About

One of the most intelligent and original bands of their era, Dire Straits were the creation of writer/guitarist/vocalist Mark Knopfler and bassist John Illsley, blending blues, country and rock into a timeless mix of catchy singles and atmospheric album tracks. In the popular imagination, they will always be remembered for their calling card 1978 single, ‘Sultans Of Swing’ and their 1985 album, ‘Brothers In Arms’, but there is so, so much more besides. From their South London origins in the mid-70s to their global stadium adventures in the mid-80s, Dire Straits embodied the highest standards in writing, playing and production. With six studio and two live albums the group created a body of work from 1978 to 1993 that remains much loved. These are songs that soundtracked a generation – the love-struck Romeo with his 'street-suss serenade'; the disgruntled shop workers who ‘want their MTV’; Dire Straits were so unique, they remain strangely timeless. At the height of new romanticism, dandy highwaymen and pop stars on yachts, the group released ‘Private Investigations’, a seven-minute semi-spoken masterpiece that hit No. 2 in the UK. The craft and majesty of Dire Straits lives on. ‘Brothers in Arms’ is ingrained deep in the popular psyche. Mark Knopfler is one of the world’s most enduring guitarists and songwriters. If you haven’t enjoyed their tracks beyond the hits, Dire Straits are a group with a heritage ripe to discover.

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