British rock band formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers. The group first split up in 1988 but reformed in 1991 and then disbanded again in 1995.
Full-time band members:
Mark Knopfler – lead guitar, lead vocals (1977–1995)
John Illsley – bass guitar, backing vocals (1977–1995)
Alan Clark – keyboards (1980–1995)
Guy Fletcher – synthesizer, backing vocals (1984–1995)
David Knopfler – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1977–1980)
Pick Withers – drums, percussion (1977–1982)
Terry Williams (3) – drums (1982–1989)
Jack Sonni – rhythm guitar (1985–1988)
Hal Lindes – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1980–1985)
I can't say I like ALL of the Dire Straits albums but the one I keep going back to, & one particular track in question, is Love Over Gold ( Digitally Mastered ). "Telegraph Road" is simply a CLASSIC track, Mark Knopfler's guitar playing is up there with any of the guitar heroes around today and is to be highly recommended, if you do not have it. He could have done BOTH sides with just this track and extended it to 20 minutes, as far as I am concerned. Never did get to see them live, so am envious of any one who has seen them.
To me Dire Straits is the best musical experience i have ever had. Since my youth i was in contact with that fine sound. I´m a kid of the Eighties, and i have heard a lot of eighties bands, but Dire Straits is special to me. The main remarkable thing is the marvellous and precise gitarplay by Mark Knopfler. He combined various music-styles, like Rock-n-Roll, Folkmusic, Countryflair and a little Jazz. The drumming of the first drummer David "Pick" Withers sounded very jazzy to me in comparison with the drumming of Terry Williams in the Eighties Line-Up. Terry was a very powerful rock-drummer. Former member of Welsh Rock-Band MAN. Whenever i was feeling bad or when i was in bad live-circumstances i have played my Dire Straits-records and i had been healed, rapidly. So Mark, thanks for three decades of finest music.
Dire Straits are the vehicle for session guitar whiz Mark Knopfler, who first appeared as a member of Bob Dylan's band in the mid-1970s. Dire Straits play well-behaved, rhythm-heavy radio-rock that gets all its personality from Knopfler's J.J. Cale-ish guitars and montone vocals. The classic rock radio staple "Sultans of Swing" may be the best example of the band's art, featuring Knopfler's wry lyrics and laid-back, jiggering guitar lines. Their critical apex came with Making Movies in 1980, and its eerie, neon-lit masterpiece "Skateaway." In 1985, the group attained massive star status with Brothers In Arms which yielded the hits "Money For Nothing" and "So Far Away. For me, brothers in arms was their best hit, former england wicket keeper jack russell had this played at his brothers funeral...a real poignant song and moving video. Knopfler's solo material is still very dire-straits-esque in structure, by that i mean its still northern, singalong, the type of music you would expect to hear on the itv series auf wiedersehen pet! but he still delivers with his trademark guitar riff and vocals, listen to why aye man and you'll hear what i mean!! Still playing to this day he is an artist worth checking out.
simmo506
May 2, 2022He could have done BOTH sides with just this track and extended it to 20 minutes, as far as I am concerned.
Never did get to see them live, so am envious of any one who has seen them.