BROTHERS IN ARMS TOUR 1985 - 1986
Tour line-up:
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Mark Knopfler Guitar, vocals |
John Illsley
Bass, vocals |
Guy Fletcher
Keyboards , vocals |
Alan Clark Keyboards / piano |
Jack Sonni
Guitars, vocals |
Terry Williams Drums |
Chris White Saxophone |
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After recording the Brothers in arms album in Montserrat, Dire Straits rehearsed between 5th and 13th April 1985 in Dubrovnik and between 14th and 26th April in Split. The first real concert of the immense world tour was on the 25th April in Split, former Yugoslavia. Again some changes in the tour line-up: Hal Lindes was replaced by Jack Sonni and Mel Collins was replaced by Chris White. Tommy Mandel left and Guy Fletcher joined the band. Click here to see a nice official photo of the band, taken in Montserrat. Several guest players appeared during the tour: Eric Clapton, Paul Young, Hank B. Marvin, Sting, Billy Joel, David Sanborn, Branford Marsalis, Paul Brady, Dave Edmunds, Nils Lofgren, Francis Rossi, T-Bone Burnett and Pete Townshend. I also heard Roy Bittan was a special guest on the final show in the USA, East Rutherford, 13th October 1985. Ed Bicknell contacted me in August 2024 and had his doubts if Roy Bittan was a guest that evening. Click here, here and here for some cool pictures of building the stage for the shows in Birmingham in June 1985. And here for a nice picture of John and Mark near the end of the tour in Wellington, New Zealand, 4th March 1986. On 8th and 9th May 1985, Dire Straits visited Montreux, Switserland. It was for the Golden Rose Festival. The first day was travel and rehearsal, the second day was for TV recording. There was a small live audience and they played just three songs: So far away, Brothers in arms and Money for nothing. On 4th July 1985, Dire Straits performed at the Prince's Trust Rock Gala and donated all their royalties from that evening to the trust. For this show, a separate programme was made, which can be found in the tourbooks section. The band also met Prince Charles and Princess Diana that evening. Click here for another nice picture of Mark and Diana. During this tour, Dire Straits also made an appearance on the famous Live Aid 1985 show (13th July), playing two songs (Money for nothing featuring Sting and Sultans of swing) in the afternoon at Wembley Stadium, and returning to Wembley Arena that same evening for another concert of their own tour. Over one billion people watched the Live Aid show! On 14th September 1985, Mark Knopfler came to The Sweetwater Inn, Mill Valley to see J.J. Cale perform. Mark was invited to play on stage as a special guest. There are just a few colour pictures of this very rare guest performance. J.J. Cale always dated his autographs, it says 1988 on it but that is most likely the date when it was signed. And there is another rare picture of J.J. Cale and Mark Knopfler together with a hand written note on the back of the picture. Sadly, J.J. Cale passed away on 26th July 2013. On 4th April 1986, a sell out outdoor concert in Cairns was performed despite a torrential rain storm throughout the entire evening. The rain came pouring down which soaked the stage, the equipment and the instruments. Mark Knopfler sang an impromptu "Singing in the rain". See a picture here and some communication of it on the forum of Guy Fletcher. The picture was used across the Cairns Post broadsheet front page and also in Rolling Stone magazine. Copyright by Brian Cassey. Since there was so much demand for tickets and the tour had to come to an end, Ed Bicknell set up with the broadcasters a live TV broadcast specifically for the charity (anti-drug campaign) and as a thank you to the Australian and New Zealand fans. It was their final show from the tour (Sydney, 26th April 1986) which was broadcasted live on national television in both Australia and New Zealand. That night, Dire Straits donated 50.000 Dollars to the anti-drug campaign in Australia. It was a great last show, including the 12.000 strong audience singing Waltzing Mathilda for the band and the following speech from Mark Knopfler in which he thanks the band, road crew, the local promotor, Dire Straits' management and the people from Australia and New Zealand. Ed Bicknell contacted me in August 2024 and mentioned: "We donated the entire proceeds, more than OZ 50,000. Can't recall what." Originally, Japan was one of
the countries that the band planned to visit early 1986, the country was also
listed on the promotional
Philips bus.
It was the Philips bus where you could go and hear CD-players. See
here also for a colour picture. It was
the idea of Philips and part of their sponsorship. See
here and
here for two pictures of the tour bus
arriving with the Abel Tasman ferry most likely from Tasmania to the port of
Melbourne, Australia, February 1986. Also various editions of the tour
programme both "Live in 85" and "Live in 85/6" mentioned
Japan
as part of the tour schedule. I have one edition of the tour programme "Live
in 85/6" in which Japan was
removed.
It seems this decision was made late during the tour. The
D.S.I.S. newsletter from May 1987 made it clear that Japan was not visited
after all. In April
2013, Guy Fletcher also confirmed on his forum that Dire Straits did not visit
Japan in 1986. I asked Ed Bicknell why Japan was not visited and he said: "I
can't recall. I do know that when we planned OES MK said he didn’t want to
go there. No idea why. I loved it . Probably economics ..it's a long way.
The audiences are “quiet”." |
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Advertisement poster for the tour:
Official recordings made during this tour
| Concert | Bootleg release | Official release |
| Cleveland (05.08.1985) |
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| San Antonio (16.08.1985) |
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| Houston (17.08.1985) |
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| Concert | Bootleg release | Official release |
| London (10.07.1985) |
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| London (13.07.1985) |
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| Sydney (26.04.1986) |
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Total concerts played:
235
April 1985
25.04.1985
Sportski
Centar Gripe
Split Yugoslavia
30.04.1985 Sultanpool Jerusalem Israel
May
1985
01.05.1985
Hayarkon
Park Tel Aviv Israel
02.05.1985
Hayarkon
Park Tel Aviv Israel
06.05.1985 Sportspalace Athens Greece
07.05.1985 Sportspalace Athens Greece
10.05.1985 Pioneer Belgrade Yugoslavia
11.05.1985 Pioneer Belgrade Yugoslavia
12.05.1985 Dom Sportova Zagreb Croatia
13.05.1985 Tivoli Ljubljana Slovenia
14.05.1985 Eishalle Graz Austria
15.05.1985 Stadthalle Vienna Austria
16.05.1985 Sportshall Budapest Hungary
17.05.1985 Sportshall Budapest Hungary
18.05.1985 Sportshall Budapest Hungary
19.05.1985 Sportshall Budapest Hungary
22.05.1985 P.O.C. Eindhoven The Netherlands
23.05.1985 Rijnhal Arnhem The Netherlands
24.05.1985 Jaap Edenhal Amsterdam The Netherlands
25.05.1985 Ahoy Rotterdam The Netherlands
26.05.1985 Limburghal Gent Belgium
27.05.1985 Forest National Brussels Belgium
28.05.1985 Palais des Sports Caen France
29.05.1985 Parc de Panfeld Brest France
30.05.1985 La Beaujoire Nantes France
31.05.1985 Patinoire Bordeaux France
June
1985
01.06.1985
Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre Bilbao Spain
03.06.1985 Estadio Roman Valero Madrid Spain
05.06.1985 Municipal Velodrome Barcelona Spain
06.06.1985 Municipal Velodrome Barcelona Spain
07.06.1985 Palais des Sports Toulouse France
08.06.1985 Palais des Sports Toulouse France
10.06.1985 Stade Louis II Monaco Monaco
11.06.1985 Theatre Antique Orange France
12.06.1985 Palais des Sports Grenoble France
13.06.1985 Patinoire Geneva Switserland
14.06.1985 Patinoire Geneva Switserland
15.06.1985 Patinoire Geneva Switserland
16.06.1985 Hallenstadion Zürich Switserland
17.06.1985 Hallenstadion Zürich Switserland
18.06.1985 St. Jakob Sporthalle Basel Switserland
19.06.1985 St. Jakob Sporthalle Basel Switserland
20.06.1985 Palais des Sports Dijon France
21.06.1985 Patinoire de Kockelscheuer Luxembourg
Luxembourg
22.06.1985 Brielpoort Deinze Belgium
23.06.1985 Palais Omnisports de Bercy Paris France
24.06.1985 Palais Omnisports de Bercy Paris France
25.06.1985 Palais Omnisports de Bercy Paris France
28.06.1985 National Exhibition Center Birmingham UK
29.06.1985 National Exhibition Center Birmingham UK
30.06.1985 National Exhibition Center Birmingham UK
July
1985
01.07.1985
National Exhibition Center Birmingham UK
02.07.1985 Conference Centre Brighton UK
03.07.1985 Conference Centre Brighton UK
04.07.1985 Prince's Trust Rock Gala, Wembley Arena
London UK
05.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
06.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
07.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
08.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
09.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
10.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
11.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
12.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
13.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
13.07.1985 Live Aid, Wembley Stadium London UK
14.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
15.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
16.07.1985 Wembley Arena London UK
23.07.1985 Forum Montreal Canada
24.07.1985 Civic Centre Ottawa Canada
25.07.1985 Civic Centre Ottawa Canada
26.07.1985 Varsity Arena Toronto Canada
27.07.1985 Varsity Arena Toronto Canada
28.07.1985 Varsity Arena Toronto Canada
29.07.1985 Varsity Arena Toronto Canada
August
1985
01.08.1985
Roy Wilkens Auditorium St. Paul USA
02.08.1985 Mecca Auditorium Milwaukee USA
03.08.1985 Poplar Creek Chicago USA
04.08.1985 Pine Knob Detroit USA
05.08.1985 Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls USA
06.08.1985 Syria Mosque Pittsburgh USA
07.08.1985 Mann Music Center Philadephia USA
08.08.1985 Merriweather Post Pavilion Washington USA
10.08.1985 Fox Theatre Atlanta USA
11.08.1985 Tennessee Performing Arts Center Nashville
USA
13.08.1985 Zoo Amphitheatre Oklahoma City USA
14.08.1985 Reunion Arena Dallas USA
15.08.1985 Coliseum Austin USA
16.08.1985 Municipal Auditorium San Antonio USA
17.08.1985 Southern Star Amphitheatre Houston USA
September
1985
03.09.1985
Red Rocks Amphitheatre Denver USA
04.09.1985 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Denver USA
06.09.1985 Activity Centre Tempe USA
07.09.1985 Open Air Amphitheatre San Diego USA
08.09.1985 Pacific Amphitheatre Costa Mesa USA
09.09.1985 The Greek Theatre Los Angeles USA
10.09.1985 The Greek Theatre Los Angeles USA
11.09.1985 The Greek Theatre Los Angeles USA
12.09.1985 County Bowl Santa Barbara USA
13.09.1985 Concord Pavilion San Francisco USA
14.09.1985 Concord Pavilion San Francisco USA
15.09.1985 Cal Expo Amphitheatre Sacramento USA
17.09.1985 Civic Auditorium Portland USA
18.09.1985 Civic Auditorium Portland USA
19.09.1985 Center Arena Seattle USA
20.09.1985 Center Arena Seattle USA
21.09.1985 UBC Gym Vancouver Canada
22.09.1985 Memorial Arena Victoria Canada
23.09.1985 Pacific Coliseum Vancouver Canada
24.09.1985 Coliseum Edmonton Canada
25.09.1985 Saddledome Calgary Canada
26.09.1985 Coliseum Edmonton Canada
27.09.1985 Saddledome Calgary Canada
October
1985
01.10.1985
Radio City Music Hall New York USA
02.10.1985 Radio City Music Hall New York USA
03.10.1985 Radio City Music Hall New York USA
04.10.1985 Civic Centre Providence USA
05.10.1985 Wang Center Boston USA
06.10.1985 Wang Center Boston USA
07.10.1985 Cumberland County Civic Center Portland USA
08.10.1985 Boston Garden Boston USA
09.10.1985 Civic Center Hartford USA
10.10.1985 Civic Center Hartford USA
11.10.1985 Nassau Coliseum Uniondale USA
12.10.1985 Madison Square Garden New York USA
13.10.1985 Meadowlands Arena East Rutherford USA
22.10.1985 Drammenshallen Drammen Norway
23.10.1985 Drammenshallen Drammen Norway
24.10.1985 Café Opera Stockhölm Sweden
25.10.1985 Johanneshov Stockhölm Sweden
26.10.1985 Johanneshov Stockhölm Sweden
28.10.1985 Ice Hall Helsinki Finland
29.10.1985 Ice Hall Helsinki Finland
31.10.1985 Broendbyhalle Copenhagen Denmark
November
1985
01.11.1985
Broendbyhalle Copenhagen Denmark
02.11.1985 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle Hamburg Germany
03.11.1985 Martinhal Groningen The Netherlands
04.11.1985 Eilenreidhalle Hannover Germany
05.11.1985 Deutschlandhalle Berlin Germany
07.11.1985 Stadthalle Vienna Austria
08.11.1985 Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle Munich Germany
09.11.1985 Eishalle Wels Austria
10.11.1985 Eishalle Graz Austria
11.11.1985 Sporthalle Linz Austria
12.11.1985 Olympic Hall Innsbruck Austria
14.11.1985 Parc des Expositions Lyon France
15.11.1985 Maison des Sports Clermont-Ferrand France
18.11.1985 Frankenhalle Nürnberg Germany
19.11.1985 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle Stuttgart
Germany
20.11.1985 Festhalle Frankfurt Germany
21.11.1985 Sporthalle Cologne Germany
22.11.1985 Grugahalle Essen Germany
23.11.1985 Groenoordhal Leiden The Netherlands
24.11.1985 Groenoordhal Leiden The Netherlands
25.11.1985 Forest National Brussels Belgium
27.11.1985 Palais Omnisports de Bercy Paris France
28.11.1985 Palais Omnisports de Bercy Paris France
29.11.1985 Palais Omnisports de Bercy Paris France
30.11.1985 Palais Omnisports de Bercy Paris France
December
1985
03.12.1985
City Hall Newcastle UK
04.12.1985 City Hall Newcastle UK
05.12.1985 City Hall Newcastle UK
06.12.1985 City Hall Newcastle UK
07.12.1985 Apollo Manchester UK
08.12.1985 Apollo Manchester UK
09.12.1985 Apollo Manchester UK
10.12.1985 Apollo Manchester UK
11.12.1985 Leisure Centre Deeside UK
12.12.1985 Leisure Centre Deeside UK
13.12.1985 Showering Pavilion Shepton Mallet UK
14.12.1985 Showering Pavilion Shepton Mallet UK
15.12.1985 National Exhibition Centre Birmingham UK
16.12.1985 National Exhibition Centre Birmingham UK
17.12.1985 Hammersmith Odeon London UK
18.12.1985 Hammersmith Odeon London UK
19.12.1985 Hammersmith Odeon London UK
20.12.1985 Hammersmith Odeon London UK
21.12.1985 Hammersmith Odeon London UK
22.12.1985 Hammersmith Odeon London UK
23.12.1985 Hammersmith Odeon London UK
29.12.1985 Playhouse Edinburgh Scotland
30.12.1985 Playhouse Edinburgh Scotland
31.12.1985 Playhouse Edinburgh Scotland
February 1986
06.02.1986 King George V Oval Hobart Tasmania
07.02.1986 King George V Oval Hobart Tasmania
12.02.1986 Westlake Stadium Adelaide Australia
14.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
15.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
16.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
17.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
18.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
19.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
20.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
21.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
22.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
23.02.1986 Sports And Entertainment Centre Melbourne
Australia
24.02.1986 Myer Music Bowl Melbourne Australia
25.02.1986 Myer Music Bowl Melbourne Australia
26.02.1986 Myer Music Bowl Melbourne Australia
March 1986
01.03.1986
Mount Smart Stadium Auckland New Zealand
02.03.1986 Mount Smart Stadium Auckland New Zealand
04.03.1986 Athletic Park Wellington New Zealand
07.03.1986 Lancaster Park Christchurch New
Zealand
10.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
11.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
12.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
13.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
14.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
15.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
16.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
17.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
18.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
19.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
20.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
21.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
22.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
23.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
24.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
25.03.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
27.03.1986 QE2 Park Brisbane Australia
29.03.1986 Rugby Park Rockhampton Australia
31.03.1986 Showgrounds Mackay Australia
April 1986
02.04.1986
Showgrounds Townsville Australia
04.04.1986 Showgrounds Cairns Australia
08.04.1986 Showgrounds Darwin Australia
13.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Perth Australia
14.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Perth Australia
15.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Perth Australia
16.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Perth Australia
17.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Perth Australia
18.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Perth Australia
19.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Perth Australia
23.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
24.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
25.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
26.04.1986 Entertainment Centre Sydney Australia
