, including buyer’s premium, was verified.
Despite having an estimate of just £8,000, Knopfler’s 1988 Pensa-Suhr MK-1, which he performed at Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday memorial event at Wembley Stadium, sold for £504,000.
The Red Schecter Telecaster, which Knopfler bought in 1984 to record the hit Dire Straits song Walk Of Life, was sold for £415,800, a significant amount more than the £6,000 estimate.
With their famous song “Money for Nothing,” which was a parody of rock excess during the MTV era, Dire Straits shot to fame in the mid-1980s.
Knopfler’s whole 50-year career is represented in the collection, which was put up for sale at Christie’s in London on Wednesday.
Estimated at £6,000, Knopfler’s guitar used for the Solid Rock recording and performance sold for £277,000.
The 1983 Les Paul that Knopfler used to record Money For Nothing and Brothers In Arms, as well as the one he performed on stage at Live Aid in 1985, were also included in the sale. Estimated at between £10 and £15,000, it sold for £592,000.
Additionally, Knopfler’s first electric-acoustic guitar, which was valued at £5,000, sold for £126,000.
