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Dire Straits

Formed 1977

  • Principal Members
  • John Illsley
  • David Knopfler
  • Mark Knopfler
  • Pick Withers

Biography

Dire Straits was a British rock band, formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals), his brother David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums), and managed by Ed Bicknell.

Although the band were 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...

Read more at Wikipedia

Wikipedia

This entry is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer) and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Artist Timeline

  • 1978 First album released to little effect
  • 1978 Single 'Sultans of Swing' makes the top 10 in the US and UK
  • 1980 David Knopfler leaves in a dispute over writing credits
  • 1982 Pick Withers leaves to be replaced by Terry Williams
  • 1985 While playing a 13 night stint at Wembley Arena, appear at Live Aid
  • 1987 MTV Europe launches with 'Money For Nothing'
  • 1988 Terry Williams leaves
  • 1995 Knopfler dissolves the group
 

Key Releases

  • Brothers in Arms

    1985

    The ninth best selling album of the 1980s and the first to sell a million in CD form.

    Review on BBC Music

Related Pages

 

Fans' Photos

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Top 10 Tracks

These are the tracks that are most listened to by users of Last.FM.

Chart from Last.fm

This chart is not created by the BBC and is only reflective of the listening habits of users of Last.FM.

 

Inspired

  • Travelling Wilburys
  • Crowded House
  • Jethro Tull

Influences

  • Rockpile
  • Bob Dylan
  • Notting Hillbillies
  • Sting


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