When and where did Dire Straits form?
Dire Straits formed in 1977 in a kitchen located in Deptford, south east London. The founding members included Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley, and Pick Withers.
Questions about Dire Straits
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the first compact disc to sell one million copies?
Brothers in Arms became the first compact disc to sell one million copies when released in May 1985. This album entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and spent 228 weeks in the charts selling over four million copies domestically.
Who were the only two members of Dire Straits from 1977 to 1995?
Mark Knopfler and John Illsley remained the only members throughout the entire history of Dire Straits from 1977 to 1995. All other musicians including David Knopfler Hal Lindes Terry Williams and others came and went frequently during that period.
Where did Dire Straits perform on the 13th of July 1985 for Live Aid?
The band performed at Wembley Stadium on the 13th of July 1985 during the Live Aid concert where Sting joined them for Money for Nothing. This performance helped launch MTV Europe in August 1986 with the same song playing as its inaugural video.
When did Dire Straits end their touring career?
The last stop occurred on the 9th of October 1992 in Zaragoza Aragon Spain marking the end of their touring career. Manager Ed Bicknell described the final tour as utter misery that drove the band into the ground despite making mountains of money.