John Illsley
| Born | June 24, 1949 |
| Hometown | Leicester, England |
Top Stories
Mark Knopfler on why chances of Dire Straits reunion are so far away
- Dire Straits frontman said he had an ‘absolute ball’ during his time in the band
Albums
- EntertainmentBANG Showbiz
Dire Straits reject 'huge amounts of money' to reunite
Dire Straits have turned down lots of money to reunite the 'Money For Nothing' band.
- EntertainmentThe Independent
Money for something: Dire Straits in demand as ‘huge amounts offered’ for reunion
Rock band are regular source of reform hopes – but it seems like it might never happen
- EntertainmentThe Telegraph
Dire Straits’ John Illsley: ‘We’ve been offered huge amounts of money to get back together’
One morning in the summer of 1976, John Illsley returned home from a night out to find a stranger asleep on the concrete floor of his flat on a sink estate in Deptford. The visitor’s head was resting at a 90-degree angle on a lone chair salvaged from a skip; an overstuffed ashtray and spent bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale were strewn by his side. Across his chest lay a Gibson Les Paul Junior guitar. “Cup of tea?” Illsley asked. To which Mark Knopfler replied, “Nice one”.
- EntertainmentBANG Showbiz
Roger Taylor and Eric Clapton lead Gary Brooker tribute concert line-up
Gary Brooker will be honoured with a star-studded concert in Guildford, Surrey, later this year.
- EntertainmentCover Media
Former Dire Straits guitarist Jack Sonni dies
Dire Straits guitarist Jack Sonni has died at the age of 68. The death of the musician, who was best known for being the group's "other guitarist" alongside frontman Mark Knopfler during their Brothers In Arms era, was announced by some of his former bandmates on Thursday. His cause of death was not immediately made public. Members of Dire Straits Legacy, a band in which Sonni played alongside other ex-Dire Straits musicians, announced the sad news on their Facebook page. "Our beloved Jack has l
- EntertainmentPA Media: Entertainment
Dire Straits’ former guitarist Jack Sonni dies
The British rock band announced the news by writing ‘Jack Sonni Rest In Peace’ alongside a photo of the musician on social media.
- EntertainmentThe Independent
Books of the month: From Jan Grue’s I Live a Life Like Yours to Rose Tremain’s Lily: A Tale of Revenge
Martin Chilton reviews five of November’s biggest releases for our monthly column
- EntertainmentPA Media: Entertainment
Lion sculptures by Ronnie Wood and John Cleese to go under the hammer
The sale is raising money for the conservation charity Tusk.
- NewsEvening Standard
Celebrity-designed lion sculptures go on display in cities across the globe
The sculptures are part of the Tusk Lion Trail, which aims to raise awareness about threats to the animal’s existence.
