Members
- David Knopflerguitar, original · 1977–1980
John Illsleybass guitar, original · 1977–1995
Mark Knopflerguitar, lead vocals, original · 1977–1995- Pick Withersmembranophone, original · 1977–1982
- Alan Clarkkeyboard · 1980–1995
- Hal Lindesguitar · 1980–1985
- Terry Williamsmembranophone · 1982–1988
Guy Fletcherkeyboard · 1984–1995- Chris Whiteadditional, saxophone · 1985–1992
The band disbanded in 1995 after nearly two decades of influential music-making.
Dire Straits is an English rock band known for their unique blend of rock, blues, and country influences.
The band was formed in 1977, marking the beginning of a remarkable musical journey.
Biography
Formation
Dire Straits, an iconic British rock band, was formed in 1977 in London by brothers Mark and David Knopfler, along with John Illsley and Pick Withers. Initially known as the Café Racers, the band adopted the name Dire Straits, reportedly suggested by a flatmate of Withers during a rehearsal. The group recorded a five-song demo tape that included the future hit "Sultans of Swing," which caught the attention of BBC Radio DJ Charlie Gillett, leading to their breakthrough.
Breakthrough and Key Releases
The band's self-titled debut album, released in 1978, marked the beginning of their rise to fame, followed by successful albums such as "Communiqué" (1979), "Making Movies" (1980), and the critically acclaimed "Brothers in Arms" (1985). Their sound, characterized by Mark Knopfler's distinctive fingerstyle guitar and introspective lyrics, drew influences from blues, country, and progressive rock. The band enjoyed significant commercial success, selling over 120 million albums worldwide.
Lineup Changes and Legacy
Throughout their career, Dire Straits experienced several lineup changes. David Knopfler left the band in 1980, and Hal Lindes joined, followed by keyboardist Alan Clark and drummer Terry Williams. The band disbanded in 1995 after a final album, "On Every Street," but their legacy endures, having been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Dire Straits remains a defining force in rock music, known for their unique sound and lasting influence on the genre.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Live 1978–19922023
- 1.Once Upon a Time in the West12:48
- 2.Industrial Disease5:52
- 3.Expresso Love5:12
- 4.Romeo and Juliet8:11
- 5.Love Over Gold3:27
- 6.Private Investigations7:33
- 7.Sultans of Swing10:55
- 8.Twisting by the Pool3:42
- 9.Two Young Lovers4:43
- 10.Portobello Belle7:22
- 11.Tunnel of Love13:55
- 12.Solid Rock5:35
- 13.Telegraph Road12:56
- 14.Going Home ‐ Theme From ‘Local Hero’5:06
- 15.Calling Elvis10:31
- 16.Walk of Life5:05
- 17.Heavy Fuel5:19
- 18.Romeo and Juliet10:07
- 19.Private Investigations9:41
- 20.Sultans of Swing11:51
- 21.Fade to Black4:14
- 22.Your Latest Trick5:28
- 23.When It Comes to You5:52
- 24.I Think I Love You Too Much6:49
- 25.You and Your Friend6:48
- 26.On Every Street6:52
- 27.Two Young Lovers5:10
- 28.Tunnel of Love15:39
- 29.Telegraph Road12:05
- 30.Money for Nothing6:22
- 31.Brothers in Arms8:57
- 32.Your Latest Trick5:44
- 33.The Bug5:25
- 34.Solid Rock5:22
- 35.Local Hero ‐ Wild Theme4:23
- 36.Down to the Waterline4:10
- 37.Six Blade Knife3:47
- 38.Water of Love5:29
- 39.Wild West End5:14
- 40.Sultans of Swing6:39
- 41.Lions6:17
- 42.What’s the Matter Baby?3:27
- 43.Tunnel of Love11:58
- 44.Down to the Waterline6:28
- 45.Six Blade Knife5:41
- 46.Once Upon a Time in the West5:51
- 47.Lady Writer3:45
- 48.Lions5:56
- 49.Sultans of Swing6:46
- 50.Les Boys6:16
- 51.Portobello Belle4:24
- 52.News3:54
- 53.What’s the Matter Baby3:14
- 54.Setting Me Up3:38
- 55.In the Gallery6:54
- 56.Solid Rock4:14
- 57.Southbound Again4:38
- 58.Where Do You Think You’re Going?4:39
- 59.Wild West End5:28
- 60.Twisting by the Pool3:59
- 61.Good Morning Little Schoolgirl2:38
- 62.That’s Alright Mama2:03
- 63.Nadine3:48
- 64.Keep on Knocking6:23
Down Under2019
- 1.Intro1:19
- 2.Ride Across the River10:42
- 3.Expresso Love6:50
- 4.Industrial Disease5:52
- 5.So Far Away7:16
- 6.Romeo and Juliet11:18
- 7.Private Investigations8:27
- 8.Sultans of Swing11:41
- 9.Why Worry7:30
- 10.Your Latest Trick5:06
- 11.Walk of Life6:46
- 12.Two Young Lovers9:03
- 13.Money for Nothing8:04
- 14.Tunnel of Love11:28
- 15.Brothers in Arms8:10
- 16.Solid Rock4:46
- 17.Waltzing Matilda2:10
- 18.Final Words1:50
- 19.Going Home (Theme from 'Local Hero')4:51
- 20.Interview With Mark & Ed8:39
The Honky Tonk Demos2015
- 1.Sultans Of Swing (27.07.77 Charlie Gillett Session)5:44
- 2.Water Of Love (27.07.77 Charlie Gillett Session)4:47
- 3.Down To The Waterline (27.07.77 Charlie Gillett Session)3:09
- 4.Wild West End (27.07.77 Charlie Gillett Session)5:02
The Studio Albums 1978–19912013
- 1.Down to the Waterline4:01
- 2.Water of Love5:27
- 3.Setting Me Up3:20
- 4.Six Blade Knife4:12
- 5.Southbound Again2:59
- 6.Sultans of Swing5:52
- 7.In the Gallery6:19
- 8.Wild West End4:43
- 9.Lions5:07
- 10.Once Upon a Time in the West5:18
- 11.News4:16
- 12.Where Do You Think You’re Going?3:48
- 13.Communiqué5:45
- 14.Lady Writer3:42
- 15.Angel of Mercy4:32
- 16.Portobello Belle4:27
- 17.Single-Handed Sailor4:45
- 18.Follow Me Home5:42
- 19.Tunnel of Love8:09
- 20.Romeo and Juliet5:57
- 21.Skateaway6:38
- 22.Expresso Love5:11
- 23.Hand in Hand4:48
- 24.Solid Rock3:25
- 25.Les Boys4:07
- 26.Telegraph Road14:18
- 27.Private Investigations6:47
- 28.Industrial Disease5:50
- 29.Love Over Gold6:17
- 30.It Never Rains8:00
- 31.So Far Away5:11
- 32.Money for Nothing8:27
- 33.Walk of Life4:14
- 34.Your Latest Trick6:32
- 35.Why Worry8:29
- 36.Ride Across the River6:58
- 37.The Man’s Too Strong4:40
- 38.One World3:41
- 39.Brothers in Arms7:00
- 40.Calling Elvis6:27
- 41.On Every Street5:04
- 42.When It Comes to You5:01
- 43.Fade to Black3:51
- 44.The Bug4:17
- 45.You and Your Friend5:59
- 46.Heavy Fuel4:56
- 47.Iron Hand3:10
- 48.Ticket to Heaven4:26
- 49.My Parties5:33
- 50.Planet of New Orleans7:48
- 51.How Long3:49
2 for 1: Brothers in Arms / On Every Street2011
- 1.So Far Away5:12
- 2.Money for Nothing8:26
- 3.Walk of Life4:12
- 4.Your Latest Trick6:34
- 5.Why Worry8:31
- 6.Ride Across the River6:58
- 7.The Man’s Too Strong4:40
- 8.One World3:41
- 9.Brothers in Arms7:00
- 10.Calling Elvis6:27
- 11.On Every Street5:04
- 12.When It Comes to You5:01
- 13.Fade to Black3:51
- 14.The Bug4:17
- 15.You and Your Friend5:59
- 16.Heavy Fuel5:11
- 17.Iron Hand3:10
- 18.Ticket to Heaven4:26
- 19.My Parties5:33
- 20.Planet of New Orleans7:48
- 21.How Long3:50
New Collection2008
- 1.Calling Elvis6:27
- 2.On Every Street5:05
- 3.You and Your Friend5:59
- 4.Setting Me Up3:20
- 5.Expresso Love5:12
- 6.Love Over Gold6:19
- 7.Sultans of Swing5:49
- 8.Money for Nothing4:07
- 9.Brothers in Arms6:56
- 10.Walk of Life4:09
- 11.Six Blade Knife4:13
- 12.One World3:34
- 13.Single Handed Sailor4:43
- 14.Lady Writer3:46
- 15.Your Latest Trick (live)5:31
- 16.All the Roadrunning4:49
The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations2005
- 1.Telegraph Road14:20
- 2.Sultans of Swing5:49
- 3.Love Over Gold6:19
- 4.Romeo & Juliet6:01
- 5.Tunnel of Love8:12
- 6.Private Investigations5:59
- 7.So Far Away5:08
- 8.Money for Nothing8:24
- 9.Brothers in Arms6:59
- 10.Walk of Life4:10
- 11.Your Latest Trick6:30
- 12.Calling Elvis6:24
- 13.On Every Street5:04
- 14.Going Home5:02
- 15.Darling Pretty4:44
- 16.The Long Road7:19
- 17.Why Aye Man4:09
- 18.Sailing to Philadelphia5:53
- 19.What It Is4:56
- 20.The Trawlerman's Song5:02
- 21.Boom, Like That5:49
- 22.All the Roadrunning4:50
Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits1998
- 1.Sultans of Swing5:50
- 2.Lady Writer3:49
- 3.Romeo and Juliet6:05
- 4.Tunnel of Love8:15
- 5.Private Investigations5:54
- 6.Twisting by the Pool3:36
- 7.Love Over Gold (live)3:41
- 8.So Far Away4:03
- 9.Money for Nothing4:10
- 10.Brothers in Arms4:55
- 11.Walk of Life4:12
- 12.Calling Elvis4:42
- 13.Heavy Fuel5:02
- 14.On Every Street4:39
- 15.Your Latest Trick (live)5:42
- 16.Local Hero / Wild Theme (live)4:24
- 17.Calling Elvis9:05
- 18.Walk of Life5:29
- 19.Last Exit to Brooklyn2:23
- 20.Romeo and Juliet7:31
- 21.Sultans of Swing13:14
- 22.Brothers in Arms8:55
- 23.Money for Nothing6:37
Live at the BBC1995
- 1.Down to the Waterline4:10
- 2.Six Blade Knife3:48
- 3.Water of Love5:29
- 4.Wild West End5:12
- 5.Sultans of Swing6:39
- 6.Lions5:27
- 7.What’s the Matter Baby?3:21
- 8.Tunnel of Love11:56
On the Night1993
- 1.Calling Elvis10:25
- 2.Walk of Life5:06
- 3.Heavy Fuel5:23
- 4.Romeo and Juliet10:06
- 5.Private Investigations9:43
- 6.Your Latest Trick5:35
- 7.On Every Street7:01
- 8.You and Your Friend6:48
- 9.Money for Nothing6:28
- 10.Brothers in Arms8:56
On Every Street1991
- 1.Calling Elvis6:27
- 2.On Every Street5:04
- 3.When It Comes to You5:01
- 4.Fade to Black3:51
- 5.The Bug4:17
- 6.You and Your Friend5:59
- 7.Heavy Fuel4:56
- 8.Iron Hand3:10
- 9.Ticket to Heaven4:26
- 10.My Parties5:33
- 11.Planet of New Orleans7:48
- 12.How Long3:49
Dire Straits1991
- 1.Down to the Waterline4:01
- 2.Water of Love5:24
- 3.Setting Me Up3:20
- 4.Six Blade Knife4:11
- 5.Southbound Again2:59
- 6.Sultans of Swing5:36
- 7.In the Gallery6:16
- 8.Wild West End4:44
- 9.Lions4:56
- 10.Once Upon a Time in the West5:16
- 11.News4:14
- 12.Where Do You Think You’re Going?3:46
- 13.Communiqué5:43
- 14.Lady Writer3:40
- 15.Angel of Mercy4:30
- 16.Portobello Belle4:25
- 17.Single-Handed Sailor4:43
- 18.Follow Me Home5:44
- 19.Tunnel of Love8:09
- 20.Romeo and Juliet5:54
- 21.Skateaway6:19
- 22.Expresso Love5:03
- 23.Hand in Hand4:49
- 24.Solid Rock3:19
- 25.Les Boys4:07
- 26.Telegraph Road14:17
- 27.Private Investigations6:46
- 28.Industrial Disease5:51
- 29.Love Over Gold6:17
- 30.It Never Rains7:58
Money for Nothing1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
Brothers in Arms1985
Tracklist not collected yet.
Rock Gala1985
Tracklist not collected yet.
Alchemy: Dire Straits Live1984
Tracklist not collected yet.
Alchemy: Dire Straits Live, Part One1984
Tracklist not collected yet.
Alchemy: Dire Straits Live, Part Two1984
Tracklist not collected yet.
Love Over Gold1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
Making Movies1980
Tracklist not collected yet.
Communiqué1979
Tracklist not collected yet.
Dire Straits1978
Tracklist not collected yet.
Brothers in Arms: The Videosingles1986
Tracklist not collected yet.
ExtendedancEPlay1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
Sultans of Swing1978
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Warner Bros. Records
Achievements
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Dire Straights, Dire Straits (TH)
Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley, and Pick Withers. The band was active from 1977 to 1988 and again from 1990 to 1995.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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