Band Of The Week - Dire Straits

Hurayyyy~~~!!! Weekend coming! First of all I wanted to wish Happy Deepavali and Selamat Hari Raya to all of you. This week my classic rock band selection is Dire Straits.

I'm sure many of you never heard this band before, ok... this time I gonna put on more songs from Dire Straits, sure one of the song you will familiar with. First song is 'Sultans of Swing'... one of my favorite. Second song is 'Your Latest Trick'... this song I'm sure all of you heard before from a chinese TV series, they use the music as the theme song. Third song is 'Money For Nothing'... I like the part "money for nothing... chicks for free"... I wonder really is free or not?... LOL. Fourth is 'Brothers In Arms'... this song really touching, they dedicated this song to Nelson Mandela in a concert together with Eric Clapton.

Ok... just choose your selection and enjoy the music by clicking on 'Play'.

Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing



Dire Straits - Your Latest Trick (Live)



Dire Straits - Money for Nothing



Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms

Dire Straits was a British rock band, formed in 1977 by David Knopfler (guitar), his brother Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums), and 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 (see 1970s in music). 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.

Dire Straits

History (source from wikipedia)

Dire Straits recorded and released their first, self-titled album in 1978 for £12,500, initially within the UK to little fanfare, but to number one platinum success in the rest of Europe and, soon after, the U.S. Later, re-released as a single, Sultans of Swing became an unlikely UK chart hit, making the top 10. The group's second album, Communiqué, followed in 1979, resulting in a typical situation of the time, Communiqué showing as number one in the German album charts with Dire Straits simultaneously at number 3. Both albums are characterised by a stripped-down sound. However, this would change with the following albums. The band's line-up would also change over the years, but Mark Knopfler and John Illsley still play together, the two last founding members.


The Brothers In Arms era

Brothers in Arms was released in 1985 and went on to become the biggest selling album in the UK of that year and a huge hit internationally. It spawned several chart singles, including the U.S. number one hit "Money for Nothing", which was the first video ever to be played on MTV in Britain. There were further personnel changes, with the addition of a second keyboardist, Guy Fletcher. Brothers in Arms also saw the departure of Hal Lindes from the band during the recording sessions. His place was taken by Jack Sonni, though Lindes was still credited as an official band member for the album's release, while Sonni was not. Terry Williams was also joined on drums by Omar Hakim: both are credited as band members for this release.

The 1985–86 world tour was phenomenally successful. While playing a thirteen-night residency at Wembley Arena, the band moved down the road to Wembley Stadium on the afternoon of 13th July 1985 to appear in Live Aid. Their set included "Money For Nothing" with Sting as guest vocalist. The tour ended at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia, where Dire Straits still holds the record for consecutive appearances (21 nights). The last show of this extended stay in Sydney was recorded and broadcast on Australian and New Zealand television, and is well known for the one-off calypso rendition of "So Far Away" and the band's impromptu attempt at the famous Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda".

Dire Straits

After Brothers in Arms

After the Brothers in Arms tour ended in 1986, Dire Straits went on a lengthy hiatus and Mark Knopfler concentrated on solo projects and film soundtracks. Dire Straits regrouped for the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in 1988, where they were joined for their set by Eric Clapton (who performed his hit "Wonderful Tonight" with the group). Also in 1988, drummer Terry Williams left the band.

After Mark Knopfler worked and toured with the Notting Hillbillies, Dire Straits regrouped in 1989. By this time the band comprised four key members: Knopfler, John Illsley, and keyboardists Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher. Accompanied by other part-time members or session musicians, including the highly respected American drummerorca Jeff Porcaro from Toto, the group began recording tracks for a new album. The result was the band's final original studio album, On Every Street, released in 1991, six years after the release of Brothers in Arms. A widely anticipated release, On Every Street met with mixed reviews and moderate success. It was regarded by some reviewers as an underwhelming follow up and didn't sell as well as its predecessor. The song "The Bug", taken from that album, contains backing vocals by Vince Gill who turned down an invitation to join the band full time.

Mark Knopfler

The 1991–1993 world tour that followed On Every Street was not as successful as the previous one of 1985–86. A live album, On the Night, released in 1993, documented that tour, in which Chris Whitten played drums.

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

Dire Straits... Simply the best classic rock band!

Happy Deepavali~~~
Selamat Hari Raya~~~