John Illsley in Amsterdam

John Illsley is an English bassist, singer-songwriter and founding member of Dire Straits, born in Leicester in 1949. He played on the band’s entire studio catalogue, including “Sultans of Swing,” “Money for Nothing” and the album Brothers in Arms, and later released solo records such as Never Told a Soul, Beautiful You and Long Shadows. Dire Straits’ Love over Gold Tour included the 1983 Hammersmith Odeon concerts documented on Alchemy Live. Illsley then played the Brothers in Arms Tour and the band’s 1985 Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium, followed later by the On Every Street Tour. His own concerts feature him on bass and guitar with a full band, combining songs from his solo catalogue with Dire Straits material such as “Romeo and Juliet.”