David Gilmour has said he remains influenced by Dire Straits’ 1978 self-titled debut album, particularly by Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing. The article presents the remark as significant because it comes from a guitarist widely regarded as an influential player in his own right.

The album includes ‘Sultans of Swing’ and ‘Water of Love’, and initially divided audiences before becoming highly regarded. Gilmour described Knopfler’s style as “lovely” and “refreshing”, saying it revived something missing from guitar playing; he also named the record among his favourite albums.