Dear everyone,

Well, what do you want first, the good news or the bad news?

I think I will start with the bad news: you are all going to have to pay some subscription money now! The reason for the bad news is the good news! Dire Straits are likely to start recording their new album in the autumn (for release next summer), and this should be followed by a world tour!!!

At this stage, plans are pretty vague, since we are in the process of setting it all up. We are currently deciding what countries to play, what order to do them in, and which venues to do. We are not even sure yet where we´ll start, which way round the world they tour will go, or where we´ll finish…

All of this means that there will be regular Information Service newsletters from now on, and I have decided to do four a year (about every three months). They may vary a bit depending on what we are doing at any particular time, but my intention is to do them in December, March, June and September. This one is free, so your subscription will pay for the NEXT four newsletters. In addition, if there is any urgent news for any specific country/area, I may well send a short interim letter to fans just in that particular area –which would be included in the price. At the end of this newsletter, you will find details of what to pay, how to pay, and a form to fill in. please try and return this as soon as possible (preferably by the beginning of September) since it will get busier ad busier here as the year progresses, and I would like to get all the banking done as quickly as I can. You will notice that the subscription is more than it has been in the past, but that´s because everything from stationery to printing costs more now, and the postage is due to increase yet again in the autumn.

Ok, now for a brief outline of THE GREAT PLAN: it looks as though the band line-up will be virtually as before, with the exception of Jack, who will not be joining us this time (he´s got his own band, and spends all his spare time with his wife and kids, sometimes in California, sometimes in Florida). Instead, we may be using Paul Franklin on pedal-steel guitar, plus a rhythm guitarist (not sure who yet!). those of you who saw the NHB will be familiar with Paul –and will be aware that he is something of a virtuoso… in other words –rather good!

At present, the various members of Dire Straits are all over the place for the summer. Mark is in New York with his family (he´s writing more songs!), John is in the South of France, Guy´s about to become a dad any day now so is at home awaiting the big moment, Chris is putting the finishing touches to his solo album (more about it later), Terry´s at home in Wales, and Alan is on tour in the USA with Eric Clapton. They will all reconvene here in London in September for rehearsals and recording of the album, which will be done throughout the winter. So there you go –something to look forward to. There will be fuller details in the December newsletter, and before you all start writing in –please don´t since I can´t tell you anymore at the moment. Rest assured we are working flat out planning it all. I´m already starting to have hallucinations about tickets…

I should tell you now that it is very unlikely that we would attempt another tour as long and gruelling as the Live In ‘85/’86 one, so it is probable that we´ll be doing fairly large venues, and fewer of them, next time round. I know you all prefer to see the band in small “theatre” type places, but if we were to do that, it just wouldn´t be possible to accommodate the large numbers of people wishing to attend unless we spent about three years on tour!

On to other things now: hope all of you who managed to see the NHB on tour enjoyed yourselves. Judging by the stack of letters we´re received here, you had a great time. Glad so many of you came backstage to say hello, get autographs/photos etc. I went to quite a few of the shows, and met up with loads of people who had previously just been names on a list –nice to be able to put faces to the names. Liverpool and Derby jointly got voted in as recipients of the “best audience award”, a unanimous decision made by band members and us at the office, because you all got up and danced from the start, and the atmosphere at those two gigs was brilliant. Hope all those of you who made the trip over from other countries got back ok, we had people attending the shows from as far away as the USA and Japan, as well as a fairly large European contingent, mostly from Spain and Italy. Really good to see you all!

Chris White got up and played at some of the London shows which was a lot of fun –he hadn´t rehearsed at all (could you tell???). those of you who came to The Dominion may also have spotted ex-Straits person Hal Lindes in the audience. Incidentally, Hal is about to become a dad again –to twins! So many members and ex-members of the Straits now have twins, we have a band ready for the next century (possibly a whole symphony orchestra if they go on like this…)

As you may have read in the press, we had an “End of Tour Thank Goodness” party after the Dominion show. This was supposed to be a quiet drinks-in-the-bar type of thing, but ended up being quite a big affair attended by about 500 people, including Prince Edward, Koo Stark, Ben Elton, etc etc. We had a handful of party invitations spare, so we put the names of all Info Service members who had tickets for that night into a hat, and drew out four names, so those people and their guests also got invited to the party. They were Daniel Cluley from Craven Arms, Shropshire, Amanda Cousins from Dagenham, Essex, Andy Lukehurst from Ashford, Kent, and Jackie Templeman from Perivale, Middleses. I met up with Andy and Jackie but couldn´t find the other two –hope you enjoyed yourselves and took advantage of the free bar (which nearly bankrupted our company!)

I went away on holiday the day after the final NHB sho (the one televised by Channel 4), and spent three weeks in Spain doing absolutely nothing which was bliss. I was completely knackered after working 7 days before and during the tour, so I really needed the break. The NHB went on to New York for an appearance on Saturday Night Live before they too took holidays. A lot of you have written in and asked why the NHB didn´t tour in other countries, especially where the album was selling well –well, if they had played elsewhere, the next DS album would have been delayed again, so I hope you´ll all agree the right choice was made!

Knebworth was a lot of fun apart from what seemed to be a force-nine gale blowing directly onto the stage, and the day raised about 6 millions pounds for the Music Therapy charity. “Our lot” consisted of Eric Clapton and various members of his band, plus Alan, Guy, John and Mark from DS, plus Elton John. Highlights of the whole day are due to be shown on ITV in the UK on August 6th, and on TV in other countries shortly afterwards, so keep a look-out in the papers for times. The concert was also recorded for release on album (due out this month), all proceeds of which will also go to the charity. Mark Knopfler composition on this album will be “Money for Nothing” and “Love you too much”, the latter of which was played on the NHB tour. I´ve had a few letters querying the composer of this song, and I think the confusion has arisen because the Jeff Healey Band have also recorded and released a version of it, but I can assure you it is a MK composition. (Personally I think the JHB version is quite diabolical, but you can make up your own minds!!!)

SOME OTHER BITS AND PIECES

Eric Clapton´s Albert Hall gigs
Many of you wrote in to say how disappointed you were that Mark didn´t appear with Eric at the Albert Hall in January. When I did the December newsletter, the plan was that Mark WOULD play, but he later pulled out as he decided he needed the time to rehearse the NHB show. Very sorry about that –but i´m sure Eric struggled through the show all right without him!

THE NEW LONDON PHONE CODES
As most of you in the UK Hill already know, the London telephone codes have been changed. Our office is in Inner London, so please in future dial (071) 723 5640. Overseas fans dial 71.

YOUR CORRESPONDENCE
Can I please remind you to put your full name and address on all correspondence with this office. Also, if you are changing your address, please state the old AND new addresses, Thanks!

PERSONAL REPLIES
It is becoming increasingly difficult for me to sep up with the amount of mail that comes in here, and it will be almost impossible to do personal replies to individuals once the album and tour get underway. Please can I ask you to sep your letters to a minimum and only write in if it concerns something important. I´ll do my best!

Penpals and Buy/sell/Exchage columns

Please, write in with your ad., don´t telephone.

CHET ATKINS / MARK KNOPFLER DUET ALBUN
This is now finished (at long last...). Entitled ”Neck and Neck”, it is scheduled for release in the USA in September, and a single ”Poor Man Blues” is likely to be taken from the album. Album release in October in other countries is scheduled for October, and it will be on CBS Records worldwide. A song Mark wrote, which was aired on the recent NHB tour, and is called ”Next time i´m in town”, is on the album.

NHB MERCHANDISE
For those of you who couldn´t attend the shows, or didn´t have enough money with you to purchase goods at the time, various items are now available by mail order. You should send an s.a.e. to N.H. Mail, Showtime, Unit 20, Parmiter Industrial Estate, 7 Parmiter Street, London E2 9NG for a list of items and prices. Please DON´T send to this office –we haven´t the space to store the merchandise here.

NHB SET-LIST
In response to many enquiries, here´s a list of the songs placed on the tour. It varied a little from night to night, but this is the main list: First set: Down the road apiece/ One way gal/ Bid my blues goodbye/ When it comes to you/ Running on down this road/ Your own sweet way/ Run me down/ Please baby/ Never to return/ When you´ve got a good friend/ Water of love/ Hobo´s Lullaby/ Steelrail blues. Second set: One Woman Man/ That´s all right mama/ Blues stay away from me/ Tennessee Blues/ Railroad worksong/ Love you too much/ Bewildered/ Will you miss me/ Fixing to Die/ Rainy rainy day/ Setting me up/ Mistery Train. Encores: Why worry/ Shake Rattle & Roll/ Feel like going home/ Next time I´m in town.

NHB PHOTOS
At this stage we are not doing a photo offer as it´s so busy here, we just can´t cope! However, if you think you might like a set of 10 pictures from the tour, enclose a postcard with your subscription form. On one side, write “Photos” and on the other side put your name and address. I´ll collect all your cards in a box an notify you once I have something organised…

PHOTOS OF ME
For some unknown reason, which makes me think you are completely insane, some of you have asked for a photo of me!. I would have thought most of you knew what i looked like by now from the photos in various tour programmes… Anyway, i hill try and find a reasonable shot (not easy!) and anyone who wants a copy can have one. Send an s.a.e. and write “Liz” on the back of the envelope so I know what it´s for. I´ll send them out later this summer.

CHRIS WHITE SOLO ALBUM
This is due for release in September/October worldwide. In Germany it will be on the Bellaphon Label, the label for the rest of the world is unconfirmed at this stage. Chris tells me the tentative title for the album is “Chris White and Friends”, however I told him that was really boring, so it may change… the album is R&B influenced, and it´s 90% instrumental, although there are one or two tracks with vocals by Sam Brown, Andy Kane and Brian Powell. Other musicians include Gary Husband (Level 42 drummer) and Pino Palldino (Ex-Paul Young Band, who some of you may know through his work with Phil Collins). I do realise that without knowing the record label and without being sure of the tile, it may be difficult for you to acquire the record, but in case you haven´t managed to locate it by December, I will put the full details in the next newsletter!

PAUL BRADY
Some of you have also been writing in about Paul Brady (who we manage). Paul has a new album “Trick or Treat” coming out late this year/Early next year, on Polygram Records worldwide, producer: Gary Katz of Steely Dan fame. He´s intending to tour in Ireland and the UK alter the album is released, so if you want a list of tour dates, send an s.a.e and write “Paul” on the back of he envelope so I know what it´s for. Dates aren´t confirmed yet, so you may have a month or two to wait.

That´s about it for this time. Don´t forget to send in your subs a.s.a.p.

Best wishes for now from all of us here.