List of Dire Straits band members

Dire Straits were an English rock band from London. Formed in June 1977, the group originally included lead vocalist and lead guitarist Mark Knopfler, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist David Knopfler (his younger brother), bassist and backing vocalist John Illsley, and drummer Pick Withers. At the time of their initial breakup in September 1988, the band featured Mark Knopfler, Illsley, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Sonni, drummer Terry Williams, and keyboardists Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher. Knopfler, Illsley, Clark and Fletcher reformed Dire Straits in 1990, touring sporadically with backup musicians before their second breakup in 1995.

Two lineups of Dire Straits performing in 1978 (top) and 1985 (bottom).

History

1977–1988

Dire Straits were 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 was released in October 1980, Hal Lindes was announced as Knopfler's replacement, while Alan Clark was added as the band's first keyboardist.[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, saxophonist Mel Collins and percussionist Joop de Korte 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 a few months later, prior to the recording of Brothers in Arms.[8] During the recording sessions, Williams was temporarily replaced by Omar Hakim, although both are credited with contributing to the album.[9] After the album's release, Lindes' place was filled by Jack Sonni.[9] 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. Sonni's place was taken by Eric Clapton.[12] This concert also was the last to feature Williams, who left the band shortly afterwards. 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 returned for a performance at Knebworth Festival, with Knopfler, Illsley, Clark and Fletcher 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 the four members 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 returning saxophonist White, On Every Street contributors Palmer, 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

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Mark Knopfler	1977–1988 1990–1995	lead guitar lead vocals	all Dire Straits releases
	John Illsley		bass backing vocals
	David "Pick" Withers	1977–1982	drums percussion	Dire Straits (1978) Communiqué (1979) Making Movies (1980) Love over Gold (1982) Live at the BBC (1995)
	David Knopfler	1977–1980	rhythm guitar backing vocals	Dire Straits (1978) Communiqué (1979) Live at the BBC (1995)
	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	1980–1985	rhythm guitar backing vocals	Love over Gold (1982) ExtendedancEPlay (1983) Alchemy: Dire Straits Live (1984) Live at the BBC (1995)
	Terry Williams	1982–1984 1985–1988	drums	ExtendedancEPlay (1983) Alchemy: Dire Straits Live (1984) Brothers in Arms (1985) – one track only
	Guy Fletcher	1984–1988 1990–1995	keyboards synthesisers backing vocals	all Dire Straits releases from Brothers in Arms (1985) to Encores (1993)
	Omar Hakim	1984–1985	drums	Brothers in Arms (1985)
	Jack Sonni	1985–1988	rhythm guitar backing vocals	Brothers in Arms (1985) – one track only

Touring

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Tommy Mandel	1982–1983	keyboards	Alchemy: Dire Straits Live (1984)
	Mel Collins		saxophone
	Joop de Korte		percussion
	Chris White	1985–1988 1991–1992	saxophone backing vocals flute percussion	On Every Street (1991) On the Night (1993) Encores (1993)
	Phil Palmer	1991–1992	rhythm guitar backing vocals	On Every Street (1991) On the Night (1993) Encores (1993)
	Paul Franklin		pedal steel guitar
	Danny Cummings		percussion
	Chris Whitten		drums	On the Night (1993) Encores (1993)

Timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
June 1977 – July 1980	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar David Knopfler – rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Pick Withers – drums, percussion	Dire Straits (1978) Communiqué (1979) Live at the BBC (1995) The Honky Tonk Demos (2015)
July – October 1980	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, guitars John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Pick Withers – drums, percussion	Making Movies (1980)
October 1980 – October 1982	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar Hal Lindes – rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Pick Withers – drums, percussion Alan Clark – keyboards, piano	Love over Gold (1982) ExtendedancEPlay (1983) – one track only
October 1982 – October 1984	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar Hal Lindes – rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Terry Williams – drums Alan Clark – keyboards, piano	Alchemy: Dire Straits Live (1984) ExtendedancEPlay (1983)
October – November 1984	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, guitars John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Terry Williams – drums Alan Clark – keyboards, piano Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals	Brothers in Arms (1985) – one track only
November 1984 – January 1985	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, guitars John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Omar Hakim – drums Alan Clark – keyboards, piano Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals	Brothers in Arms (1985)
January – February 1985	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar Jack Sonni – rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Omar Hakim – drums Alan Clark – keyboards, piano Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals	Brothers in Arms (1985) – one track only
February 1985 – April 1986	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar Jack Sonni – rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Terry Williams – drums Alan Clark – keyboards, piano Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals	none – Brothers in Arms Tour only
Band inactive April 1986 – June 1988
June – September 1988	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Terry Williams – drums Alan Clark – keyboards, piano Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals	none – Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute only
Band inactive September 1988 – November 1990
June 1990 – 1995	Mark Knopfler – lead vocals, lead guitar John Illsley – bass, backing vocals Alan Clark – keyboards, piano Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals	Live at Knebworth (1990) – two tracks only On Every Street (1991) On The Night (1993)

References

1. Adelson, David (14 September 1985). "Dire Straits: Number One and Still Climbing" (Scan). Cash Box. Vol. 49 no. 13. New York City, New York: Cash Box Publishing. p. 13. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dire Straits: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
3. "Dire Straits: Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
4. Rees, Paul (17 April 2015). "Sultans Of Swing: The Untold Story Of Dire Straits". Classic Rock. TeamRock. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
5. LaPointe, Kirk (25 October 1980). "International Dateline: Canada" (Scan). Cash Box. Vol. 42 no. 24. New York City, New York: Cash Box Publishing. p. 38. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
6. Lauro, Nick (16 July 2012). "Pick Withers – A Road Well Travelled – A Drumdoctor Interview". The Drumdoctor. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
7. "Alchemy: Dire Straits Live - Dire Straits: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
8. Adelson, David (14 September 1985). "Dire Straits' Rise To The Top" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 49 no. 13. New York City, New York: Cash Box Publishing. p. 36. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
9. Buskin, Richard. "Classic Tracks: Dire Straits 'Money For Nothing'". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
10. Adelson, David (14 September 1985). "Dire Straits' Rise to the Top" (Scan). Cash Box. Vol. 49 no. 13. New York City, New York: Cash Box Publishing. p. 36. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
11. Freeman, Kim (2 November 1985). "Dire Straits: Radio City Music Hall, New York" (Scan). Billboard. Vol. 97 no. 44. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications. p. 49. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
12. Fanelli, Damian (30 March 2016). "Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler Perform "Cocaine" and "Sultans of Swing" in 1988". Guitar World. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
13. Rivadavia, Eduardo (15 September 2015). "The Day Dire Straits Broke Up for the First Time". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
14. Swanson, Dave (7 October 2017). "5 Reasons Why Dire Straits Should Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
15. The Best British Rock Concert of All Time: Live at Knebworth (Media notes). Eagle Vision, Universal Music Group. 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
16. Ruhlmann, William. "On Every Street - Dire Straits: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
17. Spivey, Julian (7 April 2015). "5 things you didn't know about Dire Straits". AXS. Retrieved 3 February 2018.

External links

• Mark Knopfler official website