Biography
John Edward Illsley (born 24 June 1949) is an English musician, best known as bassist of the rock band Dire Straits. He has received multiple BRIT and Grammy Awards, and a Heritage Award. As one of the founding band members, alongside drummer Pick Withers and guitarist brothers Mark Knopfler and David Knopfler, Illsley played a role in the development of Dire Straits' sound. Illsley and Mark Knopfler were the only members of the band to remain across its entire history. Illsley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits in 2018. Illsley has produced two albums of his own, with Mark Knopfler as a guest musician, and has helped with Mark's personal projects and charities. He released two more albums, influenced by the Celtic-based band Cunla.
Bio from Wikipedia
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.
Brothers In Arms
1985
Dire Straits
1978
Love Over Gold
1982
Making Movies
1980
Communiqué
1979
Private Dancer
1984
Alchemy - Dire Straits Live
1984
Money For Nothing
1988
On Every Street
1991
Local Hero
1983
Simply The Best
1991
On The Night
1993
ExtendeDancEPlay
1982
The Studio Albums 1978 - 1991
2013
Sultans Of Swing
1978
Live At The BBC
1995
So Far Away
1985
Live 1978-1992
2023
Glass
1988
Recorded Highlights Of The Prince's Trust 10th Anniversary Birthday Party
1987
On The Road To Philadelphia
1979
Boston 1979
1994
European Tour 1992
1993
On Every Stage
1992
Credited work
2,636 releases · 96 albums · active 1978–2026
- Performance · 4,024
- Other credits · 326
- Production · 90
- Engineering · 18
Studios: Air Studios · Power Station · Compass Point Studios · Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
Frequent collaborators
- Dire Straits
- Various
- Mark Knopfler
- Tina Turner
- David Knopfler
- Mary Turner (4)
- Greg Pearle
- K. Wallis B. And The Dark Shades Of Night