John Illsley

John Illsley

at The Met, Bury
Passed

This event has been and gone.

If we know of a trusted online shop with tickets available, we will always provide a link to buy from them

Add to your event list

2017 UK Tour

Please note: Info provided by the Event Organiser

John Illsley is a stellar artist, no two ways about it. A founder member of Dire Straits, he was also the only one, along with Mark Knopfler, to last the full course. His bass riffs and general musicianship contributed much to the band’s hallmark sound.

For those who weren’t born then or lived much of the 70s, 80s and 90s in a cave, Dire Straits were a globetastic hit. To say they were successful is like saying a zebra is rather stripey.

They spent a staggering 1,100 weeks on the UK album charts. They sold over 120 million records. They picked up awards galore – Grammies, Brits, MTV Video Awards, an Ivor Novello – and they were the first band to sell over 1,000,000 copies of a CD.

When Dire Straits finally split in 1995 solo careers beckoned. For John, though also an accomplished artist, this was a given. He had already released two solo albums and, after a period of time off, he was back in the studio hard at work on another.

Now, with six solo albums in hand, he’s off on the road again with a brand new five piece. Excitingly the line up features some of the best players in the business.

The Autumn tour is John’s first in over four years and kicks off on October 19th, playing London’s Nell’s Jazz and Blues on November 4th. Safe to say the new shows commit to full-on musical nights of the highest calibre.

Showcasing John’s 2016 album, “Long Shadows”, the band promise to draw on many of the much loved Dire Straits’ hits - Sultans of Swing, Money for Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Brothers in Arms – as well as the gamut of solo material.

As the man himself says “The new songs fit very comfortably next to the Dire Straits’ classics. We keep the essential feel of those songs but this isn’t a tribute act, I think we bring them alive in a new and fresh way. We certainly love playing them and people seem to enjoy listening so it’s win-win all round.”

“This is the most exciting new line-up I’ve been in and I’m loving every minute of it, Robbie McIntosh and Paul Stacey are two quite exceptional guitar players.”

Indeed, all the band have impressive CVs. While Robbie McIntosh (The Pretenders, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones) and Paul Stacey (Oasis, The Black Crowes, High Flying Birds) cut fine figures on the guitar the other three members stake their claim too.

Steve Smith takes on keyboards (Robert Plant, Pete Townsend, Steve Harley), Stuart Ross presides over drums (Mark Owen, Nik Kershaw, Chesney Hawkes), and Jess Greenfield ably provides backing vocals (Rod Stewart, Take That, Noel Gallagher).

Given the talent involved, to say that the Autumn dates should be good would clearly be leaving the lily ungilded. With songs from the present, the past and even some from the band, the shows pledge truly superlative music.

A hugely enjoyable night? You can count on it!

John Illsley

John Illsley appearing at this event

John Illsley was the bass player for the English rock band Dire Straits. Introduced to lead singer and guitarist Mark Knopfler by Mark's brother…

See John Illsley tour dates

Rated Excellent

The Met

Market Street
Bury
BL9 0BW

Disabled Booking:
0161 761 2216

See all events at The Met

The Met

Market Street
Bury
BL9 0BW

Disabled Booking:
0161 761 2216

See all events at The Met