Dire Straits
In 1977, four men gathered in a kitchen in Deptford, south east London to form a band that would change the sound of rock music. Mark Knopfler worked as an English teacher while his brother David was a social worker and John Illsley studied at Goldsmiths' College. Pick Withers brought ten years of session drumming experience from artists like Dave Edmunds and Gerry Rafferty. The group initially called themselves the Café Racers before settling on Dire Straits after a flatmate suggested the name during rehearsals. They recorded a five-song demo tape including Sultans of Swing and sent it to DJ Charlie Gillett who played the track on BBC Radio London. Two months later they signed with Vertigo Records and began recording their debut album at Basing Street studios for £12,500. The self-titled 1978 release reflected Knopfler's experiences in Newcastle Leeds and London with songs like Down to the Waterline recalling life in Newcastle and In the Gallery paying tribute to Leeds sculptor Harry Phillips.
Brothers in Arms became the first compact disc to sell one million copies when released in May 1985. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and spent 228 weeks in the charts selling over four million copies domestically. It peaked at number one on Billboard 200 for nine weeks and sold nine million copies in the United States alone. Brothers in Arms spawned several hit singles including Money for Nothing which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Walk of Life which peaked at number two in the UK. The album was credited with popularizing the CD format as it was the first to achieve such massive sales figures on the new medium. A promotional CD single featuring Money for Nothing distinguished itself with a logo for the Live in '85 tour while another commemorated the Australian leg. 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.
Dire Straits drew from influences including country folk blues rock of J.J. Cale and jazz to create a stripped-down sound contrasting sharply with punk rock. Their music emerged from pub rock traditions yet expanded beyond typical genre boundaries through complex arrangements and longer songs. Making Movies released in October 1980 featured tracks like Tunnel of Love with an intro called The Carousel Waltz by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The title track Private Investigations became their first top five hit in the United Kingdom despite running almost seven minutes long. Love Over Gold included the fourteen-minute epic Telegraph Road exploring industrial decline in Britain during the early 1980s. Knopfler wrote Industrial Disease focusing on strikes depression and dysfunctionality within British manufacturing. The band incorporated keyboard work from Alan Clark who joined full-time after sessions began on Making Movies. Hal Lindes replaced David Knopfler on rhythm guitar while Terry Williams took over drums after Pick Withers departed following Love Over Gold recording sessions.
The 1985-1986 Brothers in Arms world tour sold over 2.5 million tickets across Europe Israel North America and Australia New Zealand. Dire Straits played 248 shows in more than one hundred different cities including a thirteen-night residency at Wembley Arena before moving to Wembley Stadium for Live Aid. The tour ended at Sydney Entertainment Centre where they still hold the record for consecutive appearances spanning twenty-one nights. Nine hundred thousand tickets were sold in Australia and New Zealand making it the biggest concert tour in Australasian music history until surpassed in 2017-2018 by Ed Sheeran. Their final On Every Street Tour lasted nearly two years with three hundred shows reaching approximately seven point one million ticket-buying fans. 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. John Illsley stated personal relationships were in trouble putting terrible strain on everyone emotionally and physically.
Mark Knopfler and John Illsley remained the only members throughout the entire history from 1977 to 1995 while others came and went frequently. David Knopfler left after Making Movies recording sessions due to tensions between the brothers choosing instead to pursue a solo career. Hal Lindes joined as full-time rhythm guitarist for the On Location tour but departed during Brothers in Arms recording following social disagreements. Terry Williams was temporarily suspended six weeks into Brothers in Arms sessions because he disliked working with a click track. Omar Hakim re-recorded almost all drum parts during a two or three day session before leaving for other commitments. Jack Sonni replaced Hal Lindes in December 1984 though his contribution to the album would be minimal. Guy Fletcher joined permanently to handle synthesizer tones while Alan Clark concentrated on piano and organ work. The final lineup included Chris White on saxophone Paul Franklin on steel guitar Danny Cummings on percussion and Phil Palmer on guitar.
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Common questions
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.
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.