Latest about Dire Straits
“At four in the morning, I got a call from David Bowie. He said they needed a guitar player for Iggy Pop’s album”: As right-hand man for everyone from Mark Knopfler to Eric Clapton, ‘Session Man’ Phil Palmer more than earned his nickname
Armed with a Nocaster given to him by his uncle, the Kinks’ Dave Davies, Palmer became a go-to guitarist for some of music’s biggest names, landing an official role in Dire Straits – and narrowly missing out on playing Clapton’s MTV Unplugged set
“I never thought that my signature would be on anything – never mind Fenders, Gibsons, and Martins, they're the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost of guitars”: Mark Knopfler is selling off 120 guitars, including his Money For Nothing Les Paul
See the Scottish guitar great talk through highlights of his immense collection of signature models, custom builds and guitars used on Dire Straits’ most iconic tracks
“Let me know if you like it or you think I ruined it!” Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing becomes Sultans of Shred as Sophie Lloyd gives the guitar anthem a high-gain makeover
Mark Knopfler's sultry single-coil runs get given a generous injection of searing shred tones in Lloyd's latest cover
“A genuine guitar enthusiast who loved to play, jam, and talk guitars and amps all day”: Dire Straits’ ‘other guitarist’ Jack Sonni passes away, aged 68
Mark Knopfler has paid tribute to the US guitarist who played and performed through the band’s globe-stomping Brothers in Arms era – and even worked on the first Line 6 POD
How to play Money for Nothing on guitar
Learn how to play Dire Straits' biggest riff – and how to nail its distinctive tone
Learn the rhythm and lead secrets of Mark Knopfler with this in-depth guitar lesson
It's time to ditch the pick and go fingerstyle for this comprehensive tutorial in the Dire Straits legend's unique style
Learn Mark Knopfler’s game-changing rhythm and lead styles
Phrasing and dynamics are the order of the day in this tutorial on the immaculate playing style of the Dire Straits guitar legend
John Illsley reflects on Dire Straits' stadium-rocking success, the pressure it put on Mark Knopfler, and tells us what makes a great bass part
The bass player conquered the world with Dire Straits and as he reflects on his time in a new memoir, and a new solo album, he can say they survived: “We stayed intact, and stayed friends”
