Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits

Dire Straits were a British rock band, formed by Mark Knopfler (vocals and lead guitar), his younger brother David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion), and managed by Ed Bicknell, active between 1977 and 1995. Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock was at the forefront, Dire Straits played a more conventional style, although with a stripped-down sound that appealed to audiences *weary of the overproduced stadium rock of the 1970s. In their early days, Mark and David requested that pub owners turn down their sound so that patrons could converse while the band played, an indication of their *unassuming *demeanor. Dire Straits soon *became hugely successful, with their first album going multi-platinum globally.

Throughout the band's career Mark Knopfler was the songwriter and driving force behind the group. The band's best-known songs include "Sultans of Swing", "Romeo and Juliet", "Tunnel of Love", "Telegraph Road", "Private Investigations", "Money for Nothing", "Walk of Life", "So Far Away", "Brothers in Arms", "On Every Street" and "Calling Elvis". Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler have sold *in excess of 120 million albums to date.

Mark Knopfler is coming to Spain next July 2010.

DIFFICULT VOCABULARY
weary - cansado, harto
unassuming - sencillo, sin pretensiones
demeanor - comportamiento, conducta
become hugely successful - tener un éxito arrollador
in excess of -superior a

'Walk of life' is one of their most famous songs. To watch the original video click here. If you want to read the lyrics while you listen to the song, click here.