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
Dire Straits and became a fixture in the band's live performances. Bob Dylan, who had seen the band play in Los Angeles, was so impressed that he invited Mark Knopfler and drummer Pick Withers to play on his next album, "Slow Train Coming". Recording sessions for the group's second album, "Communiqué", took place in December 1978 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas. Released in June 1979, "Communiqué" was produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett and went to No. 1 on the German album charts, with the debut album "Dire Straits" simultaneously at No. 3. In the United Kingdom the album