John Illsley: Life in Dire Straits

John Illsley knew he wanted more out of life than a safe career working in the logging industry. His life took a major turn when he met the Knopfler brothers; Mark and David. With John taking the bass, and Pick Withers on drums, the band Dire Straits was formed. Through various lineup changes, John Illsley and Mark Knopfler remained the core members throughout the band's career. Dire Straits went on to win four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards. They've sold an estimated 100 million units worldwide, making them one of the biggest bands of the 80s. John documents it all in his memoir, My Life In Dire Straits. We cover it all, including their awkward entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Listen to the entire Dire Straits catalogue with a free month of Amazon Music courtesy of your 80s music aficionados at What Difference Does It Make We are a proud member of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices