Dire Straits

Dire Straits emerged from the pub-rock scene of South London in 1977, at precisely the moment punk was supposed to have made guitar virtuosity obsolete. Mark Knopfler, a former journalist and teacher, had other ideas. Alongside his brother David on rhythm guitar, John Illsley on bass, and Pick Withers on drums, he created a sound rooted in blues, folk, and rock 'n' roll, driven by his extraordinary fingerpickin' technique. I've got the early albums on vinyl — Brothers in Arms on CD because it was one of the first digital recordings, a landmark in sound quality.

Sultans of Swing in 78 became a global hit. Number eight in the UK, broke the band in America. One of the great debut singles — a wry affectionate portrait of a forgotten jazz band playin' to an empty room, set to a guitar riff that guitarists have been tryin' to replicate ever since. The self-titled debut sold over six million copies.

Making Movies in 80 was a leap forward. Roy Bittan of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band on keyboards. Romeo and Juliet and Tunnel of Love showed new emotional depth. Romeo and Juliet — a bittersweet semi-autobiographical tale of doomed love set to a hauntin' fingerpicked melody. Beautiful.

Brothers in Arms in 85 was their commercial peak. One of the best-sellin' albums in British history. Fourteen weeks at number one in the UK. Over 30 million copies worldwide. Three inescapable singles: Money for Nothing with its signature riff and groundbreaking computer-animated music video; Walk of Life, a joyous barroom stomp; and the hauntin' title track — a war elegy of extraordinary restraint and power. Also one of the first albums recorded and marketed for the CD format, helpin' to drive the digital music revolution.

Love Over Gold and the live Alchemy had already proved their ambitions extended well beyond three-minute singles. Knopfler's detailed cinematic storytellin' on songs like Telegraph Road and Private Investigations gave 'em a literary weight rare in mainstream rock.

Dire Straits sit apart from their contemporaries. Never fashionable, never part of a scene, never concerned with trends. They simply played exceptional music with extraordinary musicianship. Over 120 million records sold. Four Grammys. Mark Knopfler's fingerpickin' style influenced a generation of guitarists. Craft, not hype. That's why they endure.