Dire Straits Will Perform Without Mark Knopfler at Hall of Fame Induction

While Dire Straits fans will be pleased to hear that the band will perform at its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction next week, they will no doubt be frustrated to learn that the band will be doing so without frontman Mark Knopfler.  

Dire Straits keyboardist Alan Clark made the revelation on this website this week, addressing fan questions regarding whether the band would perform and who would of its many former members be present.

"Well, here it is and it's official: Myself, Guy Fletcher and John Illsley will attend the ceremony where we'll be performing an unplugged version of "Telegraph Road," with me on harmonium, Guy on ukulele, John on banjo, and the vocal sung by Stevie Wonder," he wrote.

UPDATE: Illsley tells Premiere Networks that Stevie Wonder is not involved in the band's Hall of Fame induction at all, and that the claim was "total rubbish"—a bad attempt at humor.

In Clark's initial statement, he wrote that the band will perform vocals in three-part harmony at the Rock Hall induction (Ultimate Classic Rock), he later updated the post with the apparent joke about Wonder.

Dire Straits last performed together in 1995 and the band was the last to publicly confirm its status for the April 14 ceremony, which will be televised at a later date.

Illsley said in an interview after Dire Straits was announced as an inductee that he would try to convince the reclusive Knopfler to attend.

"It's essentially up to him if he wants to do anything, and I completely respect his feelings about it," Illsley said at the time. "He doesn't want too much white light."

It's not clear why Knopfler will be a no-show; his manager refused to elaborate for Premiere. Mark's brother David Knopfler is also not making the trip. 

David performed on Dire Strat's first two albums before splitting acrimoniously in 1980 to go solo. David is apparently upset with the Hall of Fame's alleged money-grubbing ways. 

Steve Miller famously railed against the way the Hall of Fame bullies artists into paying thousands to attend the festivities at his own induction a few years ago. 

This year's other Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees includes Moody Blues, the Cars, early innovator Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Bon Jovi. 

Photo: Getty Images