John Illsley
| John Illsley | |
|---|---|
Illsley playing with Dire Straits on their Brothers In Arms Tour, on 10 May 1985, Belgrade
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Edward Illsley |
| Born |
24 June 1949 Leicester, England |
| Genres | Rock, blues rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Associated acts | Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler |
| Website | www |
| Notable instruments | |
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Fender Jazz Bass Fender Precision Bass Epiphone Casino |
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John Edward Illsley (born 24 June 1949) is an English musician, best known as bass guitarist of the 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 guitarist brothers Mark and David Knopfler, and drummer Pick Withers, Illsley played a role in the development of Dire Straits' sound. By the time the group disbanded in 1995 changes in personnel meant that Illsley and lead singer Mark Knopfler were the only two original band members remaining.
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, Illsley 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.
Illsley's childhood memories include searching for sticklebacks in the River Jordan in Little Bowden (near Market Harborough), with friends. Illsley attended Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire and a Further Education College near Kettering, Northamptonshire, before starting work as a management trainee for a timber firm. He then studied Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London and opened a record shop with his girlfriend. While in London, he roomed with David Knopfler. Illsley was introduced to David's older brother, Mark, who had just undergone a marital breakup and was playing music in the pubs nearby. Illsley recounts returning home very early one morning, and "walked into the lounge room, and saw this figure lying on the floor... asleep ...with a guitar over his legs, and he'd... fallen asleep on the floor while he was playing... his head was sort of cranked back, and there was an ashtray with cigarette butts and coffee on the floor... ", and that was how the two first encountered one another.
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Wikipedia