Dire Straits "Money for Nothing"). Similarly, the album's title track was also relatively unsuccessful, failing to reach the UK Top 40. The final single released from the album and from the band in the UK was "The Bug", which contains backing vocals by Vince Gill, who was also invited to join the band full-time but declined to pursue a solo career. Session drummer Chris Whitten joined Dire Straits as a side-man when the band embarked on an extensive two-year, 300-show tour, playing in front of some 7.1 million ticket-buying fans. While musically more elaborate than the previous 1985–86 world tour, the band's
Dire Straits Tour Dire Straits Tour The Dire Straits Tour was the first concert tour by the British rock band Dire Straits. The tour started on 9 June 1978 and included 55 concerts throughout Europe, ending on 18 November 1978. The tour promoted and supported the release of the band's debut album, "Dire Straits", which was released on 7 October 1978. The tour setlist consisted mainly of songs from their debut album. The tour lineup included Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals), John Illsley (bass), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar), and Pick Withers (drums). The European tour including concerts in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium,