Mark Knopfler: Celtic Bard, Guitar Mystic, Melody Maker, Superstar (Volume 1, Dire Straits)

Just out: The world's most comprehensive book about Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits (written by a real author, no AI) – a 500-page, deeply touching analysis of Knopfler's brilliant life's work. English translation of the original German edition.  → Deutsche Ausgabe  (la traduction française du livre paraîtra environ en mai/juin 2025)

What can readers expect: → Download table of contents & preface 

Order the book at one of these retailers here (click on the logo) or directly from the --> tredition publishing house (tredition delivers worldwide). Worldwide distribution: Unfortunately, it takes time for a indie book-distribution to take off worldwide. In the US, f.e., the printed version of the book is currently hardly available (unlike the original German edition...), but we hope that this will change soon. The good news: you can order the book directly in the UK from wordery.com (--> softcover, --> hardcover), wordery delivers worldwide free of charge!

These retailer links are already working (though some only work for the e-book version). More links will be added soon – thank you for your patience ...

Sensitive storyteller, master of subtle virtuosity, relaxed superstar – Mark Knopfler's career breaks almost all records. Renowned Swiss musician, Blues Award winner and author Richard Koechli dives deep into the universe of the British singer-songwriter with that unmistakable guitar sound, to pay tribute to his life's work in meticulous detail. With passion, know-how, respectfully critical and in a light-footed, humorous language, he examines Mark Knopfler's art and philosophy, the influence of Knopfler's forerunners and companions, the background of music history in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Dire Straits' story alone takes up 500 pages; a second volume about Mark Knopfler's subsequent solo career will follow in a later edition. It is an inspiring and stirring multimedia adventure with countless anecdotes, insights, background stories and audio-video examples; a must read for Mark Knopfler fans as well as for guitar geeks, audiophiles and lovers of music history.

The book is published by Tredition Verlag (Hamburg, Germany) and available worldwide in a softcover, hardcover and e-book edition. → Download book cover (print)  → Book cover (web)

ISBN-Nr: Softcover: 978-3-384-55244-0, Hardcover: 978-3-384-55245-7, E-Book: 978-3-384-55246-4

The book is accompanied by the new double album ‘Laidback Universe, Remembering J.J. & Mark’ (→ stream it), which includes the 28 best songs and instrumentals from Koechli's career, as a tribute to the two grandmasters of laid-back music, J.J. Cale and Mark Knopfler. Book buyers will receive a link to download the album for free.

Richard Koechli about the book: "Why such a thick tome, with more than 500 pages? The reason is that I'm interested in the whole picture: the companions, the predecessors, the philosophy behind the art, a thousand details from different areas. Music history is an incredibly exciting puzzle with thrilling anecdotes and background stories. In addition to the protagonist, the book features countless famous and not-so-famous artists, and also talks about producers, recording studios, legendary guitars and equipment of all kinds. A trip through Anglo-American music history that has something for everyone – not only (but of course more than enough) for Mark Knopfler fans."

Richard Koechli: The Swiss guitarist, singer-songwriter and author is a proven expert in blues, folk and country music. His book 'Masters of Blues Guitar' received the German Music Edition Prize, his music has won the Swiss Blues Award, the Swiss Film Music Award and the PRIX PLUS Culture Prize, among others. The 63-year-old lives in France and Switzerland; to date, he has released 15 music albums and 10 music books.

By the way: in the same series (‘Laidback’ music history), Richard Koechli's successful book about J.J. Cale (more than 300 pages) has now also been published in bookstores (it was released in 2020 exclusively in music stores as a giant CD booklet) – available now in paperback (ISBN 978-3-384-55942-5), hardcover (ISBN 978-3-384-55943-2) and E-book (ISBN 978-3-384-55944-9). Find out more about this J.J. Cale book