2nd - 14th March - Rehearsals LONDON

With initial rehearsal fully underway now in London, here's a few pics to get started with. The rehearsal room in East London is a familiar venue for many bands. with views out over the city, this composite 'Hockney-esque' pics shows the light and space available. The crew love it as they have room to work and piece together the myriad of cables, cases and bits of gear in deciding what makes it out on the road and what doesn't. An often forgotten essential part of the preparation is cutting down the gear to the necessary minimum. This first week of rehearsal is when the set list is decided and therefore the guitar list is written in stone. I'll try and follow the inner workings of the crew in even more detail as I get going with the diary. On this tour we will be bringing the usual wide and varied range of instruments. Of course we have John McCusker with us as well and his fiddle, cittern and whistle selection adds to the wonderous range.

Kerry Lewis at the helm of the monitor desk

Dick Bennett reaquaints himself with the bakelite Rickenbacker.

Since it's been a while (probably 7 years) since most of us had new 'ears' we all queued up for an ear fitting. This involves the mildly bizzarre experience of having your ears injected with what can only be described as Smurf-Wax. Once you have an ear-full, it is left to set for 10 minutes or so and then it is prized out and sent away so that the ear-moulds can be manufactured from these master moulds. The drivers are then inserted and 'Bob's your uncle', new ears!

The band line-up

Mark Knopfler
Guy Fletcher
Danny Cummings
Glenn Worf
Matt Rollings
Richard Bennett
John McCusker

The incredible Mr. Worf warms up on his large instrument.