On the Straits and narrow

My Life in Dire Straits By John Illsley, Penguin Random House, $40

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Dire Straits was big all over the world.

In a former life I was looking after a group of Korean documentary makers and they made me sing Sultans of Swing with their front man at a Korean karaoke bar. They knew every word, even if they spoke no English.

You just have to mentionBrothers in Arms or Money for Nothing and the songs are right there. Bassist John Illsley has penned a delightfully laconic and well written story of one of the greatest live acts in history.

He starts at the beginning — rough pubs with sawdust on the floor and workingmen's clubs — to sharing the biggest stages in the world. It's witty, sweet, frank, reflective and funny. And Mark Knopfler writes a nice foreword.

There's not a lot of scandal, but plenty of backstage revelations about the reality of life on the road. Illsley and Knopfler went the distance with Dire Straits; other members had had enough touring, and Knopfler found a own career as a solo artist. Illsley had no ambition for a solo career, but did want to play his own songs.

There are photos throughout — the band on stage, some of the personal life behind the scenes, which gives an indication this is not a rock tell-all. It's more a look back at an extraordinarily talented man and his best friend who made it through a turbulent life in rock music by keeping their heads and playing great music. —