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Dire Straits

For other uses, see Dire Straits (disambiguation).

Dire Straits
Dire Straits performing in 1985
Dire Straits performing in 1985
Background information
Also known asCafé Racers[1]
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active
  • 1977 (1977)–1988 (1988)
  • 1990 (1990)–1995 (1995)
Labels
Past members
Websitedirestraits.com

Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals, lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Pick Withers (drums, percussion). The band was active from 1977 to 1988 and again from 1990 to 1995.[2]

Their first single, "Sultans of Swing", from their 1978 self-titled debut album, reached the top ten in the UK and US charts. It was followed by a series of hit singles including "Romeo and Juliet" (1981), "Private Investigations" (1982), "Twisting by the Pool" (1983), "Money for Nothing" (1985), and "Walk of Life" (1985).[3] Their most commercially successful album, Brothers in Arms (1985), has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide; it was the first album to sell a million copies on CD[4][5] and is the eighth-best-selling album in UK history. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Albums, as of 2005, Dire Straits had spent over 1,100 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, the fifth at that time.[6]

Dire Straits drew from influences including country, folk, the blues rock of J. J. Cale, and jazz.[7] Their stripped-down sound contrasted with punk rock and demonstrated a roots rock influence that emerged from pub rock. There were several changes in personnel, with Mark Knopfler and Illsley being the only members who remained with the band for its entire history.[8] After their first breakup in 1988, Knopfler told Rolling Stone: "A lot of press reports were saying we were the biggest band in the world. There's not an accent then on the music, there's an accent on popularity. I needed a rest."[9] They disbanded permanently in 1995, after which Knopfler launched a solo career full-time. He has declined numerous reunion offers,[10] and confirmed in April 2024 that he would never play as part of the group again.[11]

Dire Straits were called "the biggest British rock band of the 80s" by Classic Rock magazine;[12] their 1985–1986 world tour, which included a performance at Live Aid in July 1985, set a record in Australasia.[13] Their final world tour from 1991 to 1992 sold 7.1 million tickets. Dire Straits won four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards (Best British Group twice), two MTV Video Music Awards, and various other awards.[14] They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Dire Straits have sold between 100 million and 120 million records worldwide, including 51.4 million certified units, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.[15][16]

  1. ^ "Timeline". Direstraits.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  2. ^ Greaves, Amanda (11 March 2016). "Dire Straits tribute turns back the clock". The Ilkley Gazette. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Dire Straits". officialcharts.com.
  4. ^ "Mark Knopfler hurt in crash". BBC. 18 March 2003. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  5. ^ Kelly, Heather (2 October 2012). "Rock on! The compact disc turns 30". CNN. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  6. ^ Gibson, Owen (5 July 2005). "Queen most loved band". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  7. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Dire Straits". allmusic.com.
  8. ^ Polcaro, Rafael (4 January 2024). "Why Dire Straits broke up and never reunited". Rock And Roll Garage.
  9. ^ Swanson, Dave (7 October 2017). "5 Reasons Why Dire Straits Should Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference oct2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Mark Knopfler on why chances of Dire Straits reunion are so far away". The Independent. 9 April 2024.
  12. ^ Rees, Paul (27 April 2015). "Dire Straits: How We Made Brothers In Arms". Classic Rock. LouderSound. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Ed Sheeran Has Broken Dire Straits' Record For Most Tickets Sold On An Australia And NZ Tour". Triple J. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Dire Straits given plaque honour". BBC News, 4 December 2009. Retrieved: 14 January 2015.
  15. ^ Alexander, Michael (20 October 2017). "Dire Straits reunion 'not on the horizon', says band founder John Illsley ahead of Tayside gigs". The Courier of Dundee. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference bbc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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