I’m an OAP living in a semi, blasts founder member of huge band after lawyer’s ‘deep-pocketed rock star’ jibe at inquiry

A FOUNDING member of Dire Straits told a lawyer who called him a “deep-pocketed rock star” that he is actually just a “pensioner living in a semi”. Musician David Knopfler hit out while opposing proposals for a 1,200-home development near his home. Musician David Knopfler told a lawyer who called him a ‘deep-pocketed rock star’ that he is actually just a ‘pensioner living in a semi’ Credit: Alamy David was a founding member of Dire Straits with famous brother Mark Knopfler, who is now worth £100million Credit: Redferns At an inquiry, he said the developer’s barrister, Lord Banner KC, was “hoping to conjure the image of a spoilt multi-millionaire living in a large manor house with no interest in those in need of housing”. Knopfler said: “The reality is I’m a 73-year-old pensioner, an economics graduate and former social worker, living in a semi-detached, who happened to spend three years in a rock band almost 50 years ago.” Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! He reportedly told the inquiry: “I’ve spent my entire life being misrepresented like this so it came as no surprise that this would be thrown opportunistically into their claim.” The hearing is looking at the impact for the proposals Wolborough Fen, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. READ MORE ON DIRE STRAITS David described the development as “a textbook definition of urban blight”. David formed Dire Straits with brother Mark in 1977 but left after three years. The band went on to sell 120 million records and Mark is worth £100million. David, of Newton Abbot, Devon, became a solo artist. Most read in Showbiz He played on UK Top Ten hit Sultans Of Swing but left before the group became mega strars in the mid-80s with album Brothers in Arms. Knopfler is married to the former American art professor Leslie Stroz, who illustrates much of David’s CD artwork. He lives with his family in Wolborough, which is a parish of Newton Abbott in Devon. Comment now