Over the years, Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler have been involved in numerous performances and recordings for good causes. On July 13, 1985, Live Aid was seen by millions as the birth of the “benefit concert,” and Dire Straits were there with covers of “Sultans of Swing” and “Money for Nothing” (before it was a hit song). ). Later that night, they crossed the parking lot and did another sold-out show at Wembley Arena during their massive “Brothers in Arms Live in 85” world tour.
The 1980s saw many additional benefit concert appearances. In June 1986, Dire Straits also participated in the Prince’s Trust Charity 10th Anniversary Concert and Celebration. Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Elton John and many others also appeared. In 1987, Mark Knopfler performed several songs with Nashville guitar legend Chet Atkins for Amnesty International’s “Secret Policeman’s Third Ball.” In 1988, Dire Straits was the headlining act at Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday party concert at Wembley Stadium. Eric Clapton joined the band as rhythm guitarist and performed a slower tempo version of “Wonderful Tonight”.
In the nineties, Dire Straits appeared for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity at a 1990 all-star concert in Knebworth. In 1997, Knopfler performed at the Royal Albert Hall’s “Music For Montserrat” concert. Dire Straits had recorded their hit album “Brothers in Arms” at George Martin’s Air Studios in Montserrat, a small British territorial island that was hit by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and then devastated by a volcano in 1995.
In 2002, Knopfler reunited Dire Straits under the banner “Mark Knopfler and Friends” for a series of four concerts in July. Four separate UK charities benefited from the shows: the Teenage Cancer Trust, Save the Baby, Leuka 2000 and the Countryside Education Trust. As for putting Dire Straits back together for good, Knopfler told reporters at the time: “I would only do that for a charity. I’m glad I experienced it all, I had a lot of fun with it, but I like it the way it is.” .
Mark Knopfler’s distinctive guitar work can be heard on the benefit recordings of “Let It Be” (1987 single to benefit the victims of the Zeebrugge Ferry disaster), “Voices That Care” (1991, as a tribute to those who served in Operation Desert Storm), and “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (1996 recording to benefit the victims and families of the horrific Dunblane, Scotland school shooting).