John Illsley
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| John Illsley | |
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 John playing with Dire Straits
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 24, 1949 in Leicester, England |
| Origin | Leicester, England |
| Genre(s) | Rock |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1977-1995 |
| Associated acts | Dire Straits Mark Knopfler |
| Website | Personal Website |
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John Illsley (born on 24 June 1949, in Leicester, England) was the bass player for the English rock band Dire Straits. Introduced to lead singer and guitarist Mark Knopfler by Mark's brother, David Knopfler, Illsley was one of just two of the original band members remaining when it broke up in 1995.
John now lives in rural Hampshire, with his second wife Stephanie and his four children. He owns a local pub, the "East End Arms", [1] located between Lymington and Beaulieu. Daily operation of the pub and restaurant is in the hands of Joanna Dydak. He is also a partner in two nearby hotels; The Master Builder's House Hotel[2] near Beaulieu and The George Hotel[3] on the Isle of Wight.
[edit] Early life
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 friend David Knopfler, and was introduced to his brother, Mark Knopfler, who invited him to form a band with them. With Pick Withers, the band Dire Straits was formed.
[edit] 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 was the only group member (other than Mark Knopfler) who remained in the line-up of Dire Straits right through until the group's dissolution in 1995.
[edit] Solo career
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.
[edit] Cunla
In March 2005, in a pub in Leicestershire, Illsley happened upon an Irish Celtic rock group called 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 September 23th 2006 at Cathedrale d'Image in Les Baux de Provence, France. This performance was recorded and subsequently released as an album in 2007.
Cunla have a heady, energetic Celtic rock sound. With Illsley, 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 Greg Pearle.
[edit] Other interests
Away from music, John Illsley is known for his campaigns against drugs. He does enjoy an occasional pint of Guinness though.
[edit] Painting
Illsley is a keen painter, and promised himself that he would take it up to a greater extent once Dire Straits stopped touring. A first exhibition of his work was shown at the Nevill Keating McIlroy Gallery, Pickering Place, London SW1 in early summer 2007.
[edit] Solo discography
- 1984 - Never Told A Soul
- 1988 - Glass
- 2007 - Live in Les Baux de Provence (with Cunla and Greg Pearle)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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