Dire Straits facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dire Straits
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Dire Straits in Drammenshallen, Norway, 1985
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| Origin | Deptford, London, England |
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Dire Straits was a famous British rock band. They started in London in 1977. The main members were Mark Knopfler (who sang and played lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar), John Illsley (bass guitar), and Pick Withers (drums).
The band was active from 1977 to 1988. They got back together from 1991 to 1995. Dire Straits became one of the world's best-selling music artists. They sold over 100 million albums!
Contents
Dire Straits: Early Hits and Unique Sound
Their first big song was "Sultans of Swing". It came from their first album, also called Dire Straits, released in 1978. This song became a top ten hit in the US. It also reached the top ten in the UK the next year.
Popular Songs of the 1980s
Dire Straits released many popular songs in the 1980s. Some of these hits include:
- "Romeo and Juliet" (1981)
- "Private Investigations" (1982)
- "Twisting by the Pool" (1983)
- "Money for Nothing" (1985)
- "Walk of Life" (1986)
Their Special Musical Style
The band's music had many different influences. These included jazz, folk, and country. They also took ideas from the blues-rock style of artists like J. J. Cale and Eric Clapton.
Dire Straits had a simple, clear sound. This was different from the loud punk rock music popular at the time. Their style showed a strong roots rock influence. This came from a music style called pub rock.
Brothers in Arms: A Huge Success
Their most successful album was Brothers in Arms. It came out in 1985. This album sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. It was also the first album ever to sell a million copies on the compact disc (CD) format. This was a big deal for music technology!
Chart Records and Legacy
According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Albums, Dire Straits spent over 1,100 weeks on the UK albums chart. This places them fifth all-time for chart presence. Brothers in Arms is the eighth-best-selling album in UK chart history.
Band Changes and Awards
The band's career lasted for 15 years. They first broke up in 1988. Then they reformed in 1991. They finally disbanded again in 1995. This happened when Mark Knopfler decided to focus on his solo music career.
Constant Members and Recognitions
Over the years, some band members changed. However, Mark Knopfler and John Illsley were the only members who stayed with the band for its entire journey.
Dire Straits won many important awards:
- Four Grammy Awards
- Three Brit Awards (including Best British Group twice)
- Two MTV Video Music Awards
- Many other music awards
The band was also honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Images for kids
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PRS for Music heritage plaque commemorating Dire Straits' first performance in Deptford, London
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The original Dire Straits line-up in Hamburg, Germany (1978); L to R: John Illsley, Mark Knopfler, Pick Withers and David Knopfler
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Mark Knopfler and Hal Lindes
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Knopfler and Lindes onstage in Amsterdam, June 1981
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Knopfler in Zagreb, 1983
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A National Style 0 resonator guitar features on the cover of Brothers in Arms. Knopfler also used the guitar in the 1981 single "Romeo and Juliet".
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Dire Straits performing in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, (now Serbia) on 10 May 1985. Left to right: Mark Knopfler, Clark, and Jack Sonni.
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Dire Straits performed at Live Aid at the old Wembley Stadium (exterior pictured) on 13 July 1985, in between 13 dates at the nearby Wembley Arena.
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A 1989 signed Knopfler guitar at the Blues bar in Chicago
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Following their On Every Street Tour, John Illsley noted the band had changed.
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Mark Knopfler, pictured in 2015, has said he prefers not to re-form the band. He felt it became too big.
See also
In Spanish: Dire Straits para niños
