Uploaded July 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Dire Straits, initially known as the Café Racers, were one of the most successful British bands in the 1970s and 80s with LP sales of over 100 million. Formed by Mark Knopfler (lead guitar & vocals) in London in 1977, the band included brother David Knopfler (rhythm guitar & vocals), John Illsley (base guitar & vocals) and Pick Withers (drums & percussion) and they had a massive worldwide hit with their first single “Sultans of Swing” Other hits followed including “Twisting by the Pool,” “Money for Nothing” and “Walk of Life.” Their LP “Brothers in Arms” was the first album EVER to sell a million copies on CD (compact disc)!! One of GRT’s favourite guests over the years was all round nice guy Phil Collins. He had more Top 40 hits in the US in the 1980s than any other artist. In 1970 he was the drummer and eventually, on the departure of Peter Gabriel in 1975, lead singer for the band Genesis which included Mike Rutherford (bass guitar) and Tony Banks (keyboards). He began a solo career in the 1980s with songs like “In the Air Tonight,” “Against All Odds,” “One More Night”, “Sussudio,” “Two Hearts,” “Another Day in Paradise.” Albums include “Face Value,” “No Jacket Required” and “… But Seriously.” Phil Collins, Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson are the ONLY 3 artists who have sold over 100 million records worldwide, both as solo artists and separately as principal members of a band. Formed in 1981, the Pet Shop Boys are Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the most successful synth/pop duo in UK history and Billboard magazine’s #1 dance/duo group over the last 40 years! They hit UK #1 with “West End Girls,” “It’s a Sin,” “Always on My Mind” and “Heart.” The Neville Brothers were a New Orleans r&b/soul/funk group which started with 4 brothers in 1976. Lead singer Aaron’s first major hit “Tell It Like It Is” was #1 on the R&B charts for 5 weeks in 1967 and #2 on Billboard’s Top 100 behind the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer.” Aaron teamed up with Linda Ronstadt in 1989, recording Grammy winning duets “Don’t Know Much” and “All My Life.” The show was GOOD ROCKIN' TONITE with host Stu Jeffries from CBC Vancouver Television studios.
Dire Straits, initially known as the Café Racers, were one of the most successful British bands in the 1970s and 80s with LP sales of over 100 million. Formed by Mark Knopfler (lead guitar & vocals) in London in 1977, the band included brother David Knopfler (rhythm guitar & vocals), John Illsley (base guitar & vocals) and Pick Withers (drums & percussion) and they had a massive worldwide hit with their first single “Sultans of Swing” Other hits followed including “Twisting by the Pool,” “Money for Nothing” and “Walk of Life.” Their LP “Brothers in Arms” was the first album EVER to sell a million copies on CD (compact disc)!! One of GRT’s favourite guests over the years was all round nice guy Phil Collins. He had more Top 40 hits in the US in the 1980s than any other artist. In 1970 he was the drummer and eventually, on the departure of Peter Gabriel in 1975, lead singer for the band Genesis which included Mike Rutherford (bass guitar) and Tony Banks (keyboards). He began a solo career in the 1980s with songs like “In the Air Tonight,” “Against All Odds,” “One More Night”, “Sussudio,” “Two Hearts,” “Another Day in Paradise.” Albums include “Face Value,” “No Jacket Required” and “… But Seriously.” Phil Collins, Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson are the ONLY 3 artists who have sold over 100 million records worldwide, both as solo artists and separately as principal members of a band. Formed in 1981, the Pet Shop Boys are Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the most successful synth/pop duo in UK history and Billboard magazine’s #1 dance/duo group over the last 40 years! They hit UK #1 with “West End Girls,” “It’s a Sin,” “Always on My Mind” and “Heart.” The Neville Brothers were a New Orleans r&b/soul/funk group which started with 4 brothers in 1976. Lead singer Aaron’s first major hit “Tell It Like It Is” was #1 on the R&B charts for 5 weeks in 1967 and #2 on Billboard’s Top 100 behind the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer.” Aaron teamed up with Linda Ronstadt in 1989, recording Grammy winning duets “Don’t Know Much” and “All My Life.” The show was GOOD ROCKIN' TONITE with host Stu Jeffries from CBC Vancouver Television studios.
