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John Illsley (ex-Dire Straits) - ' The Life and Times' UK Tour Preview Interview — DeepCutsArchive
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John Illsley (ex-Dire Straits) - ' The Life and Times' UK Tour Preview Interview

John Illsley
SoloInterviewAcousticTourRare

Having released his sixth solo album 'Coming up for air' earlier this year, the former Dire Straits bass player has had a busy touring schedule, which included a performance at Glastonbury as well as dates across Europe. He's now gearing up for the next sequence of shows that combine acoustic versions of songs from his solo and 'Straits catalogues with a Q&A with long-time friend Paul Cummings. In this latest interview with Andy Rawll for Decibel Report, John talks about his first public performance at his school as well as his reminiscence of Live Aid and events and circumstances that inspired the lyrics on early songs like 'Once upon a time in the West'.

About John Illsley

John Edward Illsley (born 24 June 1949) is an English musician, best known as bassist of the rock band Dire Straits. He has received multiple BRIT and Grammy Awards, and a Heritage Award. As one of the founding band members, alongside drummer Pick Withers and guitarist brothers Mark Knopfler and David Knopfler, Illsley played a role in the development of Dire Straits' sound. Illsley and Mark Knopfler were the only members of the band to remain across its entire history. Illsley was inducted into...

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Added 25 Mar 2026



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