Dire Straits

Dire Straits were an English rock band, formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals), his brother David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums), and subsequently managed by Ed Bicknell. Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock reigned, Dire Straits worked within the conventions of classic rock, albeit with a stripped-down sound that appealed to modern audiences weary of the overproduced stadium rock of the 1970s. In their early days, Mark and David requested that pub owners turn down the amps so that patrons could converse while the band played indicative of their unassuming demeanor. Despite this oddly self-effacing approach to rock and roll, Dire Straits soon became hugely successful with their first album going multi-platinum globally. The band's best-known songs include "Sultans of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet," " Tunnel of Love," "Money for Nothing," "Heavy Fuel," "Walk of Life" and "Brothers in Arms." Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler have sold in excess of 118 million albums to date.[1][2]

Dire Straits

Playing in Norway in October 1985 From L-R, Guy Fletcher (behind), John Illsley, Mark Knopfler & Jack Sonni

Background information Origin Genre(s) Years active Label(s) Associated acts Newcastle, England Rock 19771995 Phonogram, Vertigo, Warner Bros. (U.S.) The Notting Hillbillies, Michael Brecker Members Mark Knopfler John Illsley Alan Clark Guy Fletcher Former members David Knopfler Pick Withers

History
Early years

In 1978, Dire Straits recorded their first album, Hal Lindes Dire Straits (so called due to the financial Terry Williams condition the members were living in at the Jack Sonni time), at Basing Street studios (now known as 'Sarm West') near Portobello Road in West London for 12,500.[citation needed]. During the initial U.K. release on Vertigo Records, a division of Phonogram, the album had little promotion and was not well received. However, the U.K. album came to the attention of Karin Berg, an assistant in the artists and repertoire (A&R) department of Warner Bros. Records in New York City. She felt it was the kind of music that audiences were hungry for, but only one person in her department agreed at first. "Other people didn't hear it." "The act was doing poorly in the U.K., and the record wasn't getting air play." After the album was released in the U.S. by Warner Bros. it caught on quickly and sold over 1 million copies.[citation needed] Later, when re-released as a single, "Sultans of Swing" became a surprise UK chart hit, making the top 10, and went on to become a very popular live song which was regularly played throughout the band's career. The first album eventually went top ten in every European country.[citation needed] The group's second album, Communiqu followed in 1979. Communiqu showed as number one in the German album charts with Dire Straits simultaneously at number 3. Both albums are characterised by a stripped-down sound. However, this would change, along with the band's line-up, over the years. Mark Knopfler and John Illsley played together until the dissolution of Dire Straits, the only two founding members to do so.

Increased complexity
In 1980, Dire Straits released their third album, Making Movies. This marked a move towards more complex arrangements and production which would continue for the remainder of the band's career until the group's dissolution in the 1990s. Featuring "Romeo and Juliet", which became one of the band's best known chart hits, Making Movies saw the departure of David Knopfler while the recording of the album was still in progress; Sid McGinnis filled in on rhythm guitar as the sessions continued. Although Mark played on one track on brother David's first solo album, they did not reconcile over the years.[citation needed] The album also featured keyboardist Roy Bittan from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and was produced by Jimmy Iovine. Keyboardist Alan Clark and Californian guitarist Hal Lindes joined the lineup for the fourth studio album, Love Over Gold, which was released in 1982 and reached #1 in the UK. The title was inspired by graffiti seen from the window of Knopfler's old council flat in Deptford, SE London. It was also the first Dire Straits album produced by Mark Knopfler. Its main chart hit, "Private Investigations", gave Dire Straits their first UK top 5 hit single, reaching #2 position despite its almost seven-minute length, and became another of the band's most popular live songs. In other territories, the single "Industrial Disease" was the album's calling card, particularly in Canada where it was a top 10 hit. Shortly after the release of Love Over Gold, drummer Pick Withers left the band for a jazz career. His replacement was Terry Williams, formerly of Rockpile. In 1983, a four-song EP titled ExtendedancEPlay was released, featuring the hit single "Twisting By the Pool". This was followed in 1984 by the double live album, Alchemy. During this time Mark Knopfler also wrote the music score for the films Local Hero and Cal. Dire Straits' biggest hit was still to come.

The Brothers in Arms era

At the end of 1984 Dire Straits started recording tracks at Air Studios, Montserrat for their fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms, which was released in 1985. There were further personnel changes, with the addition of a second keyboardist, Guy Fletcher. Guitarist Hal Lindes left the band suddenly during the recording sessions. His place was taken by Jack Sonni although Sonni was not credited as an official band member for the new album release. Terry Williams was also joined on drums by Omar Hakim: both are credited as band members for this release. Brothers In Arms went on to become the biggest selling album of 1985 in the UK, and was a huge hit internationally. It spawned several chart singles, including the U.S. number one hit "Money for Nothing" (#4 in the UK), which was the first video ever to be played on MTV in Britain. "Money for Nothing" featured guest vocals by Sting from The Police, while "Walk of Life" was the band's most commercially successful single in the UK, peaking at #2. The 198586 world tour was phenomenally successful. While playing a 13-night residency at Wembley Arena, the band moved down the road to Wembley Stadium on the afternoon of July 13, 1985 to appear in Live Aid. Their set included "Money For Nothing" with Sting as guest vocalist. The tour ended at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia, where Dire Straits still holds the record for consecutive appearances (21 nights). The last show of this extended stay in Sydney was recorded and broadcast on Australian and New Zealand television, and is well known for the one-off calypso rendition of "So Far Away" and the band's impromptu attempt at the famous Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda". In a twoyear span, Dire Straits played 247 shows in over 100 different cities. The commercial success of Brothers in Arms was greatly aided by being one of the first fully digitally recorded and produced albums available in the then new Compact Disc format, leading early adopters of the new technology to consider it a "must buy" album in a limited landscape of available music in CD format. The Brothers in Arms CD was one of the first CD albums to contain material not found on the LP equivalent; it featured the 12-minute single of Money for Nothing rather than the seven-minute version on the LP. "Brothers in Arms" is also reported to be the world's first CD single, issued in the UK in two

separate singles as a promotional item, one distinguished with a logo for the tour, Live in '85, and a second to commemorate the Australian leg of the tour marked Live in '86. Containing just four tracks, it had a very limited print run. Furthermore, the new format offered an excellent showcase for Knopfler's meticulous production values on the earlier albums, leading many existing fans to repurchase the whole back catalogue. Brothers in Arms was similarly successful in the U.S., peaking at No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Top Pop Albums Chart for nine weeks, going multi-platinum, and finishing at No. 5 for 1986. Also, in a recent poll conducted in the UK it was found that Brothers in Arms is the third-best selling album there of all time. The Brothers in Arms album was certified nine times platinum in August 1996.

Later years
After the Brothers in Arms tour ended in 1986, Mark Knopfler concentrated on solo projects and film soundtracks. Dire Straits regrouped for the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in 1988, where they were the headline act. Joining them for their set was Eric Clapton (who performed his hit "Wonderful Tonight" with the group). Dire Straits then went on a lengthy hiatus and a greatest hits album, Money for Nothing, was released in October 1988, reaching #1 in the UK. During 1990 Mark Knopfler and Guy Fletcher worked and toured with The Notting Hillbillies (who had a minor hit single Your Own Sweet Way from their sole album Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time). In January 1991 Dire Straits reformed again, but without drummer Terry Williams who had left the group in 1989. Dire Straits now comprised four key members: Knopfler, John Illsley, and keyboardists Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher. For the recording sessions Williams' place was taken by the highly respected American drummer Jeff Porcaro from Toto (who after recording was offered a full time role in the band, but declined due to recording commitments to Toto). Accompanied by other part-time musicians including Paul Franklin, Danny Cummings, Chris White, and Phil Palmer, the group began recording tracks for a new album. The result was the band's final original studio album, On Every Street, released in 1991, six years after the release of Brothers in Arms. On Every Street was a widely anticipated release, but met with mixed reviews and moderate success. It was regarded by some reviewers as an underwhelming follow up and produced only minor hit-singles, including The Bug, (which contains backing vocals by Vince Gill who also turned down an invitation to join the band full time). Although the new album did not sell as well as its predecessor, it still hit #1 in the UK. The 19911992 world tour that followed On Every Street was not as successful as the previous 19851986 tour. The last concert in this tour (and the final concert of the group on tour) took place on 9 October 1992 in Zaragoza, Spain. A live album, On the Night, released in 1993, documented that tour, in which Chris Whitten played drums. However, both On Every Street and On the Night confirmed that the band's popularity had peaked with the Brothers In Arms release. Dire Straits released one last album in 1995, Live at the BBC, before disbanding. This collection of live recordings from their early years was a contractual album for Vertigo Records.

Dissolution
Always a relatively quiet act, Dire Straits officially disbanded in 1995. Mark Knopfler quietly laid the band to rest, having expressed the desire to give up touring on a big scale. The group's final world tour had not been the success that it should have been, and had taken its toll on the band.[3] Following Dire Straits' dissolution, Knopfler immediately launched his solo career, of which Guy Fletcher has been associated with almost every single piece of work to date. The percussionist Danny Cummings has also appeared frequently. Knopfler also started writing movie scores once again. Three 'Best of' albums have been released: Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits appeared in October 1998. However, the most recent compilation is The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private

Investigations, released in November 2005, which was made available as either a single or double CD. It consisted of material from the majority of Dire Straits' studio albums, as well as Mark Knopfler's solo and soundtrack material. Surprisingly enough, the album was an underground hit and did exceptionally well, considering Dire Straits had split up over 10 years previously. It contained only one previously unreleased track - "All The Roadrunning", a duet with Emmylou Harris later released on an album of the same name. Notable Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler fans include the late Douglas Adams, the late Princess Diana, Quentin Tarantino, and the band The Killers, who performed a cover of "Romeo and Juliet" for the Live from Abbey Road series on Channel 4. Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar is another Dire Straits fan. The band System of a Down sometimes plays a part from "Sultans Of Swing" on their live concerts, as an intro for their song called "Aerials" and even Metallica played "Brothers In Arms" live on a the 21st Annual Bridge School Benefit.

Dire Straits members

Year(s)

19771980

Full-time band members Mark Knopfler - lead guitar, lead vocals David Knopfler - rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals Pick Withers - drums, percussion Mark Knopfler - guitar, lead vocals John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals Pick Withers - drums, backing vocals Mark Knopfler - lead guitar, lead vocals Hal Lindes - rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals Alan Clark - keyboards Pick Withers - drums Mark Knopfler - lead guitar, lead vocals Hal Lindes - rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals Alan Clark - keyboards Terry Williams - drums Mark Knopfler - lead guitar, lead vocals Hal Lindes - rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals Alan Clark - keyboards Guy Fletcher - synthesizer, backing vocals Terry Williams - drums Mark Knopfler - lead guitar, lead vocals Jack Sonni - rhythm guitar John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals Alan Clark - keyboards Guy Fletcher - synthesizer, backing vocals Terry Williams - drums Mark Knopfler - guitar, lead vocals John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals

Auxiliary touring members

1980

did not tour

19801982

19821984

Joop de Korte- percussion Mel Collins - saxophone Tommy Mandell - Keyboards

19841985

did not tour

19851988

Chris White - saxophone

19881989

Chris White - saxophone

Alan Clark - keyboard Guy Fletcher - synthesizer, backing vocals

Eric Clapton - guitar

19891991

Terry Williams - drums Mark Knopfler - guitar, lead vocals John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals Alan Clark - keyboards Guy Fletcher - synthesizer, backing vocals Mark Knopfler - guitar, lead vocals John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals Alan Clark - keyboards Guy Fletcher - synthesizer, backing vocals

did not tour

19911992

Chris White - saxophone Chris Whitten - drums and percussion Phil Palmer - guitar Paul Franklin - pedal steel guitar Danny Cummings - percussion

19921995

Mark Knopfler - guitar, lead vocals John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals Alan Clark - keyboards Guy Fletcher - synthesizer, backing vocals

did not tour

Members at dissolution of band

Mark Knopfler - lead vocals, guitar (19771995) John Illsley - bass guitar, backing vocals (19771995) Alan Clark - keyboards (19801995) Guy Fletcher - synthesizer, backing vocals (19841995)

Discography
Main albums

1978 Dire Straits #5 UK (BPI:) 2x Platinum ; #2 US (RIAA:) 2x Platinum 1979 Communiqu ) #5 UK (BPI:) Platinum ; #11 US (RIAA:) Gold 1980 Making Movies ( #4 UK (BPI:) 2x Platinum ; #19 US (RIAA:) Platinum 1982 Love Over Gold #1 UK (BPI:) 2x Platinum ; #19 US (RIAA:) Gold 1985 Brothers in Arms #1 UK (BPI:) 13x Platinum ; #1 US (RIAA:) 9x Platinum 1991 On Every Street #1 UK (BPI:) 2x Platinum ; #12 US (RIAA:) Platinum

EPs

1983 ExtendedancEPlay #53 US 1993 Encores #59 US

Live albums

1984 Alchemy (live in London) #3 UK (BPI:) Platinum ; #46 US (RIAA:) Gold 1993 On the Night 1995 Live at the BBC

Compilations

1988 Money for Nothing #1 UK (BPI:) 4x Platinum ; #62 US (RIAA:) Platinum 1998 Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits (also on DVD)

2005 The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations

Singles
US US MSR UK CAN Year Song Album 1979 "Sultans Of Swing" #2 #8 #6 Dire Straits 1979 "Lady Writer" #45 #51 #51 Communiqu 1981 "Romeo and Juliet" - #8 Making Movies 1981 "Skateaway" #58 #31 #37 Making Movies 1981 "Tunnel of Love" - #54 Making Movies 1982 "Private Investigations" - #2 #2 Love Over Gold 1983 "Industrial Disease" #75 #9 - #18 Love Over Gold 1983 "Twisting By The Pool" - #12 #14 #18 ExtendedancEPlay 1984 "Love Over Gold (Live)" - #50 Alchemy: Dire Straits Live 1 1985 "So Far Away" #19 #29 #20 #24 Brothers In Arms 1985 "Money For Nothing" #1 #1 #4 #1 Brothers In Arms 1985 "Brothers In Arms" - #16 Brothers In Arms 1986 "Walk Of Life" #6 #4 #1 #5 Brothers In Arms 1986 "Your Latest Trick" - #26 Brothers In Arms 1988 "Sultans Of Swing (Re-Issue)" - #62 Dire Straits 1991 "Calling Elvis" - #3 #21 #4 On Every Street 1991 "Heavy Fuel" - #1 #55 #17 On Every Street 1992 "On Every Street" - #42 On Every Street 1992 "The Bug" - #8 #67 #21 On Every Street 1993 "Encores (EP)" - #31 Encores (EP) 1993 "Your Latest Trick (Live)" - - #91 On the Night
1

1986 release in US/Canada

Awards

BRIT Awards 1983 - Best British Group Grammy Awards 1985 - Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (for 'Money For Nothing'') Grammy Awards 1986 - Best Music Video, Short Form (for 'Brothers In Arms') BRIT Awards 1986 - Best British Group BRIT Awards 1987 - Best British Album (for "Brothers In Arms")