John Illsley
John Illsley was the founding bass player with the legendary 120 million al… Read Full Bio ↴John Illsley was the founding bass player with the legendary 120 million album selling Dire Straits and contributing vocalist to their Communiqué, Making Movies and Brothers in Arms albums until the group dissolved in 1995. John has released four albums of his own: Never Told A Soul (1984) and Glass (1988) while performing with Dire Straits, then Beautiful You (2008) and the best yet, Streets of Heaven (2010).

After Dire Straits disbanded, John had retired from music and moved to rural Hampshire with his family to focus on his other passion, painting. He bought a local pub, the East End Arms, and The George Hotel on the Isle of Wight, and began exhibiting his art around the world.

Everything changed when he met the Irish rock group Cunla in a pub in Leicestershire. This was in March 2005, when Greg Pearle was their singer, and the vibe was so intense that John took to the stage for the first time since 1993, joining the band to play a couple of Dire Straits' numbers. John recalls: "I was asked to play a few tunes with them. I liked their attitude and the fact that despite the large quantities of Guinness that had been consumed they could all play very well."

To coincide with an exhibition of his art in Les Baux de Provence, John was asked to perform some Dire Straits songs.

"The Mayor of the town asked me and it's not done in France to refuse the Mayor. I asked Cunla if they could learn some Dire Straits songs and it turned out that Greg was a big fan and knew a lot of the songs already".

John and Cunla played at the Festival des Alpilles, performing to 1300 people in the Cathedral D'Image in Les Baux de Provence. The show was recorded and John was "pleasantly surprised" by the results. "I initially wanted the band to have a record of their French experience but several people heard it and encouraged us to release it," wrote John. The album Live In Les Baux de Provence was released in 2007.

John and Greg became friends and John discovered that Greg was a songwriter. John wrote "We spent some time knocking his songs into shape then began recording them in Mark Knopfler's fabulous studio in Hammersmith. Wait 'til you hear them. Greg writes brilliant songs and has an amazing voice." This collaboration resulted in the 2008 album Beautiful You.

May 17th 2010 saw the release of Streets Of Heaven, John’s first solo studio album since leaving Dire Straits. With 11 tracks in total and recorded at British Grove studios, it sees old friends including Mark Knopfler contributing to some of the tracks along with John on guitar and lead vocals.

John's website www.johnillsley.com has all his latest news.
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John Illsley Lyrics


21st Century Sometimes it feels like these days will never end The…
All I Want Is You All I want is you. Everything you say and do. All I…
Banks Of The River On the banks of the river Where dirt meets the flow I…
Big Top In fields of glory from town to town Here comes the…
Boy with Chinese Eyes On a clear summer morning A black woman in while. We've wait…
Boy With Chinese Eyes (Chico Con Ojos Achinados) On a clear summer morning A black woman in while We've waite…
Darling Heart They closed the door, they turned the key against your…
High Stakes Play for High Stakes Can you take it that's the name…
I Love You Still I was out on a limb I did not know Next…
I Want To See The Moon Counting days and nights. We play a waiting game. Pluto's ch…
I'm Only Sleeping When I wake up early in the morning Lift my head,…
In the Darkness He was looking for a reason, maybe searching for a…
It's a Long Way Back City of Angels was Burning bright Setting the scene for an…



Jimmy on the Central Line Weary morning traveller, another weekend gone Billboards pai…
Let the River Flow A full moon tide sweeps in To wash the sand to…
Let's Dance I′ll paint you a sunrise today. Sky high and clear. I could…
Long Shadow Coming round again soldier of the road. Close to the wind…
Market Town A gentle man with his gracious wife They had their…
Never Told a Soul Never told a soul you were leavin' Never told a soul…
No Way To Say Goodbye One last embrace let us draw near Your warm sweet breathe…
None of This Was Planned Tears on our land and in our hearts Empty streets…
Nothing to Do We moved from the land and empires were made. Built with…
One I was out on a limb I did not know Next…
Only Time Will Tell Sun rises in the east Where the sirens sange It sets in…
Paperman What do you give us Papermen. We're fool enough to read. Dai…
Papermen What do you give us, Papermen We're fool enough to read Dail…
Railway Tracks Stage was set so wide and clean Joker's face could not…
Red Turns To Blue Goodnight baby. The day has lost its summer glow. Night call…
Romeo and Juliet Love is a beautiful thing This love na for you and…
Run for Cover Someone else's journey This was someone else's war Played fo…
She Wants Everything Lioness tears at my heart. She wants my soul my very…
Sometimes Well, sometimes you can't tell east from west Sometimes you …
Streets Of Heaven Streets of heaven are paved with gold I'm only saying what…
Tell Me I know the road is stoney The road's too long We know…
Testing the Water Hero's and villains on this glorious quest. Count's for noth…
The Mission Song Past all the weight of history Past all the trials…
The World is Made Of Glass This house is mine I'm in my house The many rooms are…
This Is Your Voice This is your voice. The one that others know. Don't ever for…
Toe The Line Toe the line my pretty one Toe the line my friend You're…
Walk of Life Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies Be, bop, a, lua, b…
When God Made Time When God made time, He made pleny of it. In the…
Which Way is Up We took the time to find the time there's so much…
Wondering Wondering if there's a reason Why the King has lost…
Young Girl She's a young girl who knows what she wants A young…


Alexandre Alcântara


on When God Made Time

wonderful

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