Five days ago you had an opportunity to read the first interview for the Dire Straits Blog with the beautiful fashion model and actress Katie Fields.
Today for Dire Straits Blog – we have an amazing interview with a musician and guitar player. Rubinshtein Amir is 38 years old musician from Israel who is currently living in Boston, United States.
He sent us two videos where he played songs from Dire Straits. The first one is a video, a cover version from “Private Investigations” and the second video is “Brothers In Arms” guitar cover on a Gibson Les Paul – Mark Knopfler 58 ‘Reissue Aged.
Down below you can check the all 16 questions and answer with him and also his cover versions from Dire Straits songs.
“Private Investigations”
“Brothers In Arms”
The Interview
1. Amir, firstly want to thank you about this short interview for the Dire Straits Blog. We had contact with you over our Facebook Fan Page. In one time you sent us a video from you, where you played a solo from one Dire Straits song. But in the second time when we were talking – we told you that we can and we want to share your video at our new blog. How did you react on that and what was were you feeling when you read it?
You’re most welcome! Your page is very insightful and I always follow your posts. When you guys said that you’d like to share my video it felt great. I always like sharing music with people, especially songs that are so beautiful and meaningful like “Private Investigations” and “Brothers In Arms”. I try to make the best out of the songs just by playing a solo chord melody on my guitar.
2. But tell us something about yourself, who is Amir Rubinshtein?
I grew up in Israel as a kid, started playing guitar when I was 14, and hasn’t stopped since. I studied with private guitar teachers as a kid in Israel and when I was 20 after serving in the Israeli army I had joined the Rimon School of Music. During my second year in Rimon I attended an audition for a scholarship for Berklee College of Music as part of their world scholarship tour in Israel.
A few months after the audition I had gotten a letter from Berklee offering me a scholarship to come study in Boston at Berklee and I jumped on the opportunity. I graduated from Berklee in 2002 and stayed in Boston till 2007. In 2007 I had moved to the NY/NJ area and have lived there ever since.
3. How old are you, where do you live and where are you from?
I am 38 years old. Currently I live both in New Jersey and Toronto. I travel between these two places due to my job. I was born in Israel in 1978 and since 2000 have been living in the United States.
4. From what age did you start to play the guitar and what was the first song that you learned to play?
I started playing guitar when I was 14 years old. The first song I ever learned on guitar was “House of the Rising Sun” like many other beginners I guess (he laughs).
5. What did you study and when did you graduate?
During my years in Rimon and Berklee I studied mostly Jazz Performance which was mostly about guitar skills and improving as a player and performer. I graduated in 2002.
6. Are you a professional musician and do you have a music career?
I am a professional player and musician, however I do not make my living from music alone.

7. What are you doing to make a living/what is your job?
My day job as you would call it, is working in a call Centre as an operations manager.
8. About Dire Straits, when was the first time when you listen to song from them and which song was that?
I think the first time I heard them was when I was 15-16 or so, when I got into more guitar playing on electric. And of course the song I started playing first was the biggest hit “Sultans of Swing”.
9. Which are your favourite songs from Dire Straits and maybe you have a favourite member from them?
There are so many from Dire Stirats but here is my playlist from them: Sultans of Swing, Brothers in Arms, Romeo and Juliet, Your Latest Trick, Tunnel or Love, Private Investigations, Why Worry, Telegraph Road, Communique, Water of love, Twisting by the Pool, Expresso Love, Money for Nothing, Fade to Black.
10. What do you think about Mark Knopfler and his guitar skills?
I think he’s one of the most unique and talented players there ever was on guitar. His voice on guitar is unprecedented!
11. If you must choose one song from Dire Straits, which one?
Definitely that should be “Brothers in Arms”.
12. Which album would be the best album from Dire Straits according to you and why that one?
From albums also Brothers in Arms. I think the album has a special sound to it as a whole unit and every song on the albums is just so good in itself. The sound of the album is just incredible.
13. Have you been on some of their concerts around the world?
Unfortunately I have not.
14. What is your motto in life?
Live, Love and good music.

15. What do you like to do when you have extra time?
With 2 babies running around the house I don’t have much extra or free time, but when I do, I usually play guitar, record, or just watch a movie on Netflix if I’m exhausted.
16. And for the end can you tell us something to all fans who read the Dire Straits Blog?
Keep playing your instruments even if it’s not your day job! There’s no better therapy than music in everyone’s life!
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