Jason Carroll (bass)
Steve O'Keefe (drums)
Johnny Owens (fiddle & electric guitar)
Also featuring John Illsley (lead guitar, lead vocals on "Bright Lights Big City") & Greg Pearle (lead vocals)
Influences
Dire Straits
Sounds Like
John Illsley with Cunla & Greg Pearle - Live in Les Baux de Provence
Tracks:
Expresso Love
First We Take Manhattan
Instrumental
Six Blade Knife
Southern Man
Sultans of Swing
Bright Lights Big City
Theme from Local Hero
Cocaine
Mrs Robinson
Once Upon A Time in the West
Star of the County Down
Walk of Life
Where Do You Think You're Going
Money For Nothing
Forever Young
John Illsley was born in Leicester, England and was the bass player for the British rock band Dire Straits. He was introduced to lead singer and guitarist Mark Knopfler by Mark's brother, David. As well as playing bass guitar on all the Dire Straits recordings, John also contributed vocals to their Communiqué, Making Movies and Brothers in Arms albums.
John has also released two albums of his own, Never Told A Soul in 1984 and Glass in 1988. Mark Knopfler contributed some of the guitar parts on both albums.
When Dire Straits stopped touring in 1993 John was able to concentrate on his other great passion - painting. He currently exhibits his work every year somewhere in the world and so far, twice in London - the last being from 6-21 June 2007 with Nevill Keating Mcllroy in Pickering Place. This year the show featured paintings of Provence as well as guitars, some of which John either owns or would like to own! Last year's show was held in the town hall of Les Baux de Provence and hung for the whole of September as part of the local festival.
John first met Irish rock group Cunla in March 2005 in a pub in Leicestershire and took to the stage for the first time since 1993, joining the band to play a couple of Dire Straits' numbers!
Cunla are Steve O'Keefe on drums, Jason Carroll on bass and Johnny Owens on fiddle and electric guitar. When John first met them they had Greg Pearle as their singer. They are a working band from Mullingar, which is one hour west of Dublin, Ireland.
John was suitably impressed enough to ask the band to come play at a summer party in Hampshire that he was hosting with his wife, Steph. John ended up doing some gigs with them in Ireland and then as part of the Festival des Alpilles, where they played to 1300 people in the Cathedral D'Image in Les Baux de Provence. This was part of the same festival that was hosting John's painting in the town hall that September!
The Provence gig was recorded (John Illsley with Cunla & Greg Pearle - Live in Les Baux de Provence) and is available now on CD and via download.
ROCKAWAY did a charity gig at the legendary Parisian venue THE OLYMPIA, last May, 11th. You can watch a 7-minute editing of the show on my page. The show (a tribute to DIRE STRAITS) was held on behalf of ELA fighting the Leucodystrophies, a charity Godfathered by Zinedine Zidane. Check it out. All the best, aurelien
Hello John, Thanks so much for the add! Hope the painting is bringing your life much enjoyment! It's bringing mine hunger pains!haha Best wishes in everything! Thanks again,for everything! Your friend, Randy
DAVID KNOPFLER plays his only UK date of 2008 in Maidstone Kent @ Zebra Bar. March 17th. This is a full band gig! Not solo. A Rare chance to see David live with this band in the UK.
Hello John, thanks for your add and for fantastic music over the last 20 years! I have seen you with the Dire Straits in Kassel/Germany in 1982. It was so great! All the best! Volkwin
Hello Mr Illsley!! and many, many thanks! I've grown up listening to dire straits & Knopfler music and now I appreciate a lot your work as a soloist too! I wish you all the best! stef
Hi John, a small message 1) for showing some love, 2) to let you know that I've opened a new site: www.christelleharpqueen.com. If you've got time, I'll be please to know what you think about it. Kisses and hugs. HQ
Hi John,I'm the lead guitarist in an italian tribute called Local Hero from Foligno(near Perugia),your work wiht the CUNLA is great,in particular,i love your version of FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN.All the best! Jacopo M. Magrini
Merci John de votre ajout. Je vous souhaite une bonne et heureuse année 2008. C'est trés chouette ce que vous faites. Je rage d'avoir raté le concert aux baux... Mais bon je me consolerais en écoutant l'album. Un petit coup de pub pour mon frère Patrick de MADEINLIVE, c'est bien ce qu'il fait. A Bientôt Philippe
THANKS for the add. Your bass playing inspired me, especially on the earlier Dire Straits albums when I was a newbie. Those grooves were melodic, dominant in the mix and right on. They had a simplistic sound that held it all together. And I know the difference between simplistic sound & simple to play. HA.
Hi, Thanx 4 inviting us into your space world. Greetz from UK n Helsinki. Wild musik wid energy n edge. Glad to be friends:-) Great vibes. Keep it alive
