INTERNATIONAL

KNOPFLER & THE NOTTING HILLIBILLIES ARE (PRESUMED) HAVING A GOOD TIME ON LOW -KEY U.K. TOUR (Continued from page 32) whether his experiment in enjoying road, says the band, was to abandon Local promoters made little. A scribes as an "upper -end guest formed three years ago by guitar- himself on tour worked. the idea of a seated, formal concert minimal merchandising advance house or standard business -rate ho- ists Croker and Phillips, with The country-blues set of the Hill- feel. The shows that worked best was long since spent and the light- tel." Everybody, he stressed, was Knopfler quickly shedding his origi- billies -the name comes from the were those with roughly equal seat- ing and PA firms waived rental treated equally. nal producer's hat for a more active west London district of Notting ing and standing space. Council hall charges. "The tour wouldn't have None in the principal band drew a role. Hill, where Knopfler lives -is a stewards were briefed not to pre- happened otherwise," says Bicknell. wage. The exceptions: the two con- A Hillbillies album, released by combination of three things: covers, vent anybody from getting up and The 11- person road crew took a cut tracted "session" men, Nashville - Phonogram in the U.K., was two new material from Brendan Croker, dancing. But not all venues were in wages. There was one equipment based pedal steel guitarist Paul years in the making at Knopfler's Phillips, and Knopfler, and at least able to offer standing room. truck and four minibuses. There Franklin and bassist Marcus Cliff of home studio. "Missing ... Pre- three Dire Straits songs. Ticket Despite Knopfler's drawing pow- was no sponsorship money. Croker's Five O'Clock Shadows. sumed Having A Good Time" has prices ran just less than $14. "About er, anticipating demand for the Hill- Knopfler, like everybody else, But, if Bicknell's calculations are sold more than 1.2 million copies the same price as Paul McCartney's billies was by no means easy, says bought his own food when the daily right, the tour looked set to turn in a worldwide since its release two tour program," jokes Bicknell, a Bicknell. As a result, he admits, the catering budget of $400 ran out. Ac- modest profit. "To be split," he months ago. At most, Bicknell man who readily airs his dislike of tour was paced to tread a tight fi- commodations, when the band could says. "But don't ask me to put a fig- thought the album might shift half current ticket-price levels. nancial path -the price of having not return home to London each ure on it just yet." a million over two years. And, ac- The main lesson learned on the fun. night, were at what Bicknell de- The Notting Hillbillies group was cording to Phillips, there is now a second in the offing, "with at least an album's worth rehearsed up," he says. issue date: June 30 On May 19, after the British tour ad date: fune 5 finishes, the Hillbillies cross the At- Mark Knopfler, like germany everybody else, bought his own food when the daily catering budget austria of $400 ran out

lantic to perform on television's "Saturday Night Live." With the al- bum said to have topped 250,000 in the U.S., there is general agreement among the band that they should switzerland pick up the ball and tour. But this goes against the spirit of the origi- nal plan. That, says Bicknell, was to set aside five weeks for rehearsals, six 4111 of weeks for touring, and then for ev- your erybody to go back to what they were doing before. Time and avail- = rell th e ability are always a problem. I- Knopfler and Hillbillies keyboard player Guy Fletcher are recording in the U.S. in June, finishing an al- Billboard aims it's spotlight on the bum with Chet Atkins. Knopfler dynamic, creative and constantly then returns to the U.K. to rehearse for a summer charity show at Kneb- expanding entertainment industry worth and begin writing new Dire in the territories of Germany, Straits material. July and August are penciled in for time with his Austria and Switzerland. family. The two other principals, In this issue: Croker and Phillips, say they are on If you plan on other projects and unlikely to be making a An overview of the established free. contribution and up- coming talent and As a major artist, Knopfler's re- to the music jection of the traditional stadium O and home increasing international potential money -earners goes against what is entertainment of GAS artists. happening elsewhere in Britain at industry in A discussion of the implications this moment. The Rolling Stones' Germany, summer tour, for example, is set to Austria and of the projected reunification of attract massive audiences and Switzerland, East and West Germany. equally massive sponsorship and make sure you merchandising advances. Prince is tell Billboard's An informed look at the music to play a record 16 stadium shows in 200,000 readers publishing, concert promotion, June, and the teenage market is fi- worldwide! nanced by what is termed the "Ky- broadcasting and recording sectors. lie & Jason" syndrome (Minogue & call: A report on the high energy activity Donovan). For ad details Sponsorship deals, with tours of- } Europe: of the jazz labels and distributors in ten carrying more than one sponsor, Richard Chapman the territories. are the fastest growth area. Pro- 01323 -6686 moters are predicting a record year Germany: A report on sound and instrument ahead. Mike Hennessey equipment manufacturing. It is an all-too -easy source of in- 74 -64 -3061 in come that Knopfler had plenty of A look at territory trends musi time to think about as he sought to from Heavy Metal to Dance and overcome stadium fever and enjoy Disco and Schlager. himself behind the wheel of a 12- Billboard seater tour bus.

72 BILLBOARD MAY 19, 1990