Skip to main content

Dire Straits

Dire Straits Biography

source: WikiPedia

This entry is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. If you find the biography content factually incorrect, defamatory or highly offensive you can edit this article at Wikipedia.

Dire Straits were a British rock band, formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), his younger brother David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion). Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest to beat music within the context of rock and roll. Despite the prominence of punk rock during the band's early years, the band's stripped-down sound contrasted with punk, demonstrating a more "rootsy" influence that emerged out of pub rock. Many of Dire Straits' compositions were melancholic. Dire Straits' biggest selling album, ''Brothers in Arms'', has sold over 30 million copies. They also became one of the world's most commercially successful bands, with worldwide album sales of over 120 million. Dire Straits won numerous music awards during their career, including four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards—winning Best British Group twice, and two MTV Video Music Awards. The band's most popular songs include "Sultans of Swing", "Lady Writer", "Romeo and Juliet", "Tunnel of Love", "Telegraph Road", "Private Investigations", "Money for Nothing", "Walk of Life", "So Far Away", "Your Latest Trick" and "Brothers in Arms". Dire Straits' career spanned a combined total of 15 years. The band originally split up in 1988, but reformed in 1991. Dire Straits disbanded for good in 1995 when Mark Knopfler launched his career full time as a solo artist. There were several changes in personnel over both periods, leaving Mark Knopfler and John Illsley as the only two original bandmates who had remained throughout the band's career.

Wikipedia This entry is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. If you find the biography content factually incorrect, defamatory or highly offensive you can edit this article at Wikipedia.
Biography

Links & information come from MusicBrainz. You can add or edit information about Dire Straits.

2 for 1: Brothers in Arms / On Every… Compilation 2011 itunes amazon
Sultans of Swing - Live In Germany Live 2008-12-04 itunes amazon
1985-08-16: Secrets in the Closet:… Live 2007 itunes amazon
The Best of Dire Straits & Mark… Compilation 2005-11-07 itunes amazon
The Whispers of Dire Straits: The… Compilation 1999 itunes amazon
Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of… Compilation 1998-10-16 itunes amazon
Remastered unknown 1996-06-03 itunes amazon
Live at the BBC Live 1995-06-26 itunes amazon
Ticket to Heaven Single 1994 itunes amazon
Rotterdam 1978 Live 1994 itunes amazon
On the Night Live 1993-05-11 itunes amazon
Encores Single 1993 itunes amazon
1992-05-31: Rotterdam, Netherlands Live 1992-07-05 itunes amazon
1991-09-19: Sold Out in Every Street:… Live 1992-05 itunes amazon
On Every Street Single 1992 itunes amazon
MusicBrainzLinks & information come from MusicBrainz. You can add or edit information about Dire Straits at musicbrainz.org.
Albums
Advertisement