Dire Straits were a British
rock band formed in 1977 by
Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), his younger brother
David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals),
John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals), and
Pick Withers (drums and percussion). Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including
jazz,
folk, and
blues, and came closest to
beat music within the context of
rock and roll. Despite the prominence of
punk rock during the band's early years, their stripped-down sound contrasted with punk, demonstrating a more "
rootsy" influence that emerged from
pub rock. Many of Dire Straits' compositions were melancholic. Dire Straits' biggest selling album
Brothers in Arms has sold over 30 million copies, and was the first album to sell a million copies on
CD.