Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes are challenging none other than Beyoncé for the UK’s No.1 single with “Going Home (Theme From Local Hero).”
The band includes a Mount Rushmore of music icons like Nile Rodgers, Sting, Joan Jett, Ringo Starr, Buddy Guy, Brad Paisley, Susan Tedeschi, Pete Townshend, Bruce Springsteen, and more.
The supergroup is made up of 54 guest artists who all report to the Dire Straits leader. The track comes from Knopfler’s 1983 instrumental track, which was included in a film from that year starring Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster titled Local Hero.
The song was recorded to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust UK and Teen Cancer America. Check out the single below.
The full list of contributors to Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes include: Joan Armatrading, Jeff Beck, Richard Bennett, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Brown, James Burton, Jonathan Cain, Paul Carrack, Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, Jim Cox, Steve Cropper, Sheryl Crow, Danny Cummings, Roger Daltrey, Duane Eddy, Sam Fender, Guy Fletcher, Peter Frampton, Audley Freed, Vince Gill, David Gilmour, Buddy Guy, Keiji Haino, Tony Iommi, Joan Jett, John Jorgenson, Mark Knopfler, Sonny Landreth, Albert Lee, Greg Leisz, Alex Lifeson, Steve Lukather, Phil Manzanera, Dave Mason, Hank Marvin, Brian May, Robbie McIntosh, John McLaughlin, Tom Morello, Rick Nielsen, Orianthi, Brad Paisley, Nile Rodgers, Mike Rutherford, Joe Satriani, John Sebastian, Connor Selby, Slash, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Zak Starkey, Sting, Andy Taylor, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Ian Thomas, Pete Townshend, Keith Urban, Steve Vai, Waddy Wachtel, Joe Louis Walker, Joe Walsh, Ronnie Wood, Glenn Worf, and Zucchero.
Despite the daunting task of working with 54 other musicians, Knopfler is uniquely attuned to the task, considering his days as the visionary for legendary rock group Dire Straits.
Dire Straits’ self-titled debut was a sensation, including hits like “Sultans Of Swing,” as well as “Southbound Again,” “Down To The Waterline,” and other examples of Knopfler’s fine writing and guitar work. The style meshed perfectly with the band’s tight playing, just like it miraculously does in Mark Knopfler’s guitar heroes.
Listen to the best of Mark Knopfler on Apple Music and Spotify.
