Dire Straits Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion). The band became one of the world's best-selling music artists, with album sales of over 100 million. Their first hit single "Sultans of Swing", from their self-titled debut album, reached the top ten in the UK and US charts in 1978. They released hit singles in the 1980s, such as "Private Investigations" (1983), "Money for Nothing" (1985), and
1970 radio ban part in the dispute. The ban did not extend to releases by American artists. Some radio disc jockeys, such as Stan Rofe, defied the ban by playing songs according to their personal tastes. Teen-oriented pop music newspaper "Go-Set" reported on the dispute: it interviewed affected musicians and its journalists argued for the removal of the ban. Once the ban was lifted, "status quo ante" resulted: APRA's record companies returned to supplying free promotional material and FARB's radio stations resumed playing their records. During the ban some Australian musicians recorded covers of UK artists' hits on previously minor labels. The Mixtures,