John Illsley

John Ilsley

The Dire Straits man has a new solo album due and plans a tour..more of that below but John agreed to answer one of our customised question sets. Enjoy his responses and look out for a performance date near you…

Who has worked on the artwork for your forthcoming album Coming Up For Air?

My Mother in Law is a very good photographer and has done the image for four of my past albums, I then arrange all the details and Waldo design, Phil Smee, know how to put it together.

Related to the above, which albums (any artist or genre) do you rate, on design and visual impact?

I think Dire Straits had some pretty cool album covers!

Please put modesty aside for a moment and tell us what musical elements you are proud to have brought into the Dire Straits oevre? I would hazard a guess at the range of tempo’s and maybe tones, but you tell me!

I felt like the anchor on many of the songs, each song needed a different approach, some very obvious some not, Private Investigations has an interesting bass line. Celebrate the’ engine room’!

What are your thoughts now on the Love Over Gold release? I thought Telegraph Road was a huge nod to Springsteen, but you will know…

I think musicians are constantly nodding at each other, none of us live in a bubble but we all have our own style which distinguish us from others.

 What did you think of the seemingly growing Celtic influence that seeped into Mark Knopfler’s compositions for Dire Straits? Could you play that style naturally or organically?

So many musical influences were drawn on ,some consciously others instinctively, not sure picking one out as more significant is relevant.

Dire Straits attracted a loyal following …were you pleased at the female element as well as the male contingent that came to DS shows? And what do you think accounted for this?

Strange question but good one, no idea but happy about it.      

Your own sound does seem to lean towards atmosphere – the master of this is Robin Trower – and hence cinematic use. Any thoughts or ambitions in this direction at all?

Well I think that atmosphere is sadly lacking in a good deal of music, it’s important to try and engage and touch people with ideas, feelings and stories.

Please tell us about the song Old Amsterdam

Well it is a beautiful city that really works and the first one we went to when the band got serious attention, we got very spoiled for 48hrs then went back to the council flat!

What prompted the song Double Time?

Reflections on the past and the feeling that time seems to speed up as you get older.

If you added a female vocalist to a version of Coming Up For Air, who might you choose? I’d pick Sonja Kristina!

Lady Gaga

Click tracks seem to have killed off the change of tempo in songs that I always loved…eg Fleetwood Mac’s original Black Magic Woman and The Nazz’ Open My Eyes. Do you ever employ tempo changes?

Even with click tracks the tempo can shift, if it feels right I keep it, there is a danger of using them too much, some songs don’t work with this technology.

For upcoming live shows, who will join you on stage?

Robbie McIntosh, Hannah Robinson and Steve Smith.

What is your favoured stage gear? Any particular reasonings for choices?

Equipment? I use Mark Bass systems, they do the job very well, guitar wise an old Musicman Stingray bass.

Who did you see ‘live’ that really surprised you?

The Stones in Hyde Park- very impressed.

Which of your own songs find you at your most reflective?

Ship of Fools from the Long Shadows album, reflecting on the Iraq War and its consequences.

The radio is on, what would you cross the room to turn UP ? and what would you cross the room to turn DOWN?

If JJ Cale came on the radio [highly unlikely} …Down? Most music on Radio1

Name two records by any artist with great drum intro’s (NOT Superstition!)

Sorry can’t think of any – the Pinot Noir has kicked in!

Can you dance? What does your family think of your dancing?

Of course, well they dance with me in the same room, I’ve got rhythm funnily enough.

Pete Sargeant