Enjoy Celebrity Radio’s Dire Straits Guitarist John Illsley Life Story Interview…..
John Illsley (born 24 June 1949, Leicester, England) is an English musician who rose to fame as the bass guitarist of the critically acclaimed rock band Dire Straits.
With Dire Straits, Illsley has been the recipient of multiple BRIT and Grammy Awards and a Heritage Award.
As one of the founding band members, with brothers and guitarists David and Mark Knopfler, and drummer Pick Withers, Illsley played a role in the development of Dire Straits’ sound.
When David Knopfler left the band in the early 1980s, Illsley not only lost a bandmate, but also a former roommate and good friend.
By the time the group disbanded in 1995, with changes in personnel, Illsley and frontman Mark Knopfler were the only two original band members remaining.
Belfield talked to him about his life, career and what it’s like being a huge star in Rock n Roll…..
Here’s Alex & John at the BBC….
Illsley has produced two albums of his own with Mark Knopfler as a guest musician, and has helped with Mark’s personal projects and charities.
He released two more albums, with influence from the Celtic-based band Cunla.
In 2012 John presented a TV programme with Mark for Sky Arts called “Guitar Stories: Mark Knopfler”, in which the pair revisit 6 guitars that helped define Mark’s music, both in the UK and in the USA
Recorded 2008 by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio the BBC.
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