Did you know that Dire Straits started out in Deptford, South London in 1977?

Mark Knopfler's younger brother, David, was originally in the band, playing guitar.

Their first professional performance was at a punk festival, where they went by the name Cafe Racers.

Sting co-wrote the hit Money For Nothing with Mark Knopfler, and did some guest vocals on the song.

M. Knopfler went solo in 1996, releasing the album Golden Heart.

What do y'all know about Dire Straits? :)

1985's Brothers In Arms is credited with launching the new medium of the Compact Disc into the mainstream. Recorded digitally and sounding great, it become the format's first big-selling title and many people of a certain age will remember it as one of their first purchases on CD.

Money For Nothing was the first video played on MTV Europe on August 1, 1987.

Mark Knopfler studied English literature at Leeds University, and worked briefly as a rock critic for the Yorkshire Evening Post while at college.

Mark Knopfler wrote the song "Private Dancer" for Tina Turner's album of the same name.

"Brothers In Arms" became the biggest selling album of the 80's in England.

Mark wanted his younger brother David out of the band because he said he couldn't sing! Hey Mark, you're not that great a singer yourself! :lol:

Originally posted by Recker
Mark wanted his younger brother David out of the band because he said he couldn't sing! Hey Mark, you're not that great a singer yourself! :lol:

ITA, Recks. I never liked the sound of Mark's nasally singing voice, but I do like a few of Dire Strait's songs, most notably "So Far Away"...

US charts:

#4 Sultans of swing 1979
#45 Lady writer 1979
#58 Skateaway 1981
#75 Industrial disease 1983
#1 Money for nothing 1985
#7 Walk of life 1986
#19 So far away 1986

Bubbling under the US charts:

#105 Twisting by the pool 1983

UK charts:

#8 Sultans of swing 1979
#51 Lady writer 1979
#8 Romeo and Juliet 1981
#37 Skateaway 1981
#54 Tunnel of love 1981
#2 Private investigations 1982
#14 Twisting by the pool 1983
#50 Love over gold (live)/Solid rock (live) 1984
#4 Money for nothing 1985
#16 Walk of life 1986
#26 Your latest trick 1986
#62 Sultans of swing (re-issue) 1988
#21 Calling Elvis 1991
#55 Heavy fuel 1991
#42 On every street 1992
#67 The bug 1992
#31 Encore (EP) 1993

Album rock charts:

#39 Expresso love 1981
#31 Skateaway 1981
#56 Solid rock 1981
#9 Industrial disease 1982
#12 Twisting by the pool 1983
#1 Money for nothing 1985
#6 Walk of life 1985
#29 So far away 1985
#8 One world 1985
#21 Rich across the river 1986
#3 Calling Elvis 1991
#1 Heavy fuel 1991
#8 The bug 1992

Modern Rock charts:

#25 Calling Elvis 1991
#22 Heavy fuel 1991

Adult contemporary charts:

#46 Sultans of swing 1979
#4 Walk of life 1985
#3 So far away 1986

Their song "The bug" was taken to #13 on the country charts in 1993 by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Skateaway (1981)
Industrial Disease (1982)
Twisting By the Pool (1983)

all charted into the Canadian top 40