Dire Straits

He also reveals the rock legend who helped him feel comfortable with his voice.

Bassist John Illsley also details how "emotionally exhausted" the band was in the days before their breakup.

Sonni was best known as "the other guitarist" on the band's Brothers in Arms tour.

Mark Knopfler stepped into a London pub one evening and discovered the subject of a hit song.

Given their low-key music and lack of visual flash, these guys seemed like unlikely candidates for mainstream pop stardom.

Dire Straits released only a handful of albums during their brief time together. Which holds up best?

In truth, they'd never come across as overly eager about courting rock radio — and really didn't need to be.