Monday 30th November 2009
PRS for Music Honours Dire Straits' First Gig Venue
Legendary British Rock band Dire Straits are to be honoured by the new PRS for Music Heritage Award.
A special plaque will be erected at Farrer House, Church Street, Deptford where the original group, vocalist and lead guitarist Mark Knopfler, rhythm guitarist and vocalist David Knopfler, bass guitarist and vocalist John Illsley and drummer and percussionist Pick Withers once shared a council flat and performed their first ever gig in 1977.
Founding members Mark Knopfler and John Illsley will be there to see the plaque unveiled in Deptford on Thursday 3rd December at 11.00am.
The Chairman of the PRS, Ellis Rich said: “We’re delighted to be honouring Dire Straits with our Heritage Award. During their illustrious career Dire Straits sold over 120 million albums and won numerous awards, and it’s humbling to think it all began in a council flat in Deptford.”
“We hope that their remarkable success serves as inspiration to a whole new generation of musicians.”
Mark Knopfler said "I'm honoured and delighted that the birthplace of Dire Straits should be marked in this way in Deptford as part of London's history."
John Illsley added “It’s a real privilege to return under such positive circumstances to the place where Dire Straits were conceived and did their first gig”.
Their albums include: Dire Straits (1978), Communique (1979), Making Movies (1980), Love over Gold (1982), Brothers in Arms (1985), On Every Street (1991).
Dire Straits have sold in excess of 120 million albums. They’ve won three BRIT awards, four Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music awards.
Anyone who was present at the first gig and is interested in attending the plaque unveiling ceremony or has photos of the performance should contact heritageplaque@prsformusic.com and will receive an official invite.
For more information please go to www.prsformusic.com/heritageaward
ENDS
For more information and media accreditation, get in touch:
Stuart Higgins:
Stuart@stuart-higgins.com
0207 096 5814 / 07836378870
Barney Hooper, Head of PR:
Barney.Hooper@prsformusic.com
02073064548 / 07979757052
PRS for Music:
PRS for Music is the leading copyright and royalty collection society representing 60,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. A not-for-profit organisation it ensures music creators are paid whenever their music is played.
PRS for Music provides business and community groups easy access to 10m songs through its music licences. In an industry worth £3.18bn PRS for Music is uniquely placed to be a voice for music and can provide data for all aspects of the business: live, broadcast, sales, online, touring and music creation and up to date analysis, research and trends about the industry.
www.prsformusic.com
www.myspace.com/prsformusic