Dire Straits were a British rock band, formed in 1977. Dire Straits’ sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, and blues, and came closest to beat music within the context of rock and roll. Despite the prominence of punk rock during the band’s early years, the band’s stripped-down sound contrasted with punk, demonstrating a more “rootsy” influence that emerged from pub rock. Many of Dire Straits’ compositions were melancholic. Dire Straits’ biggest selling album, Brothers in Arms, has sold over 30 million copies, and was the first album to sell a million copies on CD. They also became one of the world’s most commercially successful bands, with worldwide album sales of over 120 million. (More from Wikipedia)
Returning to the albums, Slow Train Coming and the albums that followed it are notable for the all-star assistance that Dylan received in putting them together. Bob Dylan heard the Dire Straits hit single “Sultans of Swing” and contacted guitarist and lead vocalist Mark Knopfler about working on an album together.
(August 2014)
The next two drummers for the Primitives made a name for themselves in later years. Dave Withers took Mick Charleton’s place in the band when they moved to Italy; according to Mal Ryder, he played on all of the early records that he made with the Primitives. He had the nickname Pique or Pick by then; Withers returned to England in 1969. In the late 1970’s, Pick Withers became the founding drummer with the British rock band Dire Straits, playing on their first four albums, including their #4 hit “Sultans of Swing”.
(May 2015)
