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Dire Straits
Band

Dire Straits

4.2 / 5 from 124 ratings across 8 albums
Albums
287
Members
9
Active
1977–1995
Origin
United Kingdom
Biography

Dire 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). Dire 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. 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. Many of Dire Straits' compositions were melancholic.

Dire Straits' biggest selling album, Brothers in Arms, has sold over 30 million copies. They also became one of the world's most commercially successful bands, with worldwide album sales of over 120 million. 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. 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".

Dire Straits' career spanned 18 years. 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. Dire Straits disbanded in 1995 when Mark Knopfler launched his career full time as a solo artist.

The Groove
Groove by decade

The Groove is music.nw’s own measure of renown — not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. It weighs reach (how many people engaged) against acclaim (how highly they rated it), balanced so a handful of votes can’t outshout a lasting favourite.

Computed the NeuraWeb way, across the whole record. The same yardstick for everyone — which is why the little-known can out-Groove the famous in their own corner.

The trajectory

How Dire Straits moved

Genre belongs to the record, not to the artist. Every album’s Groove is shared out across the genres it actually is — by how the raters tagged it — so nobody is 100% one thing. Stack that by decade and a career draws itself.

Discography

1981-07-01: Torino, Italy
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1981-07-05: Before We Became Famous: X Rekords, Brussels, Belgium
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1985-08-05: American Tour 1985: Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA
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1st Night In Paris 1981
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Angel Of Mercy
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Around South America
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Autumn in Nimes
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Barbarellas ’78
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Basel ’92
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Brothers in Arms: Alternate Edition
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Brothers in Seattle Sep 20, 1985
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Dallas 1979
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Dire Straits Atlanta Fox Theatre Aug 10, 1985
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Dire Straits Gold
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Expo Hall, Osaka, Japan - April 5, 1983
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Goin' Home - Recorded Live in London 1983
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Greatest Hits
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Lady Writer
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Lions In Passaic
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Live ´85 - London Wembley Arena
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Live In Linz 1983
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Live World Tour 1982-83 - Barcelona '83
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Ljubljana 13.05.1985.
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London 1985
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Madrid 1983
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Money For Nothing
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MP3 Collection
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On Every Demo
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On Every Street Kickoff
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One World - Live 1979 & 1985
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On Location In Carrara, Italy - Stadio Comunale - June 28, 1981
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On the Road to Philadelphia
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Oslo 1979
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Palais Des Sports Parigi 22.06.1983
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Pinkpop Festival 1979
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Rare Sessions I
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Rare Sessions III
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Rare Sessions IV
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Sultans Of Swing Live - Live In Concert - Classic Show
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The Ballads
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The Best Of
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The Long Strait Walk to Wembley
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The Palladium, New York - September 11, 1979
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Ultra Hot Remixes 1
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Vertigo
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Very Best Of Dire Straits
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Wembley Arena, 10.07.1985, London, England
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Credits

Ranked #1,067 of 14,615 producers — 1,076.09 career Groove across 5 records.