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Louder
Entertainment
Rob Hughes

"We were living on next to nothing and weren't even able to pay the gas bill": The song that transformed Dire Straits' fortunes and set them on the path to global fame

Dire Straits John Illsley Mark Knopfler Bob Dylan
Dire Straits studio portrait.

Just after 6pm on July 13, 1985, Dire Straits took to the stage at Wembley Stadium as part of Live Aid, playing to a global TV audience that reached a mind-frying 1.9 billion. In their slot between U2 and Queen, they started with Money For Nothing (joined by Sting), and then came an epic version of the song that made them superstars: Sultans Of Swing.

“It was a very special feeling to be part of something so unique,” recalls bassist John Illsley. “Live Aid was a unique privilege for all of us. It’s become a fabulous memory.”

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