Dire Straits

Latest about Dire Straits

Thin Lizzy, Mark Knopfler... and Christopher Biggins
The indie-pop superstar who had Thin Lizzy, Dire Straits and, umm, Christopher Biggins visit his family home when he was a kid.

By Niall Doherty Published

A famous frontman looks back on a childhood surrounded by rock stars, actors and welders that his dad had brought home from the pub.

Interviews
Shane MacGowan
Shane MacGowan: Music critic extraordinaire

By Paul Brannigan Published

Shane MacGowan didn't hold back when asked to review the music of his peers

Bands & Artists
Mark Knopfler standing against a wall
“Those Dire Straits songs walked away from me long ago. They belong to you now”: the life and times of Mark Knopfler, rock’s reluctant superstar

By Dave Everley Published

Ex-Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler on motorbike crashes, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and his complicated relationship with his old band

Interviews
Dire Straits
"The BBC said, We don’t want to play this song because there are too many words in it": Why Dire Straits had to break America before they were embraced in England

By Paul Brannigan Published

Dire Straits may have been the biggest English rock band of the '80s, but it took recognition in the US to kickstart their success in their homeland

Bands & Artists
EMP vinyl deal 2023
Dire Straits, Metallica, The Beatles, Iron Maiden and more: get massive savings on these 10 classic - and future-classic - albums with EMP

By Rich Hobson Published

With EMP offering up to 50% off selected vinyl over Cyber Weekend, we've picked out 10 deals on absolute classics you won't want to miss

Albums
Mark Knopfler in 1992
“I’ll be sad to see them go but we’ve had wonderful times together and I can’t play them all”: Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler is selling off his guitar collection

By Paul Brannigan Published

Dire Straits' leader Mark Knopfler is putting 120 guitars up for auction in January

Bands & Artists
The Hollywood sign in Los Angeles and some 7" single covers
The stories of 10 'regular folk' made famous by rock songs

By Tom Bryant Published

What do Spoonman, Arnold Layne, and an unnamed security guard at Studio 54 have in common? They all inspired classic songs

Tracks & Singles
Guitarists on the French & Saunders show
Watch David Gilmour, Lemmy, Mark Knopfler and Gary Moore in a bizarre comedy sketch

By Fraser Lewry Last updated

As unlikely all-star line-ups go, this might just be the unlikeliest, and possibly the starriest, as folk icon Ralph McTell goes on trial

Interviews
The 290 greatest rock albums of 1979
The 20 best rock albums of 1979

By Classic Rock Magazine Last updated

The 1970s crash out in style with AC/DC, Pink Floyd and The Clash producing some of their best work, and Led Zeppelin’s last hurrah

Albums
The 20 best rock albums of 1978
The 20 best rock albums of 1978

By Classic Rock Magazine Published

Punk fury gives way to classic songwriting, live albums prove dangerous to the charts, and Van Halen, Kate Bush and Dire Straits make their entrance

Albums
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