While in London, John Illsley shares a flat with David Knopfler and that is how Illsley meets Davids elder brother, Mark. John Edward Illsley is born on 24 June 1949 in Leicester, England. This compilation includes Mark Knopfler solo recordings as well as Dire Straits material. Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler participates in the celebrity challenge car race at the Australian Grand Prix. That is probably not the case. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. However Withers is gone before Mark Knopfler gets involved with The Droop; Withers and Knopfler do not meet at this time. Mark Knopfler (vocals, lead guitar), David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass) and Pick Withers (drums) are the founding and definitive members of the band they call Dire Straits. 62, AUS no. In the song Communique, the sly groove supports Knopflers wary attitude towards the bands new found media profile, though characteristically he phrases it in the third person: Maybe he could talk about the tricks of the trade / Maybe he could talk about himself / Maybe he could talk about the money that he made / Maybe he be saying something else. That, something else could be a portrait of A long gone Irish girl, another person in dire straits, a Portobello Belle: Bella Donnas on the high street / Her breasts upon the off-beat / And the stalls are just the side shows / Victorianas old clothes. The opening track, Once Upon A Time In The West, mixes cynicism about western society with what sounds like the soundtrack for a cowboy movie. It lasted a matter of months, but John had written to Gillett at Radio London asking what records to stock and he wrote straight back with tips. I feel really blessed. After that, he studies sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and opens a record shop with his girlfriend. Finally, Brewers Droop dissolves at the end of 1973. It seems that, at first, they land in Blyth, Northumberland, in the north east of the country. Although Mark is left-handed in all other ways, he plays guitar right-handed. Alan Clark attends Chester-le-Street Grammar School. 14, AUS no. Chief amongst these guests is Jeff Porcaro (drums). The rest of the album consists of moody, atmospheric instrumentals. I thought it was dull, but as soon as I bought my first Strat (i.e.