Dire Straits

Latest about Dire Straits

Mark Knopfler onstage, 1984
The tangled story of Dire Straits, the million-selling band who quit at the height of their fame

By Paul Rees Published

How Dire Straits went from the pubs of London to become one of the biggest bands of the 1980s

Bands & Artists
A portrait of Will Smith with his records
“I said we shouldn’t do Another Brick In The Wall at the school fête”: Slow Horses showrunner Will Smith’s record collection

By Jo Kendall Published

Stand-up, actor, novelist and producer Will Smith on how much Marillion means to him, the four lines of Jon Anderson lyrics that bring him to tears, his favourite Vangelis soundtrack and his claim that Dire Straits are a prog band

Interviews
Nirvana/Dire Straits/Stone Roses
Nirvana, Dire Straits and The Stone Roses: You can get these all-time classics on vinyl for £66 on Amazon UK

By Rich Hobson Published

Looking to build out your record collection? Amazon are offering a three-vinyl-for-£66 deal on some all-timers

Albums
Dire Straits studio portrait
Interview: Dire Straits and the adventure of Brothers In Arms

By Paul Rees Published

Everything changed for Dire Straits when they made Brothers In Arms: Mark Knopfler, John Illsley and Guy Fletcher look back

Bands & Artists
Mark Knopfler studio portrait, holding a guitar
A beginner's guide to Dire Straits in seven essential albums

By Paul Rees Published

More than Brothers In Arms: The Dire Straits albums you need to know

Bands & Artists
Dire Straits group portrait, with Mark Knopfler holding out a CD
A beginner's guide to the rise, fall and surprising longevity of the CD

By Alastair Stevenson Published

Think CDs are dead? Last year 6.7 million vinyl albums and 10.5 million CDs were sold in the UK

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Bands & Artists
The cover of Classic Rock 342, featuring Mark Knopfler
How Dire Straits outsold everyone, hijacked MTV, and accidentally made a classic

By Siân Llewellyn Published

Also in this issue: Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Mike Peters, Buckcherry, Adam Duritz, Battlesnake, Eureka Machines, H.E.A.T, Steve Lillywhite, Live Aid USA and more

Magazines
Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler and the Resonator guitar that appears on the cover of Brothers In Arms
This iconic guitar appeared on the cover of one of the most successful albums ever – but what’s the story behind it?

By Classic Rock Published

It’s one of the most famous guitars in music – and its picture is in more than 30 million homes

Bands & Artists
Dire Straits
Dire Straits' 30-million-selling Brothers In Arms marks its 40th birthday with energised extras

By Mark Beaumont Published

Mark Knopfler’s crowning achievement: mildly dated, largely evocative, expanded with live shows

Albums
Dire Straits studio portrait
The song that transformed Dire Straits' fortunes and set them on the path to global fame

By Rob Hughes Last updated

Inspired by watching a hopeless jazz combo play in a deserted pub, Sultans Of Swing sent Dire Straits on a journey to superstardom

Interviews
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