Dire Straits were an English rock band; formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals); his brother David Knopfler (guitar); John Illsley (bass); and Pick Withers (drums); and subsequently managed by Ed Bicknell. Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock reigned; Dire Straits worked within the conventions of classic rock; albeit with a stripped-down sound that appealed to modern audiences weary of the overproduced stadium rock of the 1970s.In their early days; Mark and David requested that pub owners turn down the amps so that patrons could converse while the band played indicative of their unassuming demeanor. "Telegraph Road" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits and written by Mark Knopfler. It appeared on their 1982 album Love over Gold. Clocking in at 14:21 minutes long, it is rarely played by radio stations, yet has remained well-regarded over the years by many fans of the band.[citation needed]Dire Straits were an English rock band; formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals); his brother David Knopfler (guitar); John Illsley (bass); and Pick Withers (drums); and subsequently managed by Ed Bicknell. Although.