MUMBAI: 'The Sultan of Swing' Mark Knopfler is all set to rock Mumbai this evening 5 March. The former Dire Straits singer who has become an icon for his incredible guitar playing will perform in the suburb of Bandra which will be followed by a concert in Bangalore on Monday.
Music channel VH1, Pepsi and Nokia have partnered for the event which is being organised by DNA Networks. VH1 will have interview clips with the artiste as well as clips from the concert. Over the past few days Nokia has been conducting a 'Sultan Of Swing' contest. Fans had to visit Nokia Priority deals. They had to answer simple questions after listening to Dire Straits music ay specially created Nokia listening posts. People could win merchanidise in the form of T-Shirts, caps, lyric books, a special collectors' pack. One person gets a ticket to see the concert from a lounge. Nokia partnered with Radio city and Go for the contest.
Hutch chief marketing officer Harit Nagpal pointed out that music was a powerful platform for the company to connect with the youth. "We will continue to support efforts to bring global superstars to India. In the past we have associated with Sting, Enrique Iglesias and Shaggy." DNA Networks MD T. Venkat Vardhan said that though there were no tax breaks given in Mumbai the company had decided to go ahead. This explains the high ticket price of Rs. 2500.
"We will see the response the concert gets. As it is there are many people who ask for a complimentary pass. On top of that I have to pay tax. If this situation continues then I would prefer to have concerts in Bangalore. We will be bringing down another high profile pop artiste in September." It may be recalled that Sting had given Mumbai the heave ho a few months ago for precisely this reason.
Knopfler says, "Songwriting has its own laws. I think of myself as being a jack of a few trades and a master of none. I don't think that I would be the best person to give advise to upcoming musicians. I play all wrong. People ask me if I ever get bored with what I am playing and the answer is yes. Sometimes I fall asleep playing. The beauty about a concert is that you never know exactly where a song is going to go. Also you never know what might inspire you to do a great composition."
What attendees can expect: The concert will feature "flying lights", 100,000 watts of sound and a 'galaxy' backdrop. Knopfler will take Mumbai through the "Walk of Life" and also give them Money for Nothing.
For the first time ever in a concert in India, 'flying lights" are being used. The lights will be suspended 40 feet from the ground and will be arrayed to give a 'four-finger' effect. Fifty moving heads of intelligent lighting will be lit up at split- levels. One of the world's best sound systems that's available in the country V-DOSC is being used to output 100,000 watts of sound.
All this will be against a backdrop of an LCD Star cloth that will produce a remarkable 'galaxy' effect of stars on the 3000 sq ft stage. Knopfler has brought 10 tonnes of personal music equipment, including 36 guitars. The guitars will include Fenders, Martins, Les Pauls, a Gretsch 6120, a Drugan Arch Top and an Epiphone. The band line up comprises of Mark Knopfler lead guitar and vocals), Glenn Worf (bass), Chad Cromwell (drums), Richard Bennett (guitar), Guy Fletcher (piano), Matt Rollings (piano, organ and accordion).
