I love the extreme polarization in votes for Knopfler. I'm definitely closer to the 5-Star side of things. This guy can play a guitar like no other...well, almost no other. I have seen several live videos of this guy in concert and while his stage presence is nothing to turn heads, his hands are magic. And while I don't usually base votes of skill on pure speed, some of Mark's solos make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end...and that's something special. He can pick a guitar better than any guitarist that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Also, I find his deadpan expression and flat delivery of his lyrics quite amusing.