Dire Straits Members Form The Straits And Announce World Tour

Dire Straits made music history, and great music while they were together. Since that time the band has not been performing. Mark Knopfler has moved on to other things. The rest of the band has been growing weary and wanting to do something. Maybe forge farther in into the future and add to their legacy.

Dire Straits' Alan Clark and Chris White with five hand-picked, world class musicians - Terence Reis, Steve Ferrone from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mickey Féat, Adam Phillips and Jamie Squire – are set to perform at venues in the United States starting in late February.

Straits' keyboard player and former Dire Straits member and producer Alan Clark began the process two years ago in Rome. “Dire Straits' sax player Chris and I were having breakfast beside a pool one beautiful, sunny morning when I declared we were going to form The Straits,” says Clark.

Having been a part the hugely successful, multi-million selling Dire Straits, Clark was acutely aware of the huge responsibility they were undertaking, and the need to get it right. “So, next we needed a band. There was only ever going to be one drummer: Steve Ferrone, probably the best rock drummer in the world, and a good mate. We'd played together for some years when we were in Eric Clapton's band and he is godfather to my son and daughter. As for a front man, I'd always thought it would be impossible to replace the huge talent that is Mark Knopfler until I discovered the brilliant Terence Reis. Next we needed a bass player. We'd briefly considered using a lineup of ex Dire Straits players - and believe me, there were plenty offers - but we decided to go our own way', to hand-pick the absolute best, so Mickey Feat was recruited on bass,” adds Clark. “As for the additional keyboard player role, I'd watch Jamie Squire grow up - his family were neighbors of mine in a village in Northumberland - and develop into the amazing multi-instrumental singer/songwriter he is today. Suddenly we had a band, and what a band!"

So the band is Dire Straits' Alan Clark and Chris White with five hand-picked, world class musicians - Terence Reis, Steve Ferrone from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mickey Féat, Adam Phillips and Jamie Squire –and they are set to perform at venues in the United States starting in late February.

Here's the US tour dates:

Feb 28 - Manistee, MI | Little River Casino

Mar 01 - Annapolis, MD | Rams Head On Stage

Mar 02 - Portland, ME | Asylum Nightclub Concert Venue

Mar 03 - Buffalo, NY | Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

Mar 04 - Red Bank, NJ | Count Basie Theatre

Mar 05 - Englewood, NJ | Bergen Performing Arts Center

Mar 07 - St. Charles, IL | Arcada Theatre

Mar 08 - Osceola, IA | Lakeside Casino

Mar 09 - Grand Forks, ND | Chester Fritz Auditorium, University of North Dakota

Mar 15 - Flagstaff, AZ | Twin Arrows Casino

Mar 16 - Tucson, AZ | Fox Theatre