Hi,

So here it is, another newletter from me to keep all you MK fans up-to-date! Well, I suppose the most important bit of news is that Mark and Kitty are married! They exchanged vows at a secret ceremony in Barbados on 14th Feb. St. Valentine' Day. They are on honeymoon until the end of February and I'm sure you will all join me in whishing them well for the future.

Mark is to write the title piece for a new film starring Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffmann all about politics and spin doctors. The working title of the film is 'Wag The Dog' though this may change before the film is released. Mark wrote a song called 'One Old Shoe' on the 20th January and recorded it the next morning. This was intended for the film but the film people didn't like it (!), the song will come eventually but I don't know when. Mark may do the whole film score. Filming has already started and should Mark agree to do the whole score he would need to have it finished by August.

Mark will be appearing in a TV documentary series called 'Rhythm of Life' being put together by George Martin. Mark is expected to do the filming in April.

The solo tour band are getting together for two weeks in April to run through some new songs. Mark laid down rhythm tracks for ten new songs in Nashville last November. The second solo album is scheduled for release in April 1998 and recording should start in June.

The good news is that you won't have to wait until next year to see Mark, the Hillbillies are doing 11 concerts in May! The dates are:

May 13th - Derby Assembly Rooms
May 14th - Southport Theatre
May 15th - Barbican, York
May 16th- Swan Hunter Company, (private function)
May 17th - Redcar Bowl (charity gig, multiple sclerosis)
May 18th - King's Theatre, Glasgow
May 19th - Albert Hall, Sterling (charity gig, Dunblane Appeal)
May 20th - Sunderland Empire
May 21th - Grimsby Auditorium
May 22th - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
May 23th - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

These dates will hit the press on 2nd March, tickets go on sale 3rd March. There are no plans to extend this into a full-scale tour, Ed says they are doing the shows "just for fun"! Five days' rehersal are planned and the shows will include at least two new songs from the 'Golden Heart' album. The line-up will be Mark, Ed, Steve, Brendan , Guy and Marcus. The Swan Hunter gig is to celebrate the launch of the 'Solitaire', the first ship to come out of the rescued shipyard company. No fans will be able to get to this as it is a private party. Ed says he thinks they might have to play on a barge on the river!!!!!

The 'Golden Heart' album has sold over 1,8 million worldwide.

The Jools Holland TV Special is available on video under the title 'Mark Knopfler, A Night in London'.

There are a few bootlegs CDs from 'Golden Heart' tour. 'Swinging Golden Heart' features tracks from the Royal Albert Hall 23/5/96 and a few from the Jools Holland TV show as does 'Break of Day'; 'Golden Live' has tracks from Hamburg show and 'Golden Tears' is the 1 hour Bristol show broadcast on Radio 2 last year. Please don't write and ask me to obtain these for you, I can't! Try Marijn Schoo in Warmond, Holland. Another bootleg CD is called 'Brothers in Mark' which contains track on which Mark has collaborated with other artists such as Hank Marvin and Waylon Jennings. Sadly, only 500 CDs were done and it is now sold out. There may be a 'Brothers in Mark 2' later this year, ask Marijn!

Marcus Cliffe and Guy will be touring with Jimmy Nail from March 11th - 26 th.

Steve Phillips' new album 'Just Pickin' is now available on the Buried Treasure label (Trov 2). This contains four tracks with Mark from their Duolian String-Pickers days in the early-1970s. 'Just Pickin' also features live tracks with Brendan. Steve's 'Steelrail Blues' album has been re-released in a limited edition of just 200 CDs available only from Hotshot Records, 29 St. Michael's Rd, Leeds, LS6 3BG. Cost is £13 inc P&P. You can also get 'Just Pickin' from Hotshot, give them a ring, ask for Clio!

No news from Brendan, he's just back from India!

Most of you will know that Mark appeared on the Tom Jones show at Christmas. Tom sang 'Feel Like Going Home' and Marl played the usual solo. Mark was also featured on BBC Radio 2's 'Roots' talking about his early influences and also on Radio 2's 'A Song For A Geordie'.

Mark has a new guitar. At the last show of the 'Golden Heart' tour in Antibes the guys in the band presented him with a brand new Beltona resonator guitar. This is a metal bodied resonator shaped like a Les Paul - maybe we'll see it on the Hillbillies tour! Both Steve Phillips and Brendan Croker have Beltonas. Eric Clapton has one, too!! These great instruments are made by Steve Evans in Leeds. Anyone interested in owning a fabulous Beltona should write to Steve at Beltona Guitars, 7 Knowle Rd, Leeds.

Carolyn Dean has photos from the Golden Heart tour for sale. Write to her at 264 Oaktree Cres, Bradley Stoke North, Bristol.

I have a gold disc for auction! I am the chairman of a local charity and I auctioning a Canadian Industry Recording Association gold disc to help raise funds for this charity. The plaque reads 'Presented to Ed Bicknell to commemorate the sale of over 50.000 units of the Mercury album the 'Making Movies' December 1980'. This gold disc is in excellent condition. Bids in stirling in writing to me, minimum bid £350.

OK, that's all I can remember!!!

Best wishes.........

Terry Kilburn