Dire Straits biography

Since the break-up of Dire Straits Mark Knopfler has shown no interest in reforming the band, although keyboardist Guy Fletcher has been associated with almost every piece of Knopfler's solo material to date. Danny Cummings has also made frequent appearances, including on Knopfler's last three solo album releases All the Roadrunning (with Emmylou Harris), Kill to Get Crimson and Get Lucky. In 2007 Knopfler said he did not miss the global fame at the height of the band's success, explaining that "It just got too big".

In October 2008, John Illsley told the BBC that he wanted Knopfler to agree to reform Dire Straits for a comeback tour. Knopfler declined, saying that in the past he was often reluctant to reform the group and insisting that he "isn't even a fan of Dire Straits' early hits". In the same interview, Illsley also suggested that Knopfler is enjoying his continued success as a solo artist, saying that "He's doing incredibly well as a solo artist, so hats off to him. He's having a perfectly good time doing what he's doing".

In December 2009, the band was commemorated with a Heritage Award from PRS for Music. A plaque was placed on a block of flats in Deptford, London, the location where Dire Straits played their first gig.

Popularity

One of the world's best selling music artists, Dire Straits have sold over 120 million albums worldwide to date, and their fifth album, Brothers in Arms, has won many accolades. PRS for Music has set up the Heritage Award to recognise the unusual "performance birthplaces" of famous bands and artists.

Studio albums

Dire Straits (1978)
Communiqué (1979)
Making Movies (1980)
Love over Gold (1982)
Brothers in Arms (1985)
On Every Street (1991)

Awards

BRIT Awards 1983 - Best British Group
Grammy Awards 1986 - Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group (for "Money For Nothing")
Grammy Awards 1986 - Brothers in Arms Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical
Juno Award 1986 - International Album of the Year
BRIT Awards 1986 - Best British Group
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Video of the Year (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Best Group Video (for "Money for Nothing")
Grammy Awards 1987 - Best Music Video, Short Form "Dire Straits Brothers in Arms"
BRIT Awards 1987 - Best British Album (for Brothers In Arms)
Grammy Awards 2006 - Best Surround Sound Album for his surround sound production (for Brothers in Arms-20th Anniversary Edition, Chuck Ainlay, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Chuck Ainlay and Mark Knopfler, surround producers)
PRS for Music Heritage Award 2009.

Award nominations

Grammy Awards 1980 - Best New Artist
Grammy Awards 1980 - Best Rock Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group (for "Sultans Of Swing")
American Music Award 1986 - Favorite Pop/Rock Single (for "Money for Nothing")
Grammy Awards 1986 - Album of the Year (for Brothers in Arms)
Grammy Awards 1986 - Record of the Year (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Best Stage Performance Video (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Best Concept Video (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Best Direction (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Best Special Effects (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Viewer's Choice (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Best Art Direction (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Best Editing (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Most Experimental Video (for "Money for Nothing")
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 - Best Overall Performance (for "Money for Nothing")
Grammy Awards 1992 - Best Music Video, Short Form (for "Calling Elvis")

References

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