"Everybody was going 'Does anybody know how to work this thing?'": How Guy Fletcher and a classic ‘80s synth became Dire Straits’ secret weapon on Brothers In Arms, and helped to turn it into one of the biggest albums of the decade

Dire Straits Brothers In Arms.

Set to celebrate its 40th anniversary on Saturday 17 May, Dire Straits’ Brothers In Arms is many things - not least the album that’s viewed as the one that turned the world on to the compact disc. A synth record, though? Surely not.

This after all, was a band helmed by Mark Knopfler, who in 1985 was one of the most famous guitarists in the world (though not quite as famous as Marty McFly, obviously). And just look at that Brothers In Arms album cover - it’s got a photo of a guitar on it, for crying out loud!