DIRE STRAITS

INTRODUCTION
Dire Straits were a british rock band formed by Mark Knopfler (vocals an leader guitar) the leader of the band, his brother David Knopfler (rythm guitar and sometimes vocals), John Illsley (bass and sometimes vocals) and Pick Withers (drums and percussion). The band was managed by Ed Bicknell.
Dire Straits was active between 1977 an 1995, it was formed at the time of the punk rock movement, they were a bit influenced by this movement but they played a more conventional and classic rock music.They become hugely famous and popular.

EARLY DAYS
The name « Dire Straits » was given by a flatmate of the drummer Pick Withers. During the early days, the band had a lot of money difficulties and « to be in dire straits » mean to have money problems.

The band recorded a first five songs demo disc in 1977 wich incuded some of their greatest success like « Sultans of Swing ». They sent the disc to Charlie Gillett who had a radio show on the BBC london, the four guys just wanted advice to succeed in their career but Gillett loved their music, so he played « Sultans of Swing » in his show, a few months later they signed their first recording contract with a producer.

Dire Straits recorded its first album in less than one month in february 1978 it was named with the name of the group, this first album was not well received in United Kingdom strangely, but it was a big success in all others European country. Many songs of the first album reflected Mark Knopfler experiences in England therefore it was not a big success in United States, for a short time.
In the same year they began a tour as opening band for the « talking heads », after that « Sultans of Swing » finally climb the United Kingdom and United States charts and they had a growing success in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Their second album was recorded in december 1978 and realeased in june 1979, it was named « Communiqué », this album had the same success as the first, In