On March 14, the Straits (featuring members of Dire Straits) will perform in Plymouth at The Flying Monkey Performance Center. Dire Straits’ Alan Clark and Chris White, with five hand-picked, world class musicians – Terence Reis, Steve Ferrone from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mickey Feat, Adam Phillips, and Jamie Squire, are set to perform at venues in the United States starting in late February.

Dire Straits’ legacy is alive and well, thanks to the musicians who made history with the band. Straits’ keyboard player and former Dire Straits member and producer Alan Clark began the process two years ago in Rome. “Dire Straits’ sax player Chris and I were having breakfast beside a pool one beautiful, sunny morning when I declared we were going to form the Straits,” says Clark.

Having been a part of the hugely successful, multi-million selling Dire Straits, Clark was acutely aware of the huge responsibility they were undertaking and the need to get it right. “So, next we needed a band. There was only ever going to be one drummer: Steve Ferrone, probably the best rock drummer in the world, and a good mate. We’d played together for some years when we were in Eric Clapton’s band, and he is godfather to my son and daughter. As for a front man, I’d always thought it would be impossible to replace the huge talent that is Mark Knopfler until I discovered the brilliant Terence Reis. Next, we needed a bass player. We’d briefly considered using a lineup of ex-Dire Straits players – and believe me, there were plenty – but we decided to go our own way, to hand-pick the absolute best, so Mickey Feat was recruited on bass,” adds Clark. “As for the additional keyboard player role, I’d watch Jamie Squire grow up – his family were neighbors of mine in a village in Northumberland – and develop into the amazing multi-instrumental singer/songwriter he is today. Suddenly we had a band, and what a band!”

The Straits are back!