Dire Straits Biography

Dire Straits was a Grammy-awarded British rock band, formed in 1977. The group emerged from the pub and roots rock movements. However, their melancholic songs presented a series of diverse influences, from jazz and blues to beat music and punk rock. In 1985, Dire Strait’s highest-selling album, Brothers in Arms, sold over 30 million records.

Formation & Breakthrough 

Mark and David Knopfler both learned to play guitar in their teen years. While in college, Mark became a rock music critic for the Yorkshire Evening Post. Furthermore, he began writing songs and playing them with his brother and his roommate, John Illsley. They recorded a demo tape in 1977, which included the legendary Sultans of Swing. The song reached BBC radio and made a huge impact.

Eponymous Album & Massive Success

Therefore, in 1979 the group recorded their debut self-titled album, which sold about 11 million copies. Additionally, it peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200. Later that year, they released another album, Communiqué, but it fell short compared to their first. In 1980 Dire Straits produced Making Movies, which came with longer and more complex songs. IT spawned the classic hit, Romeo and Juliet. Two years later, the band released Love Over Gold, which topped the UK Albums chart.

Brothers in Arms & Later Years

In 1985, Dire Straits released their internationally praised album  Brothers in Arms. It generated three popular singles, most noteworthy Money for Nothing (featuring Sting) and the titled single. The album topped the Billboard 200 and several other albums charts from Europe. After that, Mark Knopfler engaged in solo projects and the hand suffered a hiatus between in 1988 and 1991. However, they returned in the highlights with their last album, On Every Street, which ranked number 2 in the UK, but only 52 in the US.

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