Musical influences (declared or undeclared)
Years back I remember reading an interview with Mark Knopfler in which he openly admitted to having been so enamored with Richard Thompson's guitar playing that he used to write down the amp and guitar settings he used during gigs in the early 1970s.
This is a rare example of a musician fully admitting to a major influence upon his or her style. Usually they keep schtum, or mutter something about having "quite liked so-and-so" when they were younger. I've always thought that Tom Verlaine's playing on Television's 'Marquee Moon' sounds remarkably RT-esque, but I don't recall him ever having cited the bereted and bearded one as a major inspiration. Maybe he wasn't, but if not it's one hell of a coincidence...
Are there any other musicians whom we can acuse of not having fully paid their musical debts?
And what about those who have cheerfully owned up?
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Honest Mr K
He's also freely admitted an admiration of and an open plagiarism of JJ Cale's sparse and lovely elastic grooves and funky licks.
Makes sense to me.
And you can add to that
Hank Marvin, whom Knopfler openly praises on Alchemy, just before they do 'Going Home'.
The list is becoming endless
I read an interview in the early 80's in an American guitar mag with Knopfler which also cited as an influence on him a guy called Barry Burton who played guitar with the Amazing Rhythm Aces.
Anyone know anything about these guys?. According to wikipedia they've made a hatful of albums over the past couple of decades.
I'll have to answer Weller again...
...open about his influences almost to the point of admitting plagarism.
Although he's only just admitted to liking Bowie. Me and my mates used to play the two of them back to back noting the similarities.
RT/MN
Didn't know that, but I recall an OGWT special, with the then be-stetsonned ex Fairporter interviewed and asked to "demonstrate" other styles of playing, during which he did a very fine Knopfler.
Given RT is said to have taught Hugh Cornwell how to play,when both at school, I can find nary a hint in Mr Cornwells, um, economic style.
O, and here is that clip, with the man being interviewed by some young whippersnapper.
P.S. The knopfler wan't so good, after all, was it!
That's because...
...He's playing it on a "Frender" rather than his usual guitar.
Hugh
Wasn't Hugh Cornwell the bass player in RT's first band? So the beardie one probably taught him a few basic bass patterns.
Oasis acknowledged The Soundtrack of Our Lives
as inspiration for "Lyla", can't think of anything else that Oasis may have copied though...ahem.
In the notes
to his album Continuum, John Mayer 'fesses up : "Eric Clapton knows I steal from him and is still cool with it."