The Dire Straits Experience -- 3 NZ Dates Announced   7 Jul 2014

The phenomenon continues

THREE NZ DATES
announced
— this September
+ October
•
Wellington, September 30 Michael Fowler Centre
Christchurch, October 1 CBS Arena
Auckland, October 2 ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Pre-sale begins tomorrow

One of the most dramatic songbooks in history will explode into life in the hands of some of the greatest rock musicians alive when THE DIRE STRAITS EXPERIENCE comes together for an exclusive NZ tour.

Assembled by BROTHERS IN ARMS veteran Chris White and prodigious singer-guitarist Terence Reis, this world class ensemble reignites the greatest hits from Mark Knopfler's platinum catalogue with the breathtaking skill and showmanship of the original 120-million-selling stadium phenomenon.

Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, So Far Away, Brothers in Arms
Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love
Telegraph Road, Private Investigations, Twisting By the Pool
…and much more…
in a two-hour theatre show
with full concert production.

The seven-piece ensemble has been handpicked from the highest echelons of the international touring circuit, with combined experience spanning Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, David Gilmour and Mark Knopfler himself.

THE DIRE STRAITS EXPERIENCE began its evolution as The Straits in 2011, performing a sold-out charity event at Royal Albert Hall to ecstatic acclaim: "probably the best live band you'll ever hear" … "best ever live gig"…"like Dire Straits when they were at their best" and "it was easy to forget we weren't watching the original Dire Straits in its early 1980s' prime."

That intended one-off has since snowballed by popular demand to traverse the UK and USA, leaving a trail of superlatives equal to the most celebrated arena artists of our time:

* "This band is MAGNIFICENT . . ... I am 58 years old and have seen hundreds of rock concerts in my time. This is one of the best ever."
* "It’s an experience rock'n'roll lovers should not miss."
* "No band has ever moved me so much and I doubt if another ever will."
* "We never thought we would hear songs such as Romeo and Juliet and Telegraph Road live and played to [such a] high standard."
* "All the hits and all the charisma, talent and genius from true masters of their craft."

"A lot of Mark's songs border on genius as far as I'm concerned," says Chris, who played more than 500 shows with Dire Straits on their world conquering stadium tours of the '80s and early '90s. "This is about honouring those songs with the same spirit that connected so powerfully with so many people."

"At the heart of it," says Terence, "it's about celebrating something which this enormous fan base, who have been loyal for such a long time, still holds up as being extraordinary. It's not just a nostalgic experience, its a reverence for something we hold dear now, today. I think there's a big difference in that."

DATE CITY VENUE TICKETS
September 30 Wellington Michael Fowler Centre Ticketek

October 1 Christchurch CBS Arena Ticketek
October 2 Auckland ASB Theatre Ticketmaster

Pre-sales will begin via Ticketek and Ticketmaster tomorrow. The general public will be able to purchase from 14 July.

BACKGROUND:
Dire Straits topped the NZ and Australian charts with their first, self-titled album of 1978, and memorably blitzed box office records with a phenomenal 21 Sydney Entertainment Centres on their two-year-long Brothers in Arms world tour. The fifth Dire Straits album spent 34 weeks at #1 in 1985, and remains one of our all-time highest-sellers as well as being listed among the greatest albums ever made by Rolling Stone (US) and Q magazine (UK).

Mark Knopfler dissolved the band for a successful solo career after one more album, *On Every Street*, in 1991. *Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler* stormed the Top 20 in 12 countries in 2005.

THE ARTISTS:
CHRIS WHITE
SAXOPHONE
Chris White’s first real break in the music industry came in 1981 when he was asked to play on Nick Heyward’s album “North Of A Miracle’’. Following this success, his reputation continued to build, playing and recording with artists such as Paul McCartney, Aztec Camera, Chris DeBurgh, The The, and Mark Knopfler, the latter leading to what he is best known for – the saxophone sound of Dire Straits.

TERENCE REIS

LEAD VOCALS & GUITAR
“The unbelievable Knopfler channelling of guitarist/singer Terence Reis… not only replicates Knopfler’s guitar and singing style in an eerily accurate manner, he performs with such gusto and passion it was easy to forget we weren’t watching the original Dire Straits in its early 1980s prime. From intense, elongated versions of epics like “Telegraph Road” and “Tunnel of Love” to fan favourites like “Walk Of Life” and “Brothers In Arms,” the music hit every target, without a false note of mimicry or nostalgia…”
- European Autumn Tour 2012
Of English, Portuguese, Welsh, Irish and Australian descent, Terence Reis grew up on the east coast of Africa in the Portuguese colony of Lourenço Marques (now called Maputo) in Mozambique.

RICHARD COTTLE
KEYBOARDS
Richard is one of the most accomplished keyboard players in the world. If you’ve ever heard any Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, David Bowie or Mick Jagger you’ll have heard the tinkling ivories of Richard Cottle. Other artists he has toured and recorded with include Peter Frampton, Tina Turner, Seal, Stevie Nicks, Alan Parsons Project, Rick Astley, John Parr, Joan Armatrading, Mike Oldfield, Matt Munro and John Barry.

RALPH SALMINS
DRUMS
London-based drummer and percussionist Ralph Salmins is one of the world’s most in-demand drummers. Having graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he studied classical percussion, Ralph has gone on to win numerous awards and polls, including Best Drummer in the British Jazz Awards.
In the late 80s and early ‘90s, Ralph played with Gloria Gaynor, Lulu, John Etheridge, Annie Whitehead, The BBC Big Band and Loose Tubes. After touring and recording alongside Vinnie Colaiuta with Everything But The Girl, he toured with soul tenorist Kirk Whalum, opening for Whitney Houston.

MICK FEAT
BASS
Mick is an internationally renowned bassist whose past work includes being the in-house bass player at Island Records and recording and touring with a host of major artists including Mark Knopfler, Art Garfunkel, Van Morrison and David Gilmour. He’s also a qualified psychotherapist which, rock and roll being the way it is, we figure might come in handy some day! Born in Paris, he now lives in Oxfordshire.

JAY STAPLEY
RHYTHM GUITAR
Jay Stapley came to London in 1978 after playing in local bands in the Kent/Sussex area. He became one of London’s best-known session and gigging guitarists, working with a wide range of artists and producers on projects ranging from films (“Withnail and I”, etc.) to international tours (Roger Waters, Mike Oldfield etc.) and albums (Suede, Toyah, Scott Walker, etc.)

PADDY MILNER
KEYBOARDS
Paddy Milner is recognised as one of the leading blues piano players in the world (just read the praise from Dave Brubeck and Jon Cleary), but also as a superb original songwriter and distinctive singer. As a kid growing up in rural Dorset, UK, Milner began his career playing local pubs from a very young age (much younger than the legal age of entry!). He absorbed blues & boogie like a sponge, which will always remain a fundamental part of his music, but also spent a lot of time exploring jazz, classical music and playing in his father’s folk band. Later on, he was to learn from the masters including dueting with the legendary Jonnie Johnson and learning from Jon Cleary in New Orleans. Milner fondly remembers his father introducing him to the music of the likes of Jack Bruce, with whom Milner now regularly tours with.

ends

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