‘You get a shiver in the dark…”
It has been more than 35 years since the opening line of Sultans Of Swing was first heard being broadcast around the world. And when Dire Straits disbanded over 20 years ago, they left a catalogue of some of the finest compositions and musical performances that the heyday of rock ever produced. If anything, their reputation has only grown with time. Record sales of more than one hundred and twenty million albums continue to increase as new young fans join the band’s massive worldwide following.
It was against the backdrop of this two-decade break - and an increasing demand to hear one of the most dramatic songbooks in rock history played live again - that members of Dire Straits formed The Straits for a charity show at The Royal Albert Hall in 2011. With the prolific Knopfler enjoying an incredibly successful solo career, the singer songwriter, Terence Reis was called upon to front the band in his absence. By the time The Straits ended, three and a half years later, the band had played more than 150 shows in 25 countries around the world.
However, an invitation to play a series of shows in New Zealand and Australia has seen Chris White and Terence Reis collaborating again for The Dire Straits Experience. Joining them is a stellar band of some of the finest professional musicians the UK has to offer. Between them they have worked with an enviable list of rock royalty that includes, amongst others, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Elton John, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Van Morrison, Tom Jones and Sheryl Crow. Most recently, the band has included Chris Whitten on drums. Chris joined Dire Straits for the On Every Street world tour that saw Dire Straits play 229 shows in 19 countries.
And so it is that these songs, in all their ambition, grandeur and aching beauty, are once again presented live… for the fans that that have kept them alive.
