List of Dire Straits band members

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Dire Straits 1978 Hamburg 1.jpg
Dire straits 22101985 23 800.jpg
Two lineups of Dire Straits performing in 1978 (top) and 1985 (bottom).

Dire Straits was an English rock band from London. Formed in June 1977, the group originally comprised the Knopfler brothers Mark (lead vocals, lead guitar) and David (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), John Illsley (bass, backing vocals), and Pick Withers (drums). At the time of their first breakup in September 1988, the band comprised Mark Knopfler, Illsley, Jack Sonni (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Terry Williams (drums), Alan Clark (keyboards), and Guy Fletcher (keyboards). Mark Knopfler, Illsley, Clark and Fletcher reformed as Dire Straits in 1990, undertaking one more studio album and world tour with backup musicians before their second and final breakup in 1995.

Contents

History

1977–1988

Dire Straits was formed in June 1977 by Mark and David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers. [1] [2] The band released their first two studio albums, Dire Straits and Communiqué , in 1978 and 1979, respectively. [2] David Knopfler left the group during the recording of their third album Making Movies in July 1980, [3] following an argument with Mark which prompted him to return to the UK and start a solo career. [4] After the album, which featured Roy Bittan on keyboards, was released in October 1980, Hal Lindes was announced as Knopfler's replacement, while keyboardist Alan Clark was also added. [5] Withers remained until shortly after the completion of the band's fourth album Love over Gold (released in September 1982) at which point he left and was replaced by former Rockpile drummer Terry Williams. [2] [6]

During the Love over Gold Tour, Dire Straits added keyboardist Tommy Mandel, percussionist Joop de Korte and King Crimson saxophonist Mel Collins to their touring lineup, all of whom were featured on the live release Alchemy: Dire Straits Live . [7] In late 1984, Guy Fletcher was added to the band's lineup as a second keyboardist. [2] Lindes left shortly afterwards, during the recording of Brothers in Arms and his place was taken by Jack Sonni. [8] [9] Also during the recording sessions, Williams was temporarily replaced by Omar Hakim, although both are credited with contributing to the album. [8] Williams was back in the band for the album's promotional concert tour which lasted from April 1985 to April 1986, the lineup of which also featured saxophonist and flautist Chris White. [10] [11]

After a break from touring, Dire Straits regrouped for the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert staged on 11 June 1988 at Wembley Stadium, at which they were the headline act. As Sonni was unable to play the show, Eric Clapton took his place. [12] On 15 September 1988, Knopfler announced the disbanding of Dire Straits. [13] Speaking in a Rolling Stone interview about the breakup, the band's frontman stated that "There's not an accent then on the music, there's an accent on popularity. I needed a rest." [14]

1990–1995

On 30 June 1990 Dire Straits - Mark Knopfler, John Illsley, Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher (Jack Sonni and Terry Williams having left the band after the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in 1988) - reunited for a performance at Knebworth Festival. They were joined by Eric Clapton and his band – guitarist Phil Palmer, bassist Nathan East, drummer Steve Ferrone, keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, and backing vocalists Katie Kissoon and Tessa Niles. [15]

In late 1990/early 1991 Dire Straits officially reformed, with Knopfler, Illsley, Clark and Fletcher recording their final studio album On Every Street (released in September 1991) with a host of session musicians, including Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro. [16] The album's concert tour featured On Every Street contributors Palmer, Chris White, Paul Franklin (pedal steel guitar) and Danny Cummings (percussion), and drummer Chris Whitten, all of whom featured on the live releases On the Night and Encores .

Following another hiatus, Dire Straits' final album Live at the BBC (released in 1995) was a contractual release featuring live recordings from 1978 to 1981, with the original line-up of Mark and David Knopfler, Illsley and Pick Withers (Clark and Lindes also featured on one track). In 1995, Mark Knopfler disbanded Dire Straits for the second time, choosing to focus on his solo career. [17]

Members

Official

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions
Mar-Knopfler-Pensa-Blue.jpg
Mark Knopfler
  • 1977–1988
  • 1990–1995
  • lead guitar
  • lead vocals
all Dire Straits releases
2015 John Illsley by 2eight- DSC2788.jpg
John Illsley
  • bass
  • backing vocals
Pick Withers.jpg
David "Pick" Withers 1977–1982
  • drums
  • percussion
  • occasional backing vocals
David Knopfler blacksheep 2017 1820.jpg
David Knopfler 1977–1980
  • rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
  • Dire Straits (1978)
  • Communiqué (1979)
  • Live at the BBC (1995)
AlanClk.jpg
Alan Clark
  • 1980–1988
  • 1990–1995
  • keyboards
  • piano
all Dire Straits releases from Love over Gold (1982) to Live at the BBC (1995)
Hal Lindes.jpg
Hal Lindes 1980–1984
  • rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
Terry Williams
  • 1982–1988
drums
  • ExtendedancEPlay (1983)
  • Alchemy: Dire Straits Live (1984)
  • Brothers in Arms (1985)
Guy Fletcher-2.jpg
Guy Fletcher
  • 1984–1988
  • 1990–1995
  • keyboards
  • synthesisers
  • backing vocals
all Dire Straits releases from Brothers In Arms (1985) to Encores (1993)
Dire Straits Jack Sonni.jpg
Jack Sonni 1984–1988 (died 2023)
  • rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
Brothers in Arms (1985)

Touring and session musicians

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions
Barry Beckett and others (cropped).jpg
Barry Beckett 1978 (session) (died 2009)keyboards Communiqué (1979) [18]
Roy bittan schunk.jpg
Roy Bittan 1980 (session) Making Movies (1980) [19]
Sid McGinnis [20] guitars
Ed Walsh1982 (session)synthesizer programming Love over Gold (1982) [21]
Mike Mainieri.jpg
Mike Mainieri
  • 1982 (session)
  • 1984–1985 (session)
  • vibraphone
  • marimba
Mel Collins (saxophonist).jpg
Mel Collins 1982–1983 (session/touring)saxophone
  • ExtendedancEPlay (1983)
  • Alchemy: Dire Straits Live (1984)
Tommy Mandel
  • 1982–1983
(touring)
keyboardsAlchemy: Dire Straits Live (1984)
Joop de Kortepercussion
Michael Brecker Munich 2001.JPG
Michael Brecker [23] 1984–1985 (session) (died 2007)saxophoneBrothers in Arms (1985)
Malcolm Duncan 1984–1985 (session) (died 2019)
OH 2012.jpg
Omar Hakim 1984–1985 (session)drums
Randy Brecker Kongsberg Jazzfestival 2018 (222845).jpg
Randy Brecker brass
Neil Jason bass [24]
Tony levin.jpg
Tony Levin Chapman Stick [25]
Dave Plewstrumpet
Sting in April 2018.jpg
Sting vocals
Jimmy Maelen 1984–1985 (session) (died 1988)percussion [26]
The Straits - Chris White - 11 (15258457176).jpg
Chris White
  • 1985–1988 (touring)
  • 1990–1992 (session/touring)
  • saxophone
  • backing vocals
  • flute
  • percussion
Phil Palmer avec Murray Head en concert a Louvigne du Desert en 2017.jpg
Phil Palmer
  • 1990–1992 (session/touring)
  • rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
Paul Franklin.jpg
Paul Franklin pedal steel guitar
Danny Cummings.jpg
Danny Cummings
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
Vince Gill.png
Vince Gill 1990–1991 (session)
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
On Every Street (1991) [27]
Manu Katche by Stuart Mentiply.jpg
Manu Katché [28]
  • drums
  • percussion
Jeff Porcaro Toto Fahrenheit World Tour 1986.jpg
Jeff Porcaro 1990–1991 (session) (died 1992)
George Martin - backstage at LOVE.jpg
George Martin 1990–1991 (session) (died 2016)
  • string arranger
  • conductor
Chris Whitten 1991–1992 (touring)drums
  • On the Night (1993)
  • Encores (1993)

Timeline

List of Dire Straits band members

Lineups

PeriodMembersReleases
June 1977 – July 1980
July – October 1980
  • Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, guitars
  • John Illsley – bass, backing vocals
  • Pick Withers – drums, percussion, backing vocals
October 1980 – October 1982
  • Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar
  • John Illsley – bass, backing vocals
  • Pick Withers – drums, percussion
  • Alan Clark – keyboards, piano
  • Hal Lindes – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
October 1982 – October 1984
  • Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar
  • John Illsley – bass, backing vocals
  • Alan Clark – keyboards, piano
  • Hal Lindes – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Terry Williams – drums
October 1984 – April 1986
  • Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, guitars
  • John Illsley – bass, backing vocals
  • Alan Clark – keyboards, piano
  • Terry Williams – drums
  • Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jack Sonni – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
April 1986 – June 1990 Band on hiatus with one-off show on 11 June 1988
  • Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, guitars
  • John Illsley – bass, backing vocals
  • Alan Clark – keyboards, piano
  • Terry Williams – drums
  • Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals
none
June 1990 – 1995
  • Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar
  • John Illsley – bass, backing vocals
  • Alan Clark – keyboards, piano
  • Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals

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.

<i>Love over Gold</i> 1982 studio album by Dire Straits

Love over Gold is the fourth studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 24 September 1982 by Vertigo Records internationally and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album featured two singles: "Private Investigations," which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Industrial Disease," which reached No. 9 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States. The title track was never released as a single, but two years later a live version from Alchemy: Dire Straits Live reached #15 in France, #29 in New Zealand, #43 in the Netherlands and #50 in the band's native United Kingdom. The album reached number one on album charts in Australia, Austria, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom, as well as number 19 in the United States. Love over Gold was later certified gold in the United States, platinum in France and Germany and double-platinum in Canada and the United Kingdom.

<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.

<i>ExtendedancEPlay</i> 1983 EP by Dire Straits

Extendedance Play is a studio 12" EP by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 14 January 1983 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The record contains three tracks on the international version and four on the U.S. version, which also included the song "Badges, Posters, Stickers, T-Shirts," an outtake from the Love over Gold sessions that had been released in other territories as the b-side to "Private Investigations".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Illsley</span> English musician

John Edward Illsley 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.

<i>On the Night</i> 1993 live album by Dire Straits

On the Night is the second live album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 10 May 1993 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album features many of the band's later hits, including the singles "Walk of Life" and "Money for Nothing". The cover art of the album features dishes of the Very Large Array in central New Mexico.

<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">Hal Lindes</span> American musician

Hal Andrew Lindes is an American guitarist and film score composer best known for his time as a member of Dire Straits from late 1980 until late 1984.

"Telegraph Road" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, written by Mark Knopfler. It is the opening track on the 1982 album Love over Gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Far Away (Dire Straits song)</span> 1985 single by Dire Straits

"So Far Away" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, the opening track on their fifth studio album Brothers in Arms (1985). It became the band's fourth top 20 hit, peaking at number 19. The original studio version of the track appeared on the 2005 compilation The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Sonni</span> American musician (1954–2023)

John Thomas Sonni was an American writer, musician, and marketing executive, best known as "the other guitarist" in Dire Straits during the band's Brothers in Arms era.

References

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  19. Making Movies (liner notes). Vertigo Records. 1980. 6359 034.
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  25. Illsley, John (2021). My Life in Dire Straits. Random House. ISBN   978-1-473587-94-6. We brought in a number of other top session musicians (...), including bassist Tony Levin, who played on 'Why Worry' (...). Tony played a bass instrument called a Chapman Stick (...).
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