DIRE STRAITS' Bassist, JOHN ILLSLEY on The Rise To Fame

DIRE STRAITS filled giant stadiums around the world and sold hundreds of millions of records. Throughout the eighties they were one of the biggest bands on the planet. Their classic songs - 'Sultans of Swing', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Money for Nothing', 'Brothers In Arms' - formed the soundtrack of a generation and live on today: still racking up sales, still being played on the radio on every continent.

This week we devote the entire episode of A Breath of Fresh Air to Dire Straits’ founding member and bassist, JOHN ILLSLEY who shares the story of one of the greatest live acts in rock history. Starting with his own unlikely beginnings in Middle England, he recounts the band's rise from humble origins in London's spit-and-sawdust pubs to the best-known venues in the world, the working man's clubs to Madison Square Garden, gigging with wild punk bands to the Live Aid stage at Wembley. From loading in their own equipment down beer chutes of London clubs to playing for seven million people on their final 1992 tour, he paints the expanding insanity of their global conquest, in a tale thick with unlikely characters, wild highs and inescapable downs. More than that, he describes the relationship that came through it all, which he values above any platinum disc.

Until, ultimately, the shattering demands of touring on a global scale and living life in the spotlight took their inevitable toll.

During our interview, John recounts stories about meeting and working with his great friend Mark Knopfler. He walks us through some of the band’s best known tracks, telling us how they came to be and discusses his latest solo album, simply called 8. He also details his newly released autobiography ‘My Life in Dire Straits’.

It’s a fascinating chat. One that will keep you glued to hear more.

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I hope you enjoy this week's episode. Please let me know if you do.

Warm regards

Sandy