Terry Williams (drums, 82-89) is born in Swansea.

Tommy Mandel (keyboards, 82-83) is born in New York, New York.

Mark Knopfler (vocals/guitar, 77-95) is born in Glasgow.

Phil Palmer (guitar, 91-92) is born in London.

Hal Lindes (guitar, 80-85) is born in Monterey, California.

Paul Franklin (pedal steel, 91-92) is born in Detroit, Michigan.

Chris White (sax, 85-92) is born in Bristol.

Chris Whitten (drums, 91-92) is born in Blackpool.

The founding lineup of Dire Straits – Mark Knopfler, John Illsley, David Knopfler, and Pick Withers – begins rehearsing at Farrer House in Deptford.

Dire Straits record their first demo at Pathway Studios, including an early version of ‘Sultans Of Swing’, which BBC Radio London DJ Charlie Gillett would later play on-air.

The demo recording of ‘Sultans Of Swing’ is played on the BBC Radio London program, Honky Tonk.

Dire Straits’ first tour, as support for Talking Heads, begins in Sheffield.

The band hits the road again, opening for Climax Blues Band. Another tour supporting Styx follows, as well as concerts supporting Gerry Rafferty and Elvis Costello.

The band’s self-titled debut is released on Vertigo Records (a division of Phonogram). Produced by Muff Winwood, Dire Straits includes the hit ‘Sultans Of Swing’, and peaks at #5 on the UK albums chart.

Sessions for the second Dire Straits album begin at Compass Point Studios in Nassau before moving to Alabama’s famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio to complete the album.

The second album by Dire Straits, Communiqué, is released. Produced by Barry Beckett and Jerry Wexler, the album hit #1 in several European countries and peaked at #5 in the UK.

David Knopfler leaves the band to pursue a solo career. His debut album, Release, is issued in 1983.

The band makes their US television debut, performing ‘Sultans Of Swing’ and ‘Skateaway’ on Solid Gold.

Sessions for the next Dire Straits album begin at the Power Station in New York. Pick Withers will leave the band shortly after recording is complete.

First night of the Love Over Gold tour, the first with new drummer Terry Williams. The band goes on to play 92 shows in 19 countries.

Dire Straits wins Best British Group at the 1983 Brit Awards.

Work begins on Brothers In Arms, recording at AIR Studios on the island of Montserrat. Hal Lindes leaves the band, these sessions were the first to include new members Guy Fletcher and Jack Sonni.

Brothers In Arms is released. Produced by Mark Knopfler and Neil Dorfsman, the album features the hit singles ‘Money For Nothing’, ‘Walk Of Life’, and ‘So Far Away’. The record-breaking album goes to #1 in a dozen countries, winning the Brit for Best British Album and Grammys for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group (for ‘Money For Nothing’), Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical, and Best Music Video, eventually selling more than 30 million copies worldwide.

Dire Straits play 14 concerts in a row at the iconic Wembley Arena, beginning July 4th with the Prince’s Trust Rock Gala performance; featuring special guests Sting, Pete Townshend, Hank Marvin, Francis Rossi, T-Bone Burnett, Nils Lofgren, Paul Brady and Dave Edmunds.

Dire Straits is awarded the Brit for Best British Group for the second time.

Money For Nothing, Dire Straits’ first greatest hits compilation, is released. The album includes a handful of previously unreleased outtakes, mixes and edits.

Mark Knopfler and Guy Fletcher join Steve Phillips and Brendan Croker to form The Notting Hillbillies. The band releases one album, Missing…Presumed Having a Good Time, and embarks on several UK tours throughout the 1990s.

The On Every Street tour begins with a five-night stand at the Point Depot in Dublin, Ireland. Continuing for more than a year, the tour will finally wrap up in Zaragoza, Spain after 229 shows in 19 countries.

Dire Straits’ second live album, On The Night, is released. Recorded in May 1992 during the On Every Street tour, a VHS version including three additional songs is also released.

Live At The BBC, a collection of BBC recordings dating 78-80, is released.

Under the name ‘Mark Knopfler and Friends’, Dire Straits performs three gigs at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London, and one at Beaulieu Castle. The shows consisted of a set by The Notting Hillbillies, followed by Dire Straits playing the second hour.

Mark Knopfler and John Illsley attend the unveiling of a PRS for Music Heritage Plaque by Ellis Rich, PRS Chairman. The special plaque is mounted outside the ground floor of Farrer House on Church Street in Deptford, UK, where Dire Straits began rehearsing in 1977 and where the band later played their first gig.

Dire Straits is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.