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John Illsley (born on 24 June 1949, in Leicester, England) was the bass player for the British rock band Dire Straits. Introduced to lead singer and guitarist Mark Knopfler by Mark's brother, David Knopfler, Illsley was one of just two original band members remaining when it broke up in 1995.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Dire Straits 3 Later career 3.1 Cunla 4 Other interests 4.1 Painting 5 External links

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. Whilst in London, he joined the band that became Dire Straits.

Main article: Dire Straits

As well as playing Bass Guitar on all the Dire Straits recordings, Illsley also contributed vocals to their Communiqué, Making Movies and Brothers in Arms albums.

Illsley released two albums of his own, Never Told A Soul in 1984 and Glass in 1988. His first album had clear Dire Straits influences, however, his style had notably changed by the second. Mark Knopfler contributed some of the guitar parts on both issues.

In 2005 Illsley happened upon an Irish Celtic rock group called Cunla, who were playing at a friend's party in the UK. For the first time since '93 he took to the stage and played a couple of Dire Straits numbers with the band. They struck up a friendship and Cunla played at Illsley's place in Hampshire. He then appeared with them on several occasions in their hometown of Mullingar, most notably at The Stables venue, and he has since become a 'member' of the group alongside Irishmen Greg Pearle on vocals and guitar, Johnny Owens on violin, fiddle and electric guitar, Jason Carroll on bass and Stephen O'Keeffe on drums and percussion. They have a heady, energetic Celtic rock sound and in their early days had a reputation as being a hellraising band who took no prisoners. Illsley has tamed them somewhat and they have recorded together, and played gigs in select places, including a couple in France. They cover 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 Pearle. They are due to return to Grouse Lodge Studios in Rosemount, Co Westmeath where Michael Jackson has just finished recording his comeback. The residential studio has also played host to hundreds of bands over the years, from Doves to Snow Patrol, Bonnie Raitt to Muse...

Cunla played a big Mullingar gig on November 18th, 2006 at the Greville Arms Hotel. It was their last gig of the year, and all proceeds went to local charities.

Away from music, John Illsley is known for his campaigns against drugs. He does enjoy an occasional pint of Guinness though. He also runs a pub in Hampshire, which was featured TV Chef Rick Steins series 'Food Heroes'serving traditional ales.^{[citation needed]}

Illsley is a keen painter, and promised himself that he would take it up to a greater extent once Dire Straits stopped touring.

• Official website

Dire Straits

Mark Knopfler John Illsley | Alan Clark | Guy Fletcher | David Knopfler | Pick Withers | Hal Lindes | Terry Williams | Jack Sonni

Discography

Albums and extended plays: Dire Straits | Communiqué | Making Movies | Love over Gold | ExtendedancEPlay | Alchemy | Brothers in Arms | On Every Street | On the Night | Encores | Live at the BBC | Money for Nothing | Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits | The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations

Hit Singles: Sultans of Swing | Lady Writer | Romeo and Juliet | Skateaway | Private Investigations | Twisting by the Pool | So Far Away | Money for Nothing | Brothers in Arms | Walk of Life | Your Latest Trick | Calling Elvis | Heavy Fuel |