There were several changes in personnel over that period, leaving Mark Knopfler and John Illsley as the only two original bandmates who had remained throughout the band's career. The band' most popular songs include ' Sultans of Swing', ' Romeo and Juliet', ' Tunnel of Love', ' Private Investigations', ' Money for Nothing', ' Walk of Life', ' So Far Away', ' Your Latest Trick' and ' Brothers in Arms'.ĭire Straits' career spanned 18 years.

Dire Straits won numerous music awards during their career, including four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards-winning Best British Group twice, and two MTV Video Music Awards.

They also became one of the world's most commercially successful bands, with worldwide album sales of over 120 million. ĭire Straits' biggest selling album, Brothers in Arms, has sold over 30 million copies. Many of Dire Straits' compositions were melancholic. Despite the prominence of punk rock during the band's early years, the band's stripped-down sound contrasted with punk, demonstrating a more ' rootsy' influence that emerged out of pub rock. ĭire Straits were a British rock band, formed in 1977 by former journalist and teacher Mark Knopfler, initially composed of Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), his younger brother David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion).ĭire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest to beat music within the context of rock and roll. Rock, country rock, progressive rock, roots rock, pub rock. Dire Straitsįrom L-R, Fletcher (behind), Illsley, Knopfler and Sonni

Dire straits album best of 1977-1995