John Illsley

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John Illsley
2015 John Illsley by 2eight- DSC2851.jpg
Illsley playing in 2015
Background information
Birth nameJohn Edward Illsley
Born (1949-06-24) 24 June 1949 (age 75)
Leicester, England
Genres Rock, blues rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s) Bass guitar, guitar, vocals
Years active1966–present
Website www.johnillsley.com

John Edward Illsley (born 24 June 1949) is an English musician, best known as bassist of the rock band Dire Straits. He has received multiple BRIT and Grammy Awards, and a Heritage Award.

Contents

As one of the founding band members, with guitarist brothers Mark Knopfler and David Knopfler, and drummer Pick Withers, Illsley played a role in the development of Dire Straits' sound. Illsley and Mark Knopfler were the only members of the band to remain across its entire history. Illsley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits in 2018. [1]

Illsley has produced two albums of his own, with Mark Knopfler as a guest musician, and has helped with Mark's personal projects and charities. He released two more albums, influenced by the Celtic-based band Cunla.

Biography

Early life

Illsley was born in Leicester in June 1949, the fourth of four children of Wilfred Illsley and Florence (nee Robinson). [2] His mother was the daughter of a schoolmaster; his father was in the Royal Signals Corps in north Africa and Sicily during World War II. [3] Illsley grew up in Market Harborough, on the border of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, "in the heart of Middle England". [4] His parents, "both Leicestershire born and bred", moved there when he was four, [5] and his childhood memories include searching for sticklebacks in the River Jordan in nearby Little Bowden. [6] Illsley attended Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire and a Further Education College near Kettering, Northamptonshire, before starting work as a management trainee for a timber firm. He studied Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London and opened a record shop with his girlfriend.

In Deptford, south London, Illsley shared a flat with guitarist David Knopfler and met David's older brother, Mark, whose marriage had broken up. [7] He was playing music in local pubs, and Illsley recalls that he returned home early one morning and "walked into the lounge room and saw this figure lying on the floor... asleep ... with a guitar over his legs, and he'd... fallen asleep on the floor while he was playing... his head was sort of cranked back, and there was an ashtray with cigarette butts and coffee on the floor... " [8]

David Knopfler was keen to start a band and Illsley played bass guitar and had the same musical interests. Convinced that they could make a success of it, with David's brother Mark as lead guitarist and vocalist, David playing rhythm guitar, Illsley on bass and a friend, Pick Withers, as drummer, the four formed a band, eventually named Dire Straits which according to rumour is because they gave up their day jobs and were in financial "dire straits" [8] by the time their band became popular. However, David Knopfler denies this on his personal website: "The notion that the band were literally in dire straits is largely retrospective myth making and not really factually supportable. We all had day jobs until we got a whacking big advance from Polygram." In contrast, Illsley himself said,"We were living on next to nothing and weren't even able to pay the gas bill." He added that they "weren't called Dire Straits for nothing". [9]

Dire Straits

Illsley playing with Dire Straits, June 1979 John Illsley 1979.jpg
Illsley playing with Dire Straits, June 1979

As well as playing bass on all the Dire Straits recordings, Illsley also contributed backing vocals, with David Knopfler, and both harmonized to Mark's lead vocals and guitar in concert, and on the band's first two studio albums, Dire Straits and Communiqué .

During a period when most major labels expected bands to compose and record one to two albums per year, as well as tour to support them, tensions grew between David Knopfler and his elder brother Mark. Mark wrote nearly every song, was the frontman, and had, in a short time, become a virtuoso on the guitar. During the recording sessions for their third project, Making Movies , David left the band over creative differences with his brother, who had assumed the role of leader.

The band hired Hal Lindes to replace David, who stayed with the band for five years, and keyboards were added when Alan Clark joined the band in 1980. Illsley and Mark Knopfler were the only founding members to remain in Dire Straits until the group's dissolution in 1995. Illsley unsuccessfully tried to persuade Mark Knopfler to reform the group. [10] In his November 2021 autobiography My Life in Dire Straits, Illsley confirms that Knopfler had no interest in reforming Dire Straits.

Before Dire Straits disbanded, Illsley released two solo albums, Never Told a Soul (1984) and Glass (1988). Knopfler contributed some of the guitar parts on both.

Cunla

In March 2005, in a pub in Leicestershire, Illsley happened upon an Irish Celtic rock group, Cunla. For the first time since 1993 he took to the stage and played a couple of Dire Straits numbers with the band. Cunla subsequently played at a summer party Illsley was hosting in Hampshire. He then appeared with them on several occasions, most notably on 23 September 2006 at Cathedrale d'Image in Les Baux de Provence, France. This performance was recorded and subsequently released as an album in 2007. With Illsley, they covered a couple of Dire Straits numbers, albeit in an Irish style, with Johnny Owens replacing all keyboards and brass parts with traditional Irish violin. They also have a large amount of their own material, much of it penned by singer-songwriter Greg Pearle.

In October 2008, Creek Records released an album, Beautiful You , by Pearle and Illsley, who embarked on a tour of Ireland. [11] Illsley collaborated with Pearle and Paul Brady on the song "One" and featured in the accompanying music video (2008). "One" was also the theme song for the Irish film Anton . [12] [13]

Personal life

Illsley now lives in Hampshire, with his second wife Stephanie and his four children. He also spends time at his home in Provence, France. He owns a local pub, the 'East End Arms', located in the hamlet of East End between Lymington and Beaulieu, and which has been listed by critics as one of the "Fifty Best Pubs Around Britain". [14] He is also a partner in two nearby hotels: The Master Builder's House Hotel [15] near Beaulieu and The George Hotel [16] on the Isle of Wight. Illsley is a keen painter and the first exhibition of his work was shown at the Nevill Keating McIlroy Gallery, Pickering Place, London in 2007.

In August 2014, Illsley was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue. [17]

In 2019 Illsley appeared in the final episode of BBC's Rick Stein’s Secret France where he dined with Rick Stein at a restaurant near his home in Provence. [18] In November 2021, Illsley published his autobiography, My Life in Dire Straits.

Solo discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dire Straits</span> British rock band

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Knopfler</span> British musician (born 1949)

Mark Freuder Knopfler is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits from 1977 to 1995. He pursued a solo career after the band dissolved, and is now an independent artist.

<i>Dire Straits</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Dire Straits

Dire Straits is the debut studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 9 June 1978 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album features the hit single "Sultans of Swing", which reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached the top of the album charts in Germany, Australia and France, number 2 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. Dire Straits was later certified double platinum in both the United States and the United Kingdom by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) respectively.

<i>Communiqué</i> (Dire Straits album) 1979 studio album by Dire Straits

Communiqué is the second studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 5 June 1979 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album featured the single "Lady Writer," which reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 51 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached number one on album charts in Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and Sweden, number 11 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. Communiqué was later certified gold in the United States, platinum in the United Kingdom and double-platinum in France.

<i>Brothers in Arms</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Dire Straits

Brothers in Arms is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 May 1985, by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It was the first album in history to sell over one million copies in CD format.

<i>Making Movies</i> 1980 studio album by Dire Straits

Making Movies is the third studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 October 1980 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album includes the single "Romeo and Juliet", which reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as “Tunnel of Love,” featured in the 1982 Richard Gere film An Officer and a Gentleman.

<i>On Every Street</i> 1991 studio album by Dire Straits

On Every Street is the sixth and final studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 9 September 1991 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The follow-up to the band's massively successful album Brothers in Arms, On Every Street reached the top of the UK Albums Chart and was also certified platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sultans of Swing</span> 1978 single by Dire Straits

"Sultans of Swing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, written by lead vocalist and guitarist Mark Knopfler. The demo of the song was recorded at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977 and quickly acquired a following after it was put in rotation on BBC Radio London. Its popularity soon reached record executives, and Dire Straits were offered a contract with Phonogram Records. The song was then re-recorded in February 1978 at Basing Street Studios for the band's eponymous debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Knopfler</span> British musician

David Knopfler is a British musician. Together with his older brother Mark Knopfler, John Illsley, and Pick Withers, he founded the rock band Dire Straits in 1977, serving as rhythm guitarist on their first two albums. After quitting the band in 1980 during the recording of their third album, Knopfler embarked upon a solo career as a recording artist. Knopfler initially created smaller record labels, publishing companies, and indie labels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money for Nothing (song)</span> 1985 single by Dire Straits

"Money for Nothing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, the second track on their fifth studio album Brothers in Arms (1985). It was released as the album's second single on 28 June 1985 through Vertigo Records. The song's lyrics are written from the point of view of two working-class men watching music videos and commenting on what they see. The song features a guest appearance by Sting who sings the signature falsetto introduction, background vocals and a backing chorus of "I want my MTV". The groundbreaking video was the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network launched on 1 August 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Private Dancer (Tina Turner song)</span> 1984 single by Tina Turner

"Private Dancer" is a song written by British musician Mark Knopfler and recorded by singer Tina Turner, first released in October 1984. The song was intended to be for Knopfler’s band Dire Straits, but was never fully recorded or released by the band. He ended up giving the song to Turner, with her recording being produced by John Carter for her fifth solo album of the same name and released as the album's fifth single. The track reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the US R&B chart. The song had moderate international success, reaching number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Clark (keyboardist)</span> British musician (born 1952)

Alan Clark is an English musician who was the first keyboardist and co-producer of the rock band Dire Straits. In 2018, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a significant member of the band.

<i>Live at the BBC</i> (Dire Straits album) 1995 live album by Dire Straits

Live at the BBC is a live album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 26 June 1995 on Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album was recorded on 22 July 1978 at BBC Studios in London, with one track recorded on 31 January 1981. The studio versions of the first six songs were released on Dire Straits. Live at the BBC was the band's third live album, preceded by Alchemy: Dire Straits Live (1984) and On the Night (1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romeo and Juliet (Dire Straits song)</span> 1980 song by Dire Straits

"Romeo and Juliet" is a rock song by the British rock band Dire Straits, written by frontman Mark Knopfler. It first appeared on the 1980 album Making Movies and was released as a single in 1981. The song subsequently appeared on the Dire Straits live albums Alchemy and On the Night, and later on Knopfler's live duet album with Emmylou Harris, Real Live Roadrunning. The track was also featured on the greatest hits albums Money for Nothing, Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits, and The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brewers Droop</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunnel of Love (Dire Straits song)</span> 1980 single by Dire Straits

"Tunnel of Love" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits. It appears on the 1980 album Making Movies, and subsequently on the live albums Alchemy and Live at the BBC and the greatest hits albums Money for Nothing, Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits, and The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations. The song was also featured in the 1982 Richard Gere film An Officer and a Gentleman and was included in the film’s accompanying soundtrack album.

<i>Beautiful You</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Greg Pearle and John Illsley

Beautiful You is an album by Irish singer-songwriter Greg Pearle and John Illsley, the former bass player for Dire Straits. Illsley had withdrawn from the music scene when he met Pearle, who was playing in a covers band at a pub party for a friend of Illsley's, and the two began playing together in an informal capacity.

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References

  1. ↑ "Bon Jovi, Dire Straits Lead Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2018 Class". Rolling Stone . 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  2. ↑ FreeMBD: England & Wales Civil Registration Marriages Index 1916-2017: Wilfred ILLSLEY married Florence M. ROBINSON, December quarter 1939, district of Leicester: ref 7a 661
  3. ↑ Illsley, John (2021). My Life in Dire Straits : The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Bands in Rock History. London, UK: Bantam Press.
  4. ↑ Illsley, John (2021). My Life in Dire Straits : The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Bands in Rock History. London, UK: Bantam Press.
  5. ↑ Illsley, John (2021). My Life in Dire Straits : The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Bands in Rock History. London, UK: Bantam Press.
  6. ↑ "Leicestershire Live - Latest local news, sport & business from Leicester". Leicestermercury.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007.
  7. ↑ Kilburn, T. (2006). "Mark Knopfler Authorized Biography". Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  8. 1 2 Illsley, John (5 May 1992). "Interview John Illsley- Madrid". Interview John Illsley- Madrid, 5th May 1992 – TVE (in English and Spanish). TVE. Retrieved 6 January 2009.[ dead YouTube link ]
  9. ↑ "The Story Behind The Song: Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits". 13 February 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  10. ↑ "Knopfler declines Straits reunion". Bbc.co.uk. 7 October 2008.
  11. ↑ "Talking Shop: John Illsley". Bbc.co.uk. 8 October 2008.
  12. ↑ "Brady, Illsley & Pearle Shoot Video for 'Anton'". Iftn.ie.
  13. ↑ "One". Vimeo . 21 February 2010.
  14. ↑ "The 50 Best Pubs Around Britain". The Times . 11 October 2003.[ dead link ]
  15. ↑ Eilers, Richard (12 September 2004). "Tales of the river bank". Theguardian.com.
  16. ↑ "Restaurant: The George Hotel and Tyddyn Llan | Spectator, The | Find Articles at BNET.com". 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007.
  17. ↑ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics". Theguardian.com. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  18. ↑ "BBC Two - Rick Stein's Secret France, Series 1, Episode 6".
  19. ↑ "John Illsley | Album Discography". AllMusic.

Further reading

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