Early history

Increased complexity

The Brothers in Arms era

After Brothers in Arms

Mark Knopfler's official website

Dire Straits website. Welcome to videodirestraits.com

- Play and download free video of Dire Straits
Click here to access the full list of video, music, mp3 Dire Straits.
You can find many photos to change your wallpaper (set as background)
Click here to see the image gallery Dire Straits.
You can also leave your message on the guestbook Dire Straits.

Video Dire Straits (more free video)

Romeo and Juliet.	"Skateaway" 1980.
Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits. .	Brothers In Arms (Live).
dire straits on every street	dire straits sultan of swing!!.

This article is about the band. For their eponymous album, see Dire Straits (album).
Dire Straits


Playing in Norway in October 1985
From L-R, Guy Fletcher (behind), John Illsley, Mark Knopfler & Jack Sonni
Background information
Origin Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Genre(s) Rock
Classic rock
Country rock
Years active 1977–1995
Label(s) Phonogram
Vertigo
Warner Bros. (U.S.)
Associated
acts The Notting Hillbillies
Michael Brecker
Members
Mark Knopfler
John Illsley
Alan Clark
Guy Fletcher
Former members
David Knopfler
Pick Withers
Hal Lindes
Terry Williams
Jack Sonni
Omar Hakim
Dire Straits was a British rock band, formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals), his brother David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums), and subsequently managed by Ed Bicknell. Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock reigned, Dire Straits worked within the conventions of classic rock, albeit with a stripped-down sound that appealed to modern audiences weary of the overproduced stadium rock of the 1970s. In their early days, Mark and David requested that pub owners turn down the amps so that patrons could converse while the band played — indicative of their unassuming demeanor. Despite this oddly self-effacing approach to rock and roll, Dire Straits soon became hugely successful with their first album going multi-platinum globally.

The band's best-known songs include "Sultans of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet," "Private Investigations," "Money for Nothing," "Walk of Life" and "Brothers in Arms."

Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler have sold in excess of 118 million albums to date.