VIDEO: Dire Straits induct themselves into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Dire Straits were inducted into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, OH on April 14, and video from the annual ceremony is streaming online.

Rolling Stone reports the absence of leader Mark Knopfler, guitarist David Knopfler and drummer Pick Withers left the band to be represented at the event by keyboardists Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher and bassist John Illsley, who inducted the group into the Rock Hall himself as no one appeared as a presenter to do so.

“In the absence of someone here to induct Dire Straits into the 2018 Hall Of Fame,” began Illsley, “as a founding member, I thought perhaps that I might be the best qualified one to do this. It’s a bit weird but, here we are…life is strange.”

The bassist acknowledged Knopfler’s absence, saying “I know there’s been a lot of speculation about the fact that Mark is not here, but I can assure you, it’s just a personal thing. It’s personal reasons, let’s just leave it at that. This is really more about a group of people more than one person, it’s a collective, a brotherhood and that’s something that needs acknowledging tonight."

"I know it’s a little bit odd,” concluded the bassist, “but it’s my honor to welcome Dire Straits into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame."

While Mark Knopfler has not commented publicly on the event, his brother and group co-founder David Knopfler made headlines recently when he announced his plans to not attend the induction after claiming the Rock Hall would not pay his travel expenses, as previously promised.

Eligible for induction since 2003, Dire Straits entered the Rock Hall on their first nomination as part of the Class Of 2018 alongside The Cars, Bon Jovi, the Moody Blues, Nina Simone, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

The 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction will be broadcast by HBO on Saturday, May 5 at 8 PM EDT.


See also:

Dire Straits to perform at Rock Hall induction without Mark Knopfler
The Cars, Dire Straits and Bon Jovi among 2018 Rock Hall inductees
Judas Priest, Dire Straits, The Cars among 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees
Mark Knopfler announces North American tour
Search Dire Straits at hennemusic

Dire Straits top the hennemusic Hot 10

Dire Straits top this week’s hennemusic Hot 10.

Keyboardist Alan Clark has confirmed that members of the UK band will perform without frontman Mark Knopfler at their upcoming induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on April 14.

Read all about it in this week’s top story!

The HH10 is a list of the most-viewed rock news stories in the past week by hennemusic readers.

For a full list of hennemusic Hot 10 charts, check out the archives here.

hennemusic Hot 10
week ending April 8, 2018

01 – Dire Straits to perform at Rock Hall induction without Mark Knopfler
02 – Stone Temple Pilots team up with The Cult and Bush for summer tour
03 – VIDEO: Ghost preview new frontman Papa Emeritus Zero
04 – VIDEO: Motley Crue and Anthrax members featured at all-star Bon Scott AC/DC tribute concert
05 – Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant recalls vintage Stairway To Heaven performances
06 – Led Zeppelin: 50th anniversary edition of Five Glorious Nights book available
07 – VIDEO: Stone Temple Pilots, The Cult and Bush perform at Revolution 3 tour launch
08 – Liam Gallagher announces fall European tour
09 – Sammy Hagar streams I Can’t Drive 55 from Red Til I’m Dead
10 – PRO VIDEO: Metallica perform Now That We’re Dead in Vienna


See also:

Apr 01: The Hollywood Vampires
Mar 25: Steven Tyler
Mar 18: Alice Cooper
Mar 11: ZZ Top and John Fogerty
Mar 04: ZZ Top and John Fogerty

Dire Straits to perform at Rock Hall induction without Mark Knopfler

Dire Straits keyboardist Alan Clark has confirmed that members of the UK band will perform without frontman Mark Knopfler at their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on April 14.

“Fame at last!,” writes Clark on his website. “While it's nice to receive recognition for my work, I really can't take it seriously. That said, I've bought a new tuxedo and my signature now ends with the words ‘Living Legend’.

“There's a lot of conjecture on forums about whether the band is performing at the Hall of Fame, and if not why not, and who in the band are going to the ceremony,” he adds. “Well, here it is and it's official: Myself, Guy Fletcher and John Illsley will attend the ceremony where we'll be performing an unplugged version of ‘Telegraph Road’, with me on harmonium, Guy on ukulele, John on banjo, and the vocal sung by Stevie Wonder.”

While Mark Knopfler has not commented publicly on the event, his brother and co-founding member of the group, David Knopfler, shared his reason for not attending the induction via a comment on his Facebook page.

"Travel costs. In their wisdom, after promising to pay my expenses they reneged on their promise," writes Knopler. "I can well understand that with only $5 mil a year in sponsorships and 100k a table and no fees for the

artist, that paying my taxi to the airport must have given them heart murmurs like Squeers hearing Oliver Twist asking for more and frightened them into refusal, otherwise one might get the wrong idea entirely about what they're all about."

With worldwide sales of more than 100 million albums, Dire Straits are being inducted into the Rock Hall as part of the Class Of 2018, which includes The Cars, Bon Jovi, the Moody Blues and Nina Simone, with Sister Rosetta Tharpe to be honored posthumously with an Award For Early Influence.

The 33rd Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, OH on April 14 and will be broadcast by HBO in the spring.


See also:

The Cars, Dire Straits and Bon Jovi among 2018 Rock Hall inductees
Judas Priest, Dire Straits, The Cars among 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees
Mark Knopfler announces North American tour
Canada overturns Dire Straits censorship decision
Search Dire Straits at hennemusic

The Cars, Dire Straits and Bon Jovi among 2018 Rock Hall inductees

The Cars, Dire Straits and Bon Jovi are among the artists set to be inducted into the 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The three acts are joined by The Moody Blues and Nina Simone, with Sister Rosetta Tharpe to be honored posthumously with an Award For Early Influence.

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

Chosen by more than 900 voters of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, the six artists were chosen from a field of 19 nominees, with Bon Jovi winning the Fan ballot.

Four of the six acts will be inducted as first-time nominees – Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe – while Bon Jovi enter on their second ballot entry and The Cars on their third year in a row.

“Well, we've been through it twice already,” Cars drummer Greg Robinson tells Rolling Stone. “I just sort of had a feeling we could squeak in this year. But it's great. It's great. It's also a good time for us. Next year is the 40th anniversary of our first album. I've been working all this year on a bunch of re-releases. We've had some expanded records and I've worked on the covers. It's a good time.”

"It's a Christmas miracle," says Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan. "[We were] guys living the dream, getting on a bus with no guarantees in any way shape or form or anything. It was, 'Let's go out and make this happen.' And we actually did."

Bryan reveals that Bon Jovi are willing to reunite for the event with former members Richie Sambora and original bassist Alec John Such.

"The idea is that it's a celebration of what we were and what we are," he explains. "You'll see the current lineup and then see the original. It should be a fun night."

"On Friday [the day before I heard the news], I couldn't have cared less," says Moody Blues singer Justin Hayward. "On Saturday, I was thinking, 'Wow, that's amazing!' I'm extremely grateful to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for two things: For creating the supreme temple to something that has brought me endless joy since I was a little boy; the second thing is for, after all these years, including us."

The 33rd Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, OH on April 14 and will be broadcast by HBO in the spring.

Ticket on-sale dates for the event will be announced in January.

2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees

• Bon Jovi
• The Cars
• Dire Straits
• Moody Blues
• Nina Simone

Award For Early Influence

• Sister Rosetta Tharpe


See also:

Judas Priest, Dire Straits, The Cars among 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees
AUDIO: The Cars stream unreleased track from expanded Candy-O reissue
The Cars announce Candy-O and Panorama expanded reissues
Pearl Jam, Journey, ELO lead 2017 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees
Search The Cars at hennemusic

Judas Priest, Dire Straits, The Cars among 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees

Judas Priest, Dire Straits, The Cars and Bon Jovi are among the nominees for induction into the 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The Cleveland-based institution revealed the full list of 19 artists on Wednesday, which also includes Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine and The Moody Blues, among others.

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

2018 marks the first year of eligibility for Radiohead and Rage Against The Machine, and first nominations for Kate Bush, Dire Straits, Eurythmics, Judas Priest, The Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Bon Jovi, Depeche Mode, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan and Link Wray received their second ballot entry; The Cars, MC5 and The Zombies are making their third appearance; LL Cool J and The Meters snagged their fourth listing; and, it’s the fifth ballot for The J. Geils Band.

Ballots will be sent to an international voting body of more than 900 artists, historians and members of the music industry.

According to Rolling Stone, in keeping with a new tradition that began last year, the Hall Of Fame has announced the individual members of each band that will be honored.

Judas Priest has featured many lineups over the past five decades, but the Hall Of Fame selected vocalist Rob Halford, bassist Ian Hill, guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing, and drummers Scott Travis, Les Binks and Dave Holland.

Dire Straits members Mark Knopfler, bassist John Illsley, drummer Pick Withers, guitarist David Knopfler and keyboardists Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher appear on the ballot.

Bon Jovi is listed along with former guitarist Richie Sambora (who left in 2013) and original bassist Alec John Such, who left in 1994.

The current Depeche Mode lineup of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher is listed along with former keyboardist Alan Wilder (who left in 1995) and original keyboardist/band co-founder Vince Clarke, who after just one album and went on to form Yazoo and Erasure.

For the sixth year in a row, fans can have a say in the process: from now to December 5, fans can cast votes for their favorites. The top five artists selected by the public will comprise a “fan’s ballot” that will be tallied along with the other votes to choose the 2018 inductees.

Fans will need to login with a Facebook account or email to vote, and voting is capped at one ballot per day.

Vote for your favorites at the Rock Hall website here.

The 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees will be announced in December; the ceremony will take place at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, OH on April 14, 2018 and recorded for later broadcast by HBO, while SiriusXM will also carry a radio broadcast of the ceremony in April.

Details and ticket on-sale information for the event will be announced at a later date.

2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees:

• Bon Jovi
• Kate Bush
• The Cars
• Depeche Mode
• Dire Straits
• Eurythmics
• J. Geils Band
• Judas Priest
• LL Cool J
• The MC5
• The Meters
• Moody Blues
• Radiohead
• Rage Against the Machine
• Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
• Nina Simone
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe
• Link Wray
• The Zombies


See also:

Judas Priest launch Road To Valhalla mobile game
Judas Priest share new album update
Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford to release box set
AUDIO: Judas Priest stream live track from 30th anniversary Turbo reissue
Search Judas Priest at hennemusic

Mark Knopfler announces North American tour

Former Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler has announced dates for a fall tour of North America.

The two-month run – which follows an extensive European tour from May to July – opens September 10 in Vancouver, BC.

The shows will support Knopfler’s latest solo album, “Tracker”, due March 17.

The follow-up to 2012’s “Privateering” was recorded at British Grove Studios in London and co-produced by Knopfler and Guy Fletcher.

“The album title ‘Tracker’ arrived out of me trying to find my way over the decades,” says Knopfler. “Out of me tracking time – looking at people, places and things from my past, and out of the process of tracking as in recording tracks in the studio.”

Knopfler recently issued the project’s lead single, “Beryl.”

“Tracker” will be available on CD, double vinyl, deluxe CD with four bonus tracks, and a lavish box set that will include the album on both CD and vinyl with a bonus CD featuring six extra tracks, a DVD with an exclusive short film directed by Henrik Hansen and an interview with Mark where he talks about the new record.

Sleeve notes have been specially written by acclaimed US author Richard Ford and it also contains a numbered art print and six photographic prints.

Fans that order tickets to ‘An Evening with Mark Knopfler and Band’ online will receive a copy of “Tracker” for each pair of tickets purchased.

Knopfler Fan Club presales begin Tuesday, January 27, with general public tickets on sale beginning Friday, January 30.

Mark Knopfler
2015 North American Tour

Sep 10 - Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Sep 11 - Woodinville, WA @ Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
Sep 12 - Woodinville, WA @ Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
Sep 13 - Portland, OR @ Keller Auditorium
Sep 16 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Sep 18 - Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre
Sep 19 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Dolby Theatre
Sep 20 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
Sep 21 - San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s Concerts By the Bay
Sep 23 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
Sep 25 - Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater
Sep 26 - Dallas, TX @ The Majestic Theatre
Sep 28 - Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
Sep 29 - Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
Sep 30 - Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
Oct 02 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Oct 03 - Indianapolis, IN @ Old National Centre—Murat Theatre
Oct 04 - Ann Arbor, MI @ Michigan Theater
Oct 06 - Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
Oct 07 - Montreal, QC @ Place Des Arts—Wilfrid Pelletier Theatre
Oct 09 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
Oct 10 - Mashantucket, CT @ Foxwoods Resort Casino—Grand Theater
Oct 11 - Albany, NY @ Palace Theater
Oct 13 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall
Oct 14 - Niagara Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Resort
Oct 16 - Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Theatre
Oct 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Academy of Music
Oct 18 - Washington, DC @ The Warner Theatre
Oct 20 - New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre
Oct 22 - Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC)
Oct 24 - Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Oct 25 - North Charleston, SC @ North Charleston Performing Arts Center
Oct 27 - St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Oct 28 - Melbourne, FL @ King Center for the Performing Arts
Oct 30 - Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
Oct 31 - Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Broward Center for the Performing Arts




See also:

Canada overturns Dire Straits censorship decision
Dire Straits: Canadian censorship may be reviewed
Dire Straits classic censored in Canada

Canada overturns Dire Straits censorship decision

Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” caused a whole lot of “Ruckus For Nothing” in Canada, as it turns out.

In January, the Straits track was deemed inappropriate, based on the inclusion of the word “faggot,” following a single listener complaint made to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), the self-regulatory body setup by Canada’s private broadcasters.

At the time, many media outlets incorrectly reported the song was banned, but that’s not what the CBSC’s ruling intended or, in fact, suggested: the Council instructed Canadian broadcasters to censor the song so that the inappropriate language was kept off the nation’s airwaves.

The song’s second verse contains the “offensive” word three times, as follows:

"The little faggot with the earring and the makeup
Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot, he's a millionaire"

Citing artistic merit and context, many fans cried “foul” that the song should be censored, which shook the halls of government in Ottawa. Based on public reaction, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requested the CBSC review its decision that the unedited version of the song was inappropriate for Canadian radio.

The CBSC reviewed the Dire Straits decision and, on Wednesday, released a statement overturning most of their initial ruling, which means the original, unedited version of “Money For Nothing” can safely return to Canada’s airwaves.

The CBSC cited the availability of additional information about the background of the song’s creation by composer Mark Knopfler to be of value in their review, claiming no such info was initially provided. The fact that Knopfler’s lyrics directly quoted someone’s comments while watching MTV – with no ill intent on the creator’s part – played a contributing role.

Another factor in the decision is that alternate, edited versions of the song have been available since 1985, so broadcasters have always had a choice of which version they deemed appropriate for their local audience.

The Council has confirmed their initial ruling that, while the term “faggot” remains inappropriate for broadcast on the Canadian airwaves, “there may be circumstances in which even words designating unacceptably negative portrayal may be acceptable because of their contextual usage.” An exception provided in Clause 10(b) (Comedic, humorous or satirical usage) is applicable here, said the Council.

You can read the CBSC’s full statement here.

Dire Straits




See also:

Dire Straits: Canadian censorship may be reviewed
Dire Straits classic censored in Canada

Dire Straits: Canadian censorship may be reviewed

Feathers have been ruffled, fans of both music and free speech are upset, politicians are pointing fingers, and Dire Straits must be wondering why a 25+ year-old song is causing a ruckus in Canada.

As we reported last week, one listener complaint was all it took to get Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” censored on Canada’s broadcast airwaves.

Not banned. Censored.

A listener of OZ-FM in Newfoundland wrote a complaint to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), the self-regulatory body set up by Canada’s private broadcasters; the Council ruled the song - a radio staple since 1985 - violated the code of ethics on several fronts due to the use of the word "faggot."

Now, the fallout and reaction, from all sides, has been enough to cause such confusion at the government level that Canada’s broadcast regulators, The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today wrote to the CBSC asking it to review its determination that the unedited version of the song was inappropriate for Canadian radio.

In a CRTC press release, the government states the CBSC’s decision has elicited a strong public reaction and created uncertainty for private radio stations across the country. The Commission has received over 250 letters from Canadians, most of which questioned the decision.

Feeling the heat last week, CBSC head Ronald Cohen was defiant about the ruling, based on one listener’s complaint. “The number of complaints is irrelevant," Cohen said. "Everybody is on our back about it (but) I think it was absolutely the right decision. This was a word that has no place today on the airwaves." Further, he said, “If there was an appeal process, it would be cumbersome."

“Cumbersome” equals more work for Ronald.

Given the exceptional nature of this situation, the Commission has asked the CBSC to appoint a panel with a national composition to review the complaints regarding the Dire Straits’ song, as well as its original decision.

Since the ruling, to get themselves some free press, some classic rock stations promoted their own defiance of the Council’s decision by playing the original version of the song. What moves like this expose is the issue that the CBSC has no real ‘teeth’ to it: there are no penalties, fines, or job losses for stations that ignore the self-regulator. It’s all so typically Canadian: a ruling is more friendly advice than hard regulation.

While the CBSC serves a purpose, it was set up by broadcasters who didn’t want the government (who grants licenses) in their business; now that the government is publicly requesting the Council re-review one of its decisions, it could effectively be seen to be ‘butting in’ on that very business. And, further, if the government is uncomfortable with the outcome of this little dance, particularly in light of the fact that most Canadians think the government is making these decisions anyway, it’s possible that the government may decide it should just take over the whole process for the broadcasting industry.

Talk about political fallout.

Let’s see if Cohen remains defiant; the future of the CBSC may be influenced by the outcome of this one.

For more information, check out the following:

CBSC: Clarification over Dire Straits ruling

CRTC letter to CBSC recommending a re-review of the matter

Dire Straits

Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
On The Night DVD (1993)


See also:

Dire Straits classic censored in Canada

Dire Straits classic censored in Canada

One complaint: that’s all it takes to get a song censored on Canada’s broadcast airwaves.

Dire Straits' “Money For Nothing” will be getting the censor’s treatment from now on, or not played at all, after a decision by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.

The QMI Agency reports that, after a complaint from a listener to OZ-FM in Newfoundland who heard the song at 9:15 at night, the CBSC ruled that “Money for Nothing,” a radio staple since 1985, violates the code of ethics on several fronts due to the use of the word "faggot."

The songs second verse contains the offensive word three times.

"The little faggot with the earring and the makeup"
"Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair"
"That little faggot's got his own jet airplane"
"That little faggot, he's a millionaire"

The CBSC, which has essentially banned the full-length version of “Money for Nothing,” is a self-governing regulatory body for Canada's private broadcasters. Decisions on content by the council are binding on members.

“Money for Nothing” is not the first song the CBSC has censored. The decision on the Dire Straits tune references an earlier decision on the song “Boyz in the Hood” by Dynamite Hack, which was deemed to have lyrics which were too violent towards women.

Check out more details about the story here

Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
On The Night DVD (1993)