With a foreword by MARK KNOPFLER'An upliftingjourney through the sheer hard work,pitfalls and thrills of navigating agreat rock band to the pinnacle of success. I so enjoyed the ride!'ROGER TAYLORDire Straits filled giantstadiums around the world and sold hundreds of millions of records.Throughout the eighties they were one of the biggest bands on theplanet. Their classic songs -'Sultans of Swing','Romeo and Juliet','Money for Nothing','Brothers In Arms'- formed the soundtrack of ageneration and live on today: still racking up sales,still being playedon the radio on every continent. In My Life in Dire Straits,John Illsley - founding member,bassist and mainstay - evokes the spirit of the times and tells the story of one of the great live acts of rock history.Startingwith his own unlikely beginnings in Middle England,he recounts theband's rise from humble origins in London's spit-and-sawdust pubs to thebest-known venues in the world,the working man's clubs to MadisonSquare Garden,gigging with wild punk bands to the Live Aid stage atWembley. Until,ultimately,the shattering demands of touring on aglobal scale and living life in the spotlight took their inevitabletoll.John's story is also a tribute to his great friend MarkKnopfler,the band's lead singer,songwriter and gifted guitarist - theonly band members to stay the fifteen-year distance. Told with searchinghonesty,soulful reflection and wry humour,this is the first and onlyaccount of that incredible story.
Publisher: Transworld Publishers LtdISBN: 9780552177894Number of pages: 336Weight: 259 gDimensions: 197 x 128 x 22 mm
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An uplifting journey through the sheer hard work,pitfalls andthrills of navigating a great rock band to the pinnacle of success. I soenjoyed the ride!
Captures the early days of the "English bands" and their story. The ups and downs,relationships,craziness and fun... This really happened!A wry and witty account of life in one of the world's biggest and unlikeliest supergroups and the music industry in its heyday... John Illsley is a charming,amusing and observant companion.Frank,funny and tender. If you loved their music,you'll adore this book.Fans will be mesmerized.
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