John Illsley
Encyclopedia
John Illsley is an English
musician
who rose to fame as the bass guitar
ist 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 guitarist
s David
and Mark Knopfler
, and drummer
Pick Withers
, Illsley played a role in the development of Dire Straits' sound. When David Knopfler would later leave the band at the dawning of the 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.
Illsley has also kept a low-key profile about his own abilities as a musician and songwriter, producing two albums of his own making with Mark Knopfler guesting on his albums and videos on guitar, with Illsley reciprocating on Knopfler's personal projects and charities. Recently, he has released two more albums, with influence from the Celtic
based band, Cunla.
, with his former schoolmate Mike and his brothers William and Richard and sister Pat. Illsley attended Bromsgrove School
, Worcestershire
and a Further Education College near Kettering
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 break up, 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.
David Knopfler was keen to start a band, and approached his roommate. Illsley, who already played bass guitar concurred. Convinced that they could make a go of it, with Mark Knopfler as lead guitar
ist, and vocalist, David playing rhythm guitar
, Illsley on bass, and Pick Withers
, a friend, as drummer
, the four set about forming a band; eventually named Dire Straits
because they gave up their day jobs and were in financial "dire straits" by the time their band became popular.
on all the Dire Straits recordings, Illsley also contributed backing vocals, with David Knopfler, and both harmonized
to Mark's lead vocals and guitar
in concert, and on the band's first two studio albums, Dire Straits
, and Communiqué.
During a period when most major labels expected bands to compose and record one to two albums per year, as well as tour to support them, tensions grew within the band between younger brother, David Knopfler, and his elder brother, Mark. Mark wrote nearly every song, was the frontman in the band, and had, in short time, become a virtuoso on the guitar. During the recording sessions for their third project, Making Movies
, the stress between the Knopfler brothers after nearly non-stop recording, touring, and publicity took its toll on the band, and David left the band over creative differences with his brother, who had assumed the role of "de facto" leader.
The band quickly hired Hal Lindes
to replace the younger Knopfler brother, who stayed with the band for five years. Although the band's lineup continued to change, and keyboards
were also added, Illsley remained in his role as bassist, and provided the harmony and backing vocals with the other bandmates. Throughout it all, Illsley and Mark Knopfler were the only founding members to remain in the line-up of Dire Straits right through from 1977 until the group's dissolution in 1995. Illsley unsuccessfully tried to persuade Mark Knopfler to reform the group in October 2008 to no avail.
Before Dire Straits disbanded, Illsley released two solo albums of his own, Never Told a Soul
(1984) and Glass, (1988). Knopfler contributed some of the guitar parts on both issues.
, Illsley happened upon an Irish Celtic rock
group, Cunla. For the first time since 1993 he took to the stage and played a couple of Dire Straits numbers with the band. Cunla subsequently played at a summer party Illsley was hosting in Hampshire
. He then appeared with them on several occasions, most notably on 23 September 2006 at Cathedrale d'Image in Les Baux de Provence
, France
. This performance was recorded and subsequently released as an album in 2007. With Illsley, they covered
a couple of Dire Straits numbers, albeit in an Irish style, with Johnny Owens replacing all keyboards and brass parts with traditional Irish violin. They also have a large amount of their own material, much of it penned by Greg Pearle.
In October 2008 he released an album, Beautiful You
, and embarked on a tour of Ireland with singer–songwriter
Greg Pearle. This would be Illsley's fourth solo album, and the second one released without the assistance of Mark Knopfler.
, with his second wife Stephanie and his four children. He owns a local pub, the 'East End Arms', which has been listed by critics as one of the "Fifty Best Pubs Around Britain", located in the hamlet of East End
between Lymington
and Beaulieu
. Daily operation of the pub and restaurant is in the hands of Sarah Old. He is also a partner in two nearby hotels; The Master Builder's House Hotel near Beaulieu and The George Hotel on the Isle of Wight
.
Illsley is known to be friendly with the Upper class and would consider himself a 'hooray'.
Illsley is a keen painter and the first exhibition of his work was shown at the Nevill Keating McIlroy Gallery, Pickering Place, London
in 2007.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who rose to fame as the bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist of the critically acclaimed rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
, Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
. With Dire Straits, Illsley has been the recipient of multiple BRIT and Grammy Awards, and a Heritage Award
Heritage Award
The Heritage Award is a ceremonial plaque installed in a public place to commemorate a link between a famous musician or music band and the location they performed their first live gig...
.
As one of the founding band members, with brothers and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
s David
David Knopfler
David Knopfler is a British singer-songwriter, rhythm guitarist, pianist and cofounder of the critically acclaimed rock band Dire Straits....
and Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
, and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Pick Withers
Pick Withers
David "Pick" Withers was the original drummer for the rock band Dire Straits and played on their first four albums, which included hit singles such as "Sultans of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Private Investigations."...
, Illsley played a role in the development of Dire Straits' sound. When David Knopfler would later leave the band at the dawning of the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, 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.
Illsley has also kept a low-key profile about his own abilities as a musician and songwriter, producing two albums of his own making with Mark Knopfler guesting on his albums and videos on guitar, with Illsley reciprocating on Knopfler's personal projects and charities. Recently, he has released two more albums, with influence from the Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
based band, Cunla.
Early life
His childhood memories include remembering searching for sticklebacks in the River Jordan in Little BowdenLittle Bowden
Little Bowden is an area of Market Harborough in Leicestershire, England. As a village it was formerly part of Northamptonshire.The River Jordan runs through part of the area.-Places of interest:...
, with his former schoolmate Mike and his brothers William and Richard and sister Pat. Illsley attended Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School, founded in 1553, is a co-educational independent school in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, England. The school has a long history and many notable former pupils.-History:...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
and a Further Education College near Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
before starting work as a management trainee for a timber firm. He then studied Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It was founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
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 break up, and was playing music in the pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
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.
David Knopfler was keen to start a band, and approached his roommate. Illsley, who already played bass guitar concurred. Convinced that they could make a go of it, with Mark Knopfler as lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist, and vocalist, David playing rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, Illsley on bass, and Pick Withers
Pick Withers
David "Pick" Withers was the original drummer for the rock band Dire Straits and played on their first four albums, which included hit singles such as "Sultans of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Private Investigations."...
, a friend, as drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, the four set about forming a band; eventually named Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
because they gave up their day jobs and were in financial "dire straits" by the time their band became popular.
Dire Straits
As well as playing bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on all the Dire Straits recordings, Illsley also contributed backing vocals, with David Knopfler, and both harmonized
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
to Mark's lead vocals and guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
in concert, and on the band's first two studio albums, Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
, and Communiqué.
During a period when most major labels expected bands to compose and record one to two albums per year, as well as tour to support them, tensions grew within the band between younger brother, David Knopfler, and his elder brother, Mark. Mark wrote nearly every song, was the frontman in the band, and had, in short time, become a virtuoso on the guitar. During the recording sessions for their third project, Making Movies
Making Movies
Making Movies is the third album by English rock band Dire Straits, released in 1980.- History :The title of the album comes from a line in the song "Skateaway" and the unreleased song "Making Movies". Rolling Stone ranked the album #52 in their survey of the "100 Best Albums of the 80s"...
, the stress between the Knopfler brothers after nearly non-stop recording, touring, and publicity took its toll on the band, and David left the band over creative differences with his brother, who had assumed the role of "de facto" leader.
The band quickly hired Hal Lindes
Hal Lindes
Hal Andrew Lindes is an English-American guitarist and film score composer.In 1980 he began recording a solo album with producer Al Kooper, along with Herbie Flowers on bass and John Bradbury on drums...
to replace the younger Knopfler brother, who stayed with the band for five years. Although the band's lineup continued to change, and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
were also added, Illsley remained in his role as bassist, and provided the harmony and backing vocals with the other bandmates. Throughout it all, Illsley and Mark Knopfler were the only founding members to remain in the line-up of Dire Straits right through from 1977 until the group's dissolution in 1995. Illsley unsuccessfully tried to persuade Mark Knopfler to reform the group in October 2008 to no avail.
Before Dire Straits disbanded, Illsley released two solo albums of his own, Never Told a Soul
Never Told a Soul
Never Told a Soul is the first solo album by John Illsley, a founding member of Dire Straits.-Track listing:#"Boy with Chinese Eyes"#"The Night Café"#"Never Told a Soul"#"Jimmy on the Central Line"#"Northern Land"#"Another Alibi"...
(1984) and Glass, (1988). Knopfler contributed some of the guitar parts on both issues.
Cunla
In March 2005, in a pub in LeicestershireLeicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, Illsley happened upon an Irish Celtic rock
Celtic rock
Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock and a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context...
group, Cunla. For the first time since 1993 he took to the stage and played a couple of Dire Straits numbers with the band. Cunla subsequently played at a summer party Illsley was hosting in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. He then appeared with them on several occasions, most notably on 23 September 2006 at Cathedrale d'Image in Les Baux de Provence
Les Baux de Provence
Les Baux-de-Provence is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France, in the province of Provence. It has a spectacular position in the Alpilles mountains, set atop a rocky outcrop crowned with a ruined castle overlooking the plains to the south. Its names refers to its site...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. This performance was recorded and subsequently released as an album in 2007. With Illsley, they covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
a couple of Dire Straits numbers, albeit in an Irish style, with Johnny Owens replacing all keyboards and brass parts with traditional Irish violin. They also have a large amount of their own material, much of it penned by Greg Pearle.
In October 2008 he released an album, Beautiful You
Beautiful You (John Illsley album)
Beautiful You is the result of a two-year collaboration between John Illsley, the bass player for Dire Straits, and Irish singer-songwriter Greg Pearle...
, and embarked on a tour of Ireland with singer–songwriter
Singer–songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Greg Pearle. This would be Illsley's fourth solo album, and the second one released without the assistance of Mark Knopfler.
Personal life
Illsley now lives in HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, with his second wife Stephanie and his four children. He owns a local pub, the 'East End Arms', which has been listed by critics as one of the "Fifty Best Pubs Around Britain", located in the hamlet of East End
East End, Hampshire
East End is a hamlet in the civil parish of East Boldre in the New Forest National Park of Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is Lymington, which lies approximately 4.2 miles south-west from the hamlet.-History:...
between Lymington
Lymington
Lymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
and Beaulieu
Beaulieu, Hampshire
Beaulieu is a small village located on the south eastern edge of the New Forest national park in Hampshire, England and home to both Palace House and the British National Motor Museum.- History :...
. Daily operation of the pub and restaurant is in the hands of Sarah Old. He is also a partner in two nearby hotels; The Master Builder's House Hotel near Beaulieu and The George Hotel on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
.
Illsley is known to be friendly with the Upper class and would consider himself a 'hooray'.
Illsley is a keen painter and the first exhibition of his work was shown at the Nevill Keating McIlroy Gallery, Pickering Place, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 2007.
Solo discography
- 1984 - Never Told a SoulNever Told a SoulNever Told a Soul is the first solo album by John Illsley, a founding member of Dire Straits.-Track listing:#"Boy with Chinese Eyes"#"The Night Café"#"Never Told a Soul"#"Jimmy on the Central Line"#"Northern Land"#"Another Alibi"...
- 1988 - Glass
- 2007 - Live in Les Baux de ProvenceLive in Les Baux de ProvenceLive in Les Baux de Provence is a live album by John Illsley with Cunla and Greg Pearle.-Track listing:# Expresso Love# First We Take Manhattan# Instrumental# Six Blade Knife# Southern Man# Sultans Of Swing# Bright Lights Big City# Going Home...
(with Cunla and Greg Pearle) - 2008 - Beautiful YouBeautiful You (John Illsley album)Beautiful You is the result of a two-year collaboration between John Illsley, the bass player for Dire Straits, and Irish singer-songwriter Greg Pearle...
(with Greg Pearle) - 2010 - Streets of Heaven