# David Knopfler
**David Knopfler** (born 1951 or 1952, Glasgow, Scotland) is a British singer, guitarist, and songwriter who co-founded the rock band [Dire Straits](https://www.edgepedia.org/dire-straits) in 1977, played rhythm guitar on its first two albums, and has since built an independent career as a singer-songwriter, film composer, and author.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 December; year disputed: 1951 per Library of Congress and BnF authority records, 1952 per AllMusic and biographical references[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no96062182.html) • [2](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb13896059x) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478) |
| Dire Straits role | Rhythm guitarist behind brother Mark Knopfler's lead guitar on *Dire Straits* (1978) and *Communiqué* (1979); left in 1980, with accounts differing on whether he left before or during the *Making Movies* sessions[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478) |
| Chart peak with the band | *Dire Straits* reached US #2 and UK #5; *Communiqué* reached US #11, UK #5 and BRD #1[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/) |
| Solo debut | *Release* (1983, UK #82), with guests including Mark Knopfler, John Illsley and Pino Palladino[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/) |
| Solo catalog | His official biography describes thirteen solo CDs; AllMusic's discography extends from *Release* (1983) to *Skating on the Lake* (2022)[5](https://knopfler.com/bio.html) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478) |
| Other work | Film and television scores, a book of poetry (*Blood Stones and Rhythmic Beasts*, 2005), and a "Bluffer's Guide"[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478) • [5](https://knopfler.com/bio.html) |
## Early life and background
Knopfler was born in Glasgow and grew up in [Newcastle upon Tyne](https://www.edgepedia.org/newcastle-upon-tyne), England. His father, a former communist from Hungary of Jewish descent, worked there as an architect; his mother was a trained pianist and teacher[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). By age 11 he had a guitar, a piano and a drum kit, attended Gosforth Grammar School, and by fourteen was performing his own songs in folk clubs[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/).
After attending Bristol Polytechnic he moved to London and worked as a social worker, in [Greenwich](https://www.edgepedia.org/greenwich)[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478) • [4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/).
## Dire Straits (1977–1980)
In 1977, while working as a social worker, Knopfler met the sociologist [John Illsley](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-illsley) and moved into his flat in Deptford; with his brother Mark and drummer [Pick Withers](https://www.edgepedia.org/pick-withers) they founded Dire Straits[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). In a 2020 interview he put it in the first person: "From my perspective I founded Dire Straits. It goes like this: I was sharing a flat with John Illsley, who would become the bass player for Dire Straits"[6](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/neuinterviews/neu-januar-2020-english-ballarin-music/). His official biography likewise states that he founded the band in 1977[5](https://knopfler.com/bio.html).
**Role in the band.** David played rhythm guitar behind Mark's lead guitar on the band's first two releases, *Dire Straits* (1978) and *Communiqué* (1979)[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478). Mark handled all the songwriting; a song co-written by David, "What's the Matter Baby?", appeared only later, on a 1978 BBC live recording released in 1995[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478). The two albums produced the hits "[Sultans of Swing](https://www.edgepedia.org/sultans-of-swing)" (1978, US #4, BRD #20) and "Lady Writer" (1979, US #45)[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/).
**Departure.** He left the band in July 1980. The German-language biography attributes the exit to his not wanting to remain in the shadow of his elder brother, who was the band's driving force and wrote all the songs[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). The *Encyclopedia of Popular Music* describes "the heated complications of their relationship" leading to his departure before the recording of 1980's *Making Movies*[7](http://www.oxfordreference.com/viewbydoi/10.1093/acref/9780195313734.013.15354), while AllMusic says he left during the recording of that album and remained uncredited on the final release[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478). After leaving he retreated to a country house near Diss and founded the label Paris Records[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). Looking back in 2020, he called Dire Straits "an extraordinary once in a lifetime opportunity" and credited psychotherapy and his social-work background with helping him cope with the band's end[6](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/neuinterviews/neu-januar-2020-english-ballarin-music/).
## Solo career and discography
His debut solo album *Release* appeared in 1983, reaching UK #82, with guests including [Mark Knopfler](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-knopfler), John Illsley and [Pino Palladino](https://www.edgepedia.org/pino-palladino); singles included "Come To Me", "Madonna's Daughter", "Sideshow" and "Soul Kissing", the last a German radio hit[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/).
*Behind the Lines* (1985, BRD #47) drew poor reviews for its heavy synthesizer use but produced the German chart singles "Heart to Heart" (BRD #38) and "Shockwave"[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). It was followed by *Cut the Wire* (dated 1986 by Songstuff and 1987 by AllMusic) and *Lips Against the Steel* (1988, released in the U.S. by Cypress Records)[8](https://www.songstuff.com/independent-music/interviews/david_knopfler/) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478).
The 1990s and 2000s brought *Lifelines* (1991, recorded at [Peter Gabriel](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-gabriel)'s Real World Studios), *The Giver* (1993), *Small Mercies* (1995), *Wishbones* (2001, with guest [Chris Rea](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-rea)), *Ship of Dreams* (2004) and *Songs for the Siren* (2006)[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478). Later came *Grace* (2015), *Heartlands* (June 2019), *Last Train Leaving* (January 2020) and *Songs of Loss and Love* (November 2020)[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). His official bio counts thirteen solo CDs to date[5](https://knopfler.com/bio.html).
## Film, television and other work
Knopfler has composed underscores for television and film, including *Treffer* (1984 or 1985, depending on the source), *Jakob hinter der blauen Tür* (1987), *[Laser Mission](https://www.edgepedia.org/laser-mission)* (1989 or 1990 depending on source), the series *Der Große Bellheim* (1993), and the *Tatort* episodes "Doppelspiel" (1985) and "Wer Zweimal Stirbt" (1991, with the song "Lonely Is the Night")[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478). He has also published a book of poetry, *Blood Stones and Rhythmic Beasts* (2005), and a "Bluffer's Guide"[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478) • [5](https://knopfler.com/bio.html).
## By the numbers
The commercial gap between the band and the solo career is wide. As Dire Straits' rhythm guitarist he played on an album that reached US #2 (*Dire Straits*, 1978) and one that reached BRD #1 (*Communiqué*, 1979)[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). His solo albums charted far lower: *Release* at UK #82 in 1983 and *Behind the Lines* at BRD #47 in 1985, with the single "Heart to Heart" at BRD #38[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/).
## Relationship with Mark Knopfler
The brothers' accounts frame the collaboration differently. David's own account emphasizes his founding role through the flat he shared with Illsley[6](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/neuinterviews/neu-januar-2020-english-ballarin-music/), while reference works describe his position as subordinate: the *Encyclopedia of Popular Music* writes that he "cemented elder brother Mark Knopfler's lead vocals and fretboard solos with subordinate guitar chords"[7](http://www.oxfordreference.com/viewbydoi/10.1093/acref/9780195313734.013.15354). The German biography attributes the split to his refusal to stand in Mark's shadow[4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). David himself has reflected that without Dire Straits he might not have had a forty-year solo career[6](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/neuinterviews/neu-januar-2020-english-ballarin-music/).
## Recent activity (2020s)
His releases in the 2020s include *Last Train Leaving* (2020), *Songs of Loss and Love* (2020), *Shooting for the Moon* (2021) and *Skating on the Lake* (2022)[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478) • [4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). His official site also lists *Acoustic*, a double album performed more or less live in the studio with Harry Bogdanovs, containing several previously unreleased songs[9](https://knopfler.com/music.html). AllMusic credits him as composer on the 2023 Dire Straits release *Live 1978-1992*[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478).
## Disputed points
Two details remain unsettled across credible sources. His birth year is given as 1951 by the Library of Congress and the [Bibliothèque nationale de France](https://www.edgepedia.org/bibliotheque-nationale-de-france)[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no96062182.html) • [2](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb13896059x), but as 27 December 1952 by AllMusic, the *Encyclopedia of Popular Music* and the German-language biography[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478) • [7](http://www.oxfordreference.com/viewbydoi/10.1093/acref/9780195313734.013.15354) • [4](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/). The number of Dire Straits albums he recorded also differs by account: his official bio says three, while AllMusic states he appeared on the first two and remained uncredited on *Making Movies*[5](https://knopfler.com/bio.html) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478).
## References
1. [Knopfler, David — Library of Congress authority record](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no96062182.html)
2. [Notice de personne "Knopfler, David (1951-....)" — Bibliothèque nationale de France](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb13896059x)
3. [David Knopfler — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-knopfler-mn0000219478)
4. [Biographie: David Knopfler — die deutschsprachige Seite](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/biographie/)
5. [David Knopfler — Official Biography](https://knopfler.com/bio.html)
6. [David Knopfler interview, January 2020, Ballarin Music (david-knopfler.de archive)](https://www.david-knopfler.de/bio-presse/neuinterviews/neu-januar-2020-english-ballarin-music/)
7. [Knopfler, David — The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Colin Larkin), Oxford Reference](http://www.oxfordreference.com/viewbydoi/10.1093/acref/9780195313734.013.15354)
8. [David Knopfler — Songstuff interview](https://www.songstuff.com/independent-music/interviews/david_knopfler/)
9. [David Knopfler Official Website — Music/Discography](https://knopfler.com/music.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Blues rock and roots rock*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license