BROTHERS in Arms will be reunited again as three former members of the Dire Straits relive the glory days at the Regent Centre next week.
Smooth-sounding band The Straits formed two years ago when they were presented with the opportunity to play a charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
They are now embarking on a 14 date tour which brings them to Christchurch on February 4 due to the substantial demand to hear the band’s much loved catalogue of great songs.
Alan Clark who joined Dire Straits in 1980 as their first keyboard player and later played a significant part as their producer said: “Dire Straits’ sax player Chris White and I were having breakfast beside a pool one beautiful, sunny morning when I declared we were going to form The Straits.
“We’d been presented with the opportunity to put a band together to play at a charity show at the Albert Hall, and as I’d recently discovered Terence Reis and heard him performing some Dire Straits’ songs rather brilliantly, it seemed the logical thing to do to form a band around him.
“As is the way with all things that are meant to be, it was all very easy. Suddenly we had a band, and what a band it turned out to be.
“I’ve played in some pretty damned good ones in my time but this one might be the best. People regularly tell us we are at least as good as Dire Straits in their heyday. Some, and discretion prevents me from naming names but suffice to say they are very well qualified indeed to make judgement, say we are even better.”
Formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler, his younger brother David, bassist John Illsley and percussionist Pick Withers, the Dire Straits’ stripped-down sound contrasted with punk, demonstrating a more “rootsy” influence.
Their biggest selling album Brothers in Arms sold over 30 million copies after their debut album projected them into the spotlight with iconic hit single Sultans of Swing.
They received two BRIT awards for Best British Band along with four Grammy awards.
Dire Straits’ members Alan Clark, Phil Palmer and Chris White will be joined by Jamie Squire, rock drummer Steve Ferrone and Mickey Feat on bass for the Straits performance.
They will be taking to the stage at the Regent on February 4 and tickets are available from regentcentre.co.uk
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