Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in Deptford, London in 1977 by singer, songwriter and lead guitarist Mark Knopfler (born Glasgow, Scotland 12 August, 1949), rhythm guitarist David Knopfler (born Glasgow, December 27, 1952), bass guitarist John Illsley (born Leicester, England, June 24, 1949), and drummer Pick Withers (born Leicester, April 4, 1948). Dire Straits are one of the biggest selling acts in the world, shifting over 100 million albums. They scored four UK Official Album Chart Number 1s, including 1985’s Brothers In Arms which was also the first to sell a million copies on compact disc, and 30 million copies overall. Dire Straits have won three BRIT Awards, two for Best British Group in 1983 and 1986, and Best British Album for Brothers In Arms in 1987. (Image: Barry Schultz/Sunshine/Shutterstock)
