The pub was a spontaneous purchase. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Isleys_Live&oldid=1100614564, "I Know Who You Been Socking It To" (Recorded live at Yankee Stadium, 1969), "I Turned You On / It's Your Thing" (Recorded live at Yankee Stadium, 1969), "Shout" (Recorded live at Yankee Stadium, 1969), This page was last edited on 26 July 2022, at 20:39. 2,322 talking about this. Suddenly we moved from playing in front of 50 people to 500 then 5,000 in a very short period of time. This album is the only T-Neck recording not reissued by Sony Music Entertainment; instead, it was reissued by Rhino Records.[4]. I'm self taught, like most rock & roll musicians of my generation, and I think that's why our music had a freshness and diversity to it. His way of playing was very different from anything Id ever seen, and still remains to this day, he says. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-o3g03s{color:black;}Published20:00,24 May 2022 BST| Last updated20:00,24 May 2022 BST. live am 28.04.2016 im Z7 Prattelnhttp://www.johnillsley.comJohn Illsley - Lead Vocals and Bass guitar.Robbie McIntosh - GuitarPaul Stacey - GuitarSteve Smith. Lady Writer. [10] During their time together as Dire Straits they sold over 120 million albums and toured extensively across the world. There's nothing like the smell of bacon drifting around the house. It would be too difficult to recreate what we had and I really love what I'm doing now. Discover Live in Les Baux de Provence by Cnla, John Illsley, Greg Pearle released in 2007. We'd just done 40 sellout shows in a row and were emotionally exhausted. Unsurprisingly, John Bonham is number one on most lists of drummers. It was for sale and I was worried someone would come along and destroy its charm - and I also liked the idea of a reliable place to eat on those days I didn't feel like cooking. New Video: Dire Straits - Calling Elvis (Live) - John Illsley. The Isleys Live is a live album released by The Isley Brothers on March 24, 1973 on T-Neck Records as a double album with the catalog number TNS 3010-2. For tickets see www.variety.org.uk/events/silverstone-rock-n-race or call 0207 428 8102, Green tea first thing, an espresso at lunch and a very strong vodka tonic at night, The man who saved my life, Professor John Gribben. View our online Press Pack. If you any have tips or corrections, please send them our way. Stream songs including "Toe the Line (Live)", "Walk of Life (Live)" and more. This website featuresfree streamingof all John's solo albums, a fan powereddIRE sTRAITS Archiveas well as galleries ofJohn's paintingsand a shop forCD albumsandPrints. They usually get their way. (Theme from Local Hero) (Live) John Illsley. 2008. Jagger's net worth has been estimated at $360 million. To us it was just another record. The worlds population was and there were an estimated year babies born throughout the world in 1949, Harry S. Truman (Democratic) was the president of the United States, and the number one song on Billboard 100 was [Not available]. What Is John Farnhams Net Worth In 2022? Tracklisting: 1) It's A Long Way Back2) I Love You Still3) 21st Century4) Market Town5) The Mission Song6) Wondering7) Which Way Is Up8) None Of This Was Planned9) I'm Only Sleeping. Steph and I just stand back and let them get on it with it. 1840 fans Top titres. 2022. It was pretty extraordinary though. He shared a flat with David Knopfler and writes specifically about his first meeting with Davids older brother. When we formed Dire Straits in 1976, we simply recorded a demo tape with a few songs and gave it to Radio London DJ, Charlie Gillett, who played "Sultans of Swing" on his show. That resumed with a first UK post-lockdown gig at south Londons Sound Lounge in late October, in a soldout show with esteemed guitarist Robbie McIntosh (the Pretenders, Paul McCartney, John Mayer) in the band. At Goldsmiths, where I read sociology, music became a core part of my life. We cover it all, including their awkward entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. See all your opportunities to see them live below! Stream and download in Hi-Res on Qobuz.com Paul Stanley, best known as rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist along with Gene Simmons for the rock band Kiss, has a net worth of $200 million, Celebrity Net Worth reported. When Dire Straits finished touring in 1993 John became heavily involved in the Art world. That was a seminal moment in musical history, let alone just for us. His 2022 album is simply called VIII, featuring nine great tracks, reflecting the Straits classics with his own personal spin. Harry's speciality is prawns so garlicky that they make your hair stand on end, Deedee is fantastic with potatoes, Jess does the salad, and James keeps us all topped up with wine. Streets of Heaven. 1991. As the supergroup celebrate their 40th anniversary, the bass guitarist explains the band's serious financial fix in the 1970s. I like Sunday evenings as I'm always quite keen to get going again on Monday morning. Private Investigations. John Illsley, best known for being a Bassist, was born in England, United Kingdom on Friday, June 24, 1949. Beautiful You. On Sunday morning Harry will cook the most massive English breakfast. He later got a job as a junior newspaper reporter in Leeds before he went back to uni to study English, moving to Essex in the early 70s to work as a teacher. In 1993, Dave, Mark and I agreed that Dire Straits was snowballing out of control it had got too big so we stopped. This is needed so that they can develop a sense of security and identity. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Paul McCartney His career spans many successful decades, making him undoubtedly the richest guitar player in the world. Sir Paul McCartney's net worth is $1.2 Billion making him the top richest guitarist globally. "One" was also the theme song for the Irish film Anton. More than that, he describes the relationship that came through it all, which he values above any platinum disc. I lost my hair but the transplant worked; I've been 100 per cent healthy for four years now. Such as the fact we were doing Brothers In Arms at same the time as Philips were developing the CD player with Phonogram with all this new technology. Lets find out! The British bassist has been alive for 26,916 days or 645,996 hours. Relations have remained strained between the two brothers, but John believes he and Mark were peas from the same rock pod. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. I dont think Pick got involved and David was always doing something somewhere else. Saturday lunch will be locally bought crab or lobster, or we'll make a spaghetti vongole. 2023 by What Difference Does It Make The Podcast. Away from Dire Straits, he has an impressive solo career, with eight studio albums and two live albums. With John taking the bass, and Pick Withers on drums, the band Dire Straits was formed. He also spends time at his home in Provence, France. Long Shadows | John Illsley. My children. All tracks are written by The Isley Brothers except where noted. As Leonard Cohen said: "If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often.". What a great album that is, he says. They are nurturing, supportive, healing, compassionate, and unconditionally loving. But there was something about the flat and the area which was a mixture of students, writers, musicians and poets living with working-class people that gave us such an original flavour.. Illsley collaborated with Pearle and Paul Brady on the song "One" and featured in the accompanying music video (2008). Born in Leicestershire in 1949, Illsley gravitated to blues and early rock'n'roll as a teenager and picked up the guitar before transitioning to bass. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). The name came from a friend of the drummer, who said, Well Pick, youve been in music all your life and youre still in dire straits, why dont you call it that?, Pick came into rehearsals the next morning with the name and we all went, Thatll do.. It went from there: we signed a recording contract with Phonogram a couple of months later and our first album went top 10 in every European country. John happened upon the Irish band Cunla in a Leicestershire pub in March 2005. Two decades later, Rhino Records re-issued the album including three live dates from the brothers' 1969 show at Yankee Stadium. John Illsley knew he wanted more out of life than a safe career working in the logging industry. Walk of Life. John Illsley was born in the middle of Baby Boomers Generation. Some of that playing in the early days, when you go back and look at it, was absolutely extraordinary. That puts a lot a lot of strain on you.. With Greg Pearl recording Beautiful You. I moved to the New Forest and started painting. We suddenly realised the sound had changed a bit. #direstraits #johnillsley #classicrock #80srock #markknopfler. He also spends time at his home in Provence, France. People with Chinese zodiac Ox bear persistent, simple, honest, and straightforward characteristics. I'll just keep painting pictures and making music until physically I have to stop. A jeles dtum miatt . At the age of 65, he continues to tour globally to his loyal fan base. So, feel free to use this information and benefit from expert answers to the questions you are interested in! We will continue to update this page, so bookmark it and come back often to see new updates. The album was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983. John Illsleys favourite spot is undoubtedly the small pub he owns in rural England, called the East End Arms. But they can also be obstinate, inarticulate, prudish, and distant. He also spends time at his home in Provence, France. With John taking the bass, and Pick Withers on drums, the band Dire Straits was formed. They've sold an estimated 100 million units worldwide, making them one of the biggest bands of the 80s. A journey through the music of Dire Straits. Its highly unlikely, however, that Dire Straits will ever get back together. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for John Mayall - Night Riding - Used Cassette - E192A at the best online prices at eBay! That continuing bond between the pair, and a deep affection for what they went through in 15-some years of Dire Straits, glows from the pages of Illsleys narrative. . That is probably the reason why we saw the whole thing through from beginning to end.. The four Grammys, three Brit Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards were clearly not quite enough for Illsley. Illsley now lives in Hampshire, with his second wife Stephanie and his four children. 1964 Gibson ES-335. So, back to my perfect weekend. Then a stem cell transplant was the only option. With Dire Straits, John has been the recipient of multiple BRIT and Grammy Awards and aHeritage Award. In October 2008 John releasedBeautiful You, an album with Greg Pearle from Cunla and followed the release with a a short tour of Ireland. Bassist and founding member John Illsley - along with guitarist and frontman Mark Knopfler, the . Every schoolboy dreams of playing in a rock & roll band and, I guess, owning his own pub but it's much harder to make it happen these days. Having carved a reputation for himself as apainter, John had solo exhibitions in London, New York, Sydney and across Europe. They formed Dire Straits with Marks younger brother David on rhythm guitar and drummer Pick Withers although John says their name perfectly summed them up. Rocker John Illsley reveals Mark Knopfler was a mess when they first met, The band went on to sell more than 100 million albums, Their Album Brothers in Arms topped the charts in 1985, John revealed that without Mark he would probably be still living in "that council flat", John Illsley and Band play The Ferry tonight in Glasgow, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Score: 4.3/5 (52 votes) . Having carved a reputation for himself as a. 05:29 02. A trillionaire is an individual with a net worth equal to at least one trillion in U.S. dollars or a similarly valued currency, such as the euro or the British pound. I can't see myself ever retiring as what would I retire from? No song matches found.. Were currently in process of confirming all details such as John Illsleys height, weight, and other stats. Live in Les Baux de Provence. Dire Straits separated in 1993 but I'm still actively involved in music. It's a Long Way Back. Dave and Holly talk all things 80sbut mostly music. I'm self taught, like most rock & roll musicians of my generation, and I think that's why our music had a freshness and diversity to it. This must have been the brother he had mentioned., Dire Straits photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns. 2014. As a consequence of that, our friendship has matured and stayed the course of time.. John, who is headlining at The Brook in Southampton on Saturday with his new album, Testing the Water, decided he would not let the leukaemia beat him. He produced their debut album alongside Guy Fletcher between December 2011 and July 2012. 37 Where do eels come from? 2016. I'm not quite sure why but I felt an immediate connection to the blues and rock music being played at the end of the Fifties. Illsley not only had approval for the memoir from Mark but elicited a foreword from him that describes the hell of a ride they went on together. ROCKER John Illsley has revealed how he first met Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler when the singer was lying in a crumpled heap on the floor of his council flat. The performance was recorded and subsequently released as an album, Live in Les Baux, in 2007. Mark has enjoyed a successful solo career since the release of his debut album 'Golden Heart' in 1996 following the demise of Dire Straits. Though he also recorded several solo albums (including Glass and Never Told a Soul), this British musician is most famous as the bassist of the Grammy-winning rock band Dire Straits. The album was recorded at British Grove studios and produced by John and Guy Fletcher. He explains: Mark and I were very close and both pretty much agreed about how things should go. He also spends time at his home in Provence, France. Dire Straits went on to win four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards. Hed had enough of it. I took it for granted, because I grew up with it, of course. Hear all your favorite Dire Straits songs by receiving a one month subscription to. They became global superstars with their MTV-inspired song Money For Nothing, with guest vocals from Sting it was the first song to be played on the satellite channel when it launched in the UK in 1985. Paul McCartney is the richest rock star in the world. The album is also a showcase for the talents of the woefully underrated guitarist Ernie Isley, who simply wails on a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun," and plays fantastically throughout. There were precisely 912 full moons after his birth to this day. Illsley now lives in Hampshire, with his second wife Stephanie and his four children. Heres Little Richard: The Georgia Peach In All His 1957 Glory, Best Bobby Womack Songs: 20 R&B Essentials, The Rolling Stones, With A 1971 Tour, Say Goodbye To Britain, Dazzle Ships: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Darks Cold War Classic, Old Time Rock & Roll: The Story Behind Bob Segers Classic Rock Hit, How ABBA Conquered All With The Waterloo Album, Listen To JAWNYs New Album Its Never Fair, Always True, The Cranberries Everybody Else Is Doing It Turns 30 With Dolby ATMOS Mixes, The Mavericks Release In Time (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), Listen To Chiiilds New Album Better Luck In The Next Life, Skaiwater Reinterprets Rave, Releases It As New Project Rave (NC), Dillon Francis Recruits Zomboy And Knock2 For Remixes. Photo: Paul Sexton. When John Illsley was writing and demoing for his imminent eighth solo album, the last thing on his mind was to chronicle his remarkable past as a co-founder of one of the biggest bands in rock history. But it was a long way from their first encounter in the run-down apartment in Deptford in London. Family: He grew up in Leicester, England, and later settled in Hampshire with his four children and his wife, Stephanie. John Illsley Interview 3/1/2021. Which hypnotic is recommended for sleepwalking? But although he would be up for reforming Dire Straits for a third time after they disbanded in 1988 then again in 1995 he doesnt believe 68-year-old Mark wants to hit the road again. Through various lineup changes, John Illsley and Mark Knopfler remained the core . I usually spend Friday evening at the East End Arms, the pub I bought in the New Forest 25 years ago, which is just five minutes down the road from our house. Afterwards we'll go for a long walk with the dogs by the sea and have supper at home my preference is in the conservatory, or in front of the telly which is everyone else's preference. Rick says: "I owe my love of food and restaurants to early trips to Brittany. John also owns a pub, theEast End Armsin the New Forest. They have an great desire to feel loved and appreciated in every part of their lives. He appeared with them on several occasions, most notably on 23 September 2006 at Cathedrale d'Image in Les Baux de Provence, France. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for John Illsley - I Want To See The Soon - Used Vinyl Record 7 - E1450A at the best online prices at eBay! Score: 4.3/5 (52 votes) . Illsley now lives in Hampshire, with his second wife Stephanie and his four children. John tunes up in The East End Arms,his New Forest Pub. The best time to prune cottonwoods is late winter while the tree is dormant.Prune for proper growth while the tree is a young sapling. Score: 4.7/5 (56 votes) . I was incredibly lucky. As of 2022, John Illsley has an estimated net worth of $5 million (4 million), according to Idol Networth. To leave feedback or submit images for The Archive please tweet @john_illsley. More By John Illsley. Dating: According to CelebsCouples, John Illsley is single . Mark was moving off in a different direction and I completely understood that he wanted to put that machine away, reflects Illsley. John happened upon the Irish band Cunla in a Leicestershire pub in March 2005. At the same time tech giants Philips developed the CD player, with their album Brothers In Arms becoming the first to sell more than a million copies on the new format. Illsley, born in Leicester in the English midlands in 1949, reminisces in the book about his musical education and an early job with a timber firm, before a Sociology course at Goldsmiths college. John Illsley is an English musician who rose to fame as the bass guitarist of the critically acclaimed band, With Dire Straits, John has been the recipient of multiple BRIT and Grammy Awards and a. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! 2010. A bandrl vagy az albumrl nem fogok rni, hiszen azt megtette korbban Levin mester. His birth sign is Cancer and his life path number is 8. But John, who will tour Scotland with his own band later this month, admits: I still havent got a clue why the Knopflers were in Scotland in the first place.. Recorded live on the road in 2019 with Robbie McIntosh on guitar. John Illsley knew he wanted more out of life than a safe career working in the logging industry. I haven't got one proud moment, I have four. They even said to us, Look, we dont expect you to start selling records until at least the second or third album. So it was left to him and I to load the bloody bass bin in. I walked into the council flat where his brother David and I were living in a pretty dodgy part of south-east London. What Bass did John Illsley? Reflecting on that inauspicious introduction today, Illsley says: I knew as soon as I met him that I was going to know about him for a long time, in one way or another. We tossed a coin to see who was going to be at the top and who was going to be at the bottom, and it seemed to be just Mark and I doing it, he laughs. Throughout it all, John and Mark were the only founding members to remain in the line up of Dire Straits right through from 1977 until they decided to call it a day in 1995. To be honest after Brothers, and such a big break, I really was not expecting to do another album. I started out using a 59 P-bass which actually worked very well in the studio, because although it had some loud spots you could graphic them out. I've done shows all over the world and my most recent paintings are on display at the Belgravia Gallery in Mayfair. 04:48 03. Voirfilm Dire Straits : Alchemy Live Streaming VF Complet Gratuit ~ *Regardez Dire Straits : Alchemy Live en ligne les meilleures vidos HD 1080p-4K gratuites sur votre ordinateur de bureau, ordinateur portable, ordinateur portable, tablette, iPhone, iPad, Mac Pro et plus encore. Ill tell you what, loading it in was one thing but getting it out was another. John Illsley. The performance was recorded and subsequently released as an album. The first eight tracks come from club gigs in 1971 and 1972, while the last three are from a 1969 show at Yankee Stadium. He also spends time at his home in Provence, France. Testing the Water . But the most interesting thing about The Isleys Live is the inclusion of several cover songs, such as Carole King's "It's Too Late," Neil Young's "Ohio," Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay," and Stephen Stills' "Love the One You're With." Last Update: October 15, 2022 This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. I was slightly stunned, then I thought Great, here we go again., The result was the 1991 swansong On Every Street, an album that is sometimes undervalued in the Dire Straits canon, but not by Illsley. Preparations for a Dire Straitsshow in Earls Court. Members of Grizzly Bear aren't exactly rolling in money. My sister, Pat, proved to be the perfect match, and quite courageously she came up to London to be my donor, despite the fact that she's got Parkinson's Disease. John Illsley is an English musician who rose to fame as the bass guitarist of the critically acclaimed bandDire Straits. All the while, Illsley has headed out on his own tours, in recent years in a Q&A format titled The Life and Times of Dire Straits, with former band co-manager Paul Cummins. If there is any information missing, we will be updating this page soon. Introduced to lead singer and guitarist Mark Knopfler by Mark's brother, David Knopfler, Illsley was one of just two original band members remaining when it broke up in 1995. As of 2021, his net worth is $1.2 billion. We sold more than 120 million albums, won four Grammy Awards and three Brit Awards and spent more than 1,100 weeks in the UK album charts. Sultans of Swing. The Isleys Live received the makeover treatment in 1996 by Rhino Records, who remastered the whole disc and lengthened it with several extra selections not included on the original. Where does john illsley live in france? While they run outside I'll check the fox hasn't had a go at the chickens during the night and then I'll make a pot of green tea and browse the multitude of notebooks I have lying around the house to see if there are any ideas worth pursuing. During their time together as Dire Straits they sold over 120 million albums and toured extensively across the world. . The bassist now splits his time with second wife Stephanie and his four children between homes in Hampshir and Provence in France. We never did it for money, we really didnt, he says of his days with Knopfler and the band. Its got much simpler as hes got older, thats for certain. What Bass did John Illsley? He appeared with them on several occasions, most notably on 23 September 2006 at Cathedrale dImage in Les Baux de Provence, France. I was prescribed some pretty strong chemotherapy from America, which gave me seven years clear, and then the cancer came back and I had some more chemo, which gave me another three years. Through various lineup changes, John Illsley and Mark Knopfler remained the core members throughout the band's career. Recorded at the Bitter End in New York City, the band are introduced as T-Neck recording artists before they take the stage. It won't be a late night because people tend to eat early in the countryside and Saturday is always an early start for me as I have to deal with the dogs. Their lucky numbers are 1, 9, and lucky colors are red, blue, purple. 21 Is ills a plural? But lockdown did some strange things, and not all of them were bad. What Is John Barrowman's Net Worth In 2022. Find tickets for John's 2017 European tour - http://johnillsley.com2017 John Illsley 21st Century. . . 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. John Illsley fathers name is under review and mother unknown at this time. John Illsley. 8th studio album from John Illsley. Touring with Dire Straits was hard work. John Illsley was central to that iconic sound as the bands bass guitarist. "Mark gave me this as a present in the mid- 80s, because he knew I'd always wanted one. I looked to my right and went Oh. You couldnt move. Then the Mandela [70th birthday concert, at Wembley Stadium] came across in 1988, and Mark and I were having lunch one day and he said Ive got some songs that I think would be great for the Dire Straits team to do. Score: 4.3/5 (52 votes) . The album was recorded at British Grove studios and produced by John and Guy Fletcher. 2014. But there hasn't been any literature about the band from any of its members -- until now. When Dire Straits finished touring in 1993 John became heavily involved in the Art world. The album is ready to go in 2022, accompanied by live shows, and with his autobiography My Life In Dire Straits newly published by Bantam Press. The Isleys Live is one of the finest funk/soul live albums ever recorded. Emmylou Harris is currently touring across 3 countries and has 21 upcoming concerts. Welcome to Sharing Culture! My last solo album, Testing the Water, came out 18 months ago and I am now working on another, as well as gigging with my band. I didnt even know Mark was coming to stay. Illsleys autobiography, called My Life in Dire Straits, came out last year, and included some great gossip for rock fans, including how he was asked to headline Live Aid, and the story behind the cameo of Sting on Money for Nothing. Hear all your favorite Dire Straits songs by receiving a one month subscription to Amazon for free courtesy of your friends at What Difference Does It Make. He was in the lounge, just this figure lying in a heap on the floor asleep with a guitar over his legs hed fallen asleep on the spot where he was playing. That stress proved too much for David, who quit in 1980 while recording their third album, Making Movies. You don't get a record deal unless you have 10,000 Facebook followers, are already selling records and doing gigs. 26 Where does john illsley live? People born on Friday are social animals, artistic, and obsessed with beauty and love. If you already have a cottonwood tree in the landscape, pruning may be necessary to control its growth. Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. -The John Illsley Band is performing in Rock n' Race on July 3 at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix in aid of Variety, the Children's Charity. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Ron Isley is really bad at paying taxes. Net Worth: Online estimates of John Illsleys net worth vary. Your email address will not be published. I Want To See The Moon . John Illsley, best known for being a Bassist, was born in England, United Kingdom on Friday, June 24, 1949. It's not the way music should be made. Their strengths are honest, industrious, patient, cautious, level-headed, and persistent. They still remain close friends and recently produced a programme Guitar Stories for Sky Arts. Recorded live at The East End Arms in 2014. He also co-founded the childrens charityLife Educationin 1987 which recently was integrated into Coram, one of the oldest UK charities. Friday is ruled by Venus, the planet of love, balance, beauty, romance, elegance, and pleasure. Expert Answers: Illsley now lives in Hampshire, with his second wife Stephanie and his four children. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Romeo and Juliet. Picture Information. Dire Straits are one of the biggest bands in rock history, having sold more than 100 million records, having won four Grammy Awards, and having embarked on some of the biggest tours the industry has ever seen. My style is quite abstract, and I generally work in oils. John Illsley was born in the Year of the Ox. Well, The reality is Internshala is a great platform for students to find internships and companies to find interns.But, it's also a well-crowded place where thousands of students apply for limited number internships(in 100) availed by tech companies, startups. I'm not a fan of Saturday night programmes such as X-Factor and The Voice. As one of the founding band members, with Mark Knopfler, his brother David and drummer Pick Withers, John played a major role in the development of the Dire Straits sound. Your email address will not be published. I thought, [Knopfler] is never going to write this down, and it gives me a chance to say something about him which he wont say.