Pick a Day

Pick Withers (drummer for Dire Straits) is born David Withers in Leicester, England.

John Illsley (bass guitarist for Dire Straits) is born in Leicester, England.

Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler is born in Glasgow, Scotland. The group earns a huge following in the '80s with hits like "Money For Nothing" and "Walk Of Life," but Knopfler puts them out to pasture in the '90s, preferring a less hectic lifestyle that includes scoring films like Wag The Dog and playing on albums for the likes of Nanci Griffith and Bryan Ferry.

Alan Clark (keyboardist for Dire Straits) is born in Great Lumley, England.

Guitarist David Knopfler is born in Glasgow, Scotland. Along with his older brother Mark, he forms Dire Straits in 1977, but leaves the band after their second album in 1980 to launch a solo career.

Hal Lindes (guitarist for Dire Straits from 1980-1985) is born in Monterey, California.

At the Deptford Festival in Lewisham, England, the band Cafe Racers change their name to Dire Straits and open for Squeeze. The new name is a reference to their financial condition, which improves dramatically when they release the hit single "Sultans Of Swing" the following year.

At Pathway Studios in North London, Dire Straits make their first demo, which includes "Sultans Of Swing." A BBC Radio DJ plays the song, which leads to a record deal. The song becomes their first hit when it's released in 1978.

Dire Straits sign with Vertigo Records, who are impressed with their demo for "Sultans Of Swing."

Dire Straits release their self-titled debut album in the UK. The single "Sultans Of Swing" takes off, and the album ends up going Platinum in several territories, including America.

Dire Straits begin their first North American tour with a show at the Paradise Theater in Boston.

Dire Straits release their third album, Making Movies. Three of the songs - "Romeo And Juliet," "Tunnel Of Love" and "Skateaway" - are accompanied by short films sold on a home video also called Making Movies.

Dire Straits release their best selling album, Brothers In Arms. It goes to #1 in many territories, but the subsequent tour wipes out the band, which go on an extended hiatus and don't release another album until 1991.

The innovative computer-animated video for Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" debuts on MTV, which is very meta because the refrain in the song (sung by Sting), is "I want my MTV." It wins Best Video at the VMAs and helps the song go to #1 in America.

Dire Straits play the first of 14 consecutive nights at Wembley Arena in London. On Day 10 of the residency (July 13), they first play an afternoon set across the parking lot at Wembley Stadium as part of Live Aid.

"Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits hits #1 in America. The song is co-written by Sting, who sings the line "I want my MTV." Sting is also on the chart with "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" and "Fortress Around Your Heart," both from his debut solo album, Dream Of The Blue Turtles.

MTV Europe makes its debut. The first video shown is Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing," a song where Sting proclaims, "I want my MTV."

Dozens of big-name acts, including Peter Gabriel, Sting, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder, rock the stage at the Free Nelson Mandela Concert at Wembley Stadium in London.More

Slade singer Noddy Holder is awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II, and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits is awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire).

Dire Straits play the first of three shows at Shepherd's Bush Empire, London. It's their first concert since 1992, but they perform under the name Mark Knopfler And Friends to make it clear a reunion is not forthcoming.

Dire Straits is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but with frontman Mark Knopfler skipping the ceremony, nobody inducts them and they do not perform.More