Dire Straits was a British rock band, formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals), his brother David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums), and subsequently managed by Ed Bicknell. Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock reigned, Dire Straits worked within the conventions of classic rock, albeit with a stripped-down sound that appealed to modern audiences weary of the overproduced stadium rock of the 1970s. In their early days, Mark and David requested that pub owners turn down the amps so that patrons could converse while the band played — indicative of their unassuming demeanor. Despite this oddly self-effacing approach to rock and roll, Dire Straits soon became hugely successful.
Dire Straits chose their name mainly due to the financial conditions the four band members were in at the time.
Skateaway
http://djallyn.org/media/skateaway.flvI seen a girl on a one-way corridor
Stealin’ down a wrong-way street
For all the world like an urban toreador
She had wheels on her feet – on her feet
Well the cars do the usual dances
Same old cruise and the curbside crawl
But the rollergirl – she’s takin’ chances
Just love to see her take them onNo fears, alone at night – she’s sailing through the crowd
In her ears the phones are tight and the music’s playin’ loudHallelujah – here she comes – Queen Roller Ball
Enchante – what can I say? Carry on
You know she used to have to wait around
She used to be the lonely one
But now that she been skatin’ around town
She’s the only oneNo fears, alone at night – she’s sailing through the crowd
In her ears the phones are tight and the music’s playin’ loudShe gets rock n roll, from the rock n roll station
In a rock n roll dream
She’s making movies on location
She don’t know what it means
And the music make her wanna be the story
And the story was whatever was the song – what it was
Rollergirl – don’t worry
DJ play the movies – all night longShe tortures taxi drivers just for fun
She like to read their lips
Says: “Toro, toro, taxi – see ‘ya tomorrow my son – ”
She just let a big truck graze her hip
She got her own world in the city – yeah!
Ain’t that true – Lord I know -
She got her own world in the city
The city’s bein’ so… rude to herSlippin’ and a-slidin’
Yeah, life’s a roller ball
Slippin’ and a-slidin’
Skateaway – that’s all
Skateaway
Shala shalay, hey hey, skateaway
She’s singin’ shala shalay, hey hey
Skateaway
Break
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What an amazing coincidence! I was just thinking of Dire Straits this morning while in the shower and I thought, “I wonder what happened to those guys. I better email DJ”.
Too weird….
Oh, and so I forgot to ask my question:
What happened to these guys?
Dire Straits in its final and best (In my opinion) configuration of nine band members disbanded about 1995. Mark Knopfler still tours with a small group and recently released — last summer, I think — “Kill to Get Crimson” — much quieter than most of the Straits work, but nice guitar sounds, and still MK’s voice, just growing older. John Illsley took up painting but has recently partnered up with some else and has released another album. You can google other great players. Phil Palmer, rhythm guitarist in the final iteration, toured with George Michael as lead guitar and plays with many others as a session artist. MK and PP — two of the best around ever on one stage.
If you like the later Straits work you can buy the On the Night DVD, which is live from about 1992 in Nimes — a fabulous live concert, well worth having.@ nerbygirl: