My Life in Dire Straits: The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Bands in Rock History

Written by John Illsley

Narrated by John Illsley

Dire Straits filled giant stadiums around the world and sold hundreds of millions of records. Their classic songs—‘Sultans of Swing’, ‘Romeo 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. Starting with his own unlikely beginnings in Middle England, John Illsley 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 men’s clubs to Madison Square Garden, sharing gigs with wild punk bands to the Live Aid stage at Wembley until, ultimately, the shattering demands of touring on a global scale and living life in
the spotlight took their inevitable toll.

John’s story is also a tribute to his great friend Mark Knopfler, the band’s lead singer, songwriter and gifted guitarist. They were the only band members to stay the fifteen-year distance. Told with searching honesty, soulful reflection and wry
humour, this is the first and only account of that incredible story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705046869

Reviews for My Life in Dire Straits

[norinrad10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This certainly is an original tale. John Illsley's story of his time in Dire Straits is as much about knowing when to keep your mouth shut as it is about the pursuit of fame and fortune. Illsley turned a pedestrian career as a student into an exceptional ride when his roommate's brother, Mark Knopfler, one day asked him if he felt like forming a band. Little could he have known what that simple question would lead to. For the next 15 years, he spent touring the world helping Knopfler spin his songs into gold. At one point, Illsley wonders if Knopfler would have played with different musicians, would the music have turned out the same. It's a good question and shows a welcome degree of humility from a man who held down the bottom for one of the largest bands ever. It's a refreshing read and worthy of your time.

[walterqchocobo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting book covering the founding of Dire Straits, recording albums, and a fair amount about their extensive tours. I found the early portions of the book more interesting as several chapters about the giant tours seemed to bog down the later chapters. I would have liked to hear more about the songs but I'll have to wait for Mark Knopfler to write a book. Still, a good read for a fan of Dire Straits.

[paul_s-289480 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Dire Straits is one of my favourite bands but this book is more tedious than a wikipedia article with added copious amounts of self-pity.