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Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
British songwriter, guitarist, and record producer
1
John Illsley
John Illsley
English bass guitarist
2
David Knopfler
David Knopfler
English musician
3
Terry Williams
Terry Williams
Welsh drummer
4
Alan Clark
Alan Clark
English keyboardist
5
Guy Fletcher
Guy Fletcher
English multi-instrumentalist; keyboardist in Dire Straits
6
The Notting Hillbillies
The Notting Hillbillies
band
7
Hal Lindes
Hal Lindes
American musician
8
Neil Dorfsman
Neil Dorfsman
American record producer
9
Omar Hakim
Omar Hakim
musician
10
Jack Sonni
Jack Sonni
American musician
11
Steve Phillips
Steve Phillips
British musician
12
Sting
Sting
English musician
13
Sade
Sade
British band
14
Pick Withers
Pick Withers
English drummer
15
The Police
The Police
English rock band
16
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
American country singer
17
Holly Beth Vincent
Holly Beth Vincent
American musician
18
Eurythmics
Eurythmics
British music duo
19
The Killers
The Killers
American rock band
20
Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer
English singer-songwriter and musician
21
Muse
Muse
English rock band
22
Nothing More
Nothing More
American alternative metal band
23
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
English rock band
24
Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson
British-American musician, DJ, songwriter and record producer
25
Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News
American pop rock band
26
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon
American rock band
27
Culture Club
Culture Club
English pop band
28
The Verve
The Verve
British Rock Band
29
Simply Red
Simply Red
English soul band
30
Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire
indie rock band from Canada
31
Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons
English folk rock band
32
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
British band
33
Florence + the Machine
Florence + the Machine
British indie rock band
34
Billy Idol
Billy Idol
English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor who holds dual British and American citizenship (born 1955)
35
The Psychedelic Furs
The Psychedelic Furs
British new wave band
36
Crowded House
Crowded House
pop rock band from New Zealand/Australia
37
The Darkness
The Darkness
British Band
38
INXS
INXS
Australian rock band
Intro
British rock band
Record Labels
Awards Received
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Nominated For
Grammy Award for Best New Artist
News

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). They were active from 1977 to 1988 and again from 1991 to 1995.

Their first single, "Sultans of Swing", from their 1978 self-titled debut album, reached the top ten in the UK and US charts. It was followed by hit singles including "Romeo and Juliet" (1981), "Private Investigations" (1982), "Twisting by the Pool" (1983), "Money for Nothing" (1985), and "Walk of Life" (1985). Their most commercially successful album, Brothers in Arms (1985), has sold more than 30 million copies; it was the first album to sell a million copies on compact disc, and is the eighth-bestselling album in UK history. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Albums, Dire Straits have spent over 1,100 weeks on the UK albums chart, the fifth most of all time.

Dire Straits' sound draws from various influences including country, folk, the blues rock of J. J. Cale, and jazz. Their stripped-down sound contrasted with punk rock and demonstrated a roots rock influence that emerged from pub rock. There were several changes in personnel, with Mark Knopfler and Illsley being the only members who lasted from the beginning of the band's existence, to the end. After their first breakup in 1988, Knopfler told Rolling Stone: "A lot of press reports were saying we were the biggest band in the world. There's not an accent then on the music, there's an accent on popularity. I needed a rest." They disbanded for good in 1995, after which Knopfler launched a solo career full-time. He has since declined reunion offers.

Called "the biggest British rock band of the 80s" by Classic Rock magazine, their 1985–1986 world tour, which included a performance at Live Aid in July 1985, set a record in Australasia. Their final world tour from 1991 to 1992 sold 7.1 million tickets. Dire Straits won four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards (Best British Group twice), two MTV Video Music Awards, and various other awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Dire Straits have sold an estimated 100 million units worldwide, including 51.4 million certified units, making them one of best-selling music artists.