THE bass guitarist of Dire Straits has had a remarkable musical journey since 1977, selling over 120 million albums and picking up a few Grammy’s on the way as well as an Ivor Novello award in 1988 for outstanding contribution to British Music.

John Illsley and His Band, with special guest Robbie McIntosh, return to one of their favourite haunts - the Brook - on Wednesday.

The show from the founder member of Dire Straits, who now runs a New Forest pub, is being filmed for a future DVD.

It will feature all of the well known songs from Dire Straits such as Sultans of Swing, Money for Nothing and Brothers in Arms plus songs from John’s latest album Long Shadows, which was released last year.

John said: “The new songs fit very comfortably next to the DS classics which I still love to play and it seems people love to hear.”

The band are John Illsley on lead vocals and bass guitar, Robbie McIntosh (The Pretenders, Paul McCartney and Tom Jones) on guitar, guitar from Paul Stacey (Oasis, The Black Crowes and High Flying Birds), Steve Smith (Robert Plant, Pete Townsend and Steve Harley) on keyboards, drummer Stuart Ross (Mark Owen, Nik Kershaw and Chesney Hawkes) and Jess Greenfield (Rod Stewart and Take That) on backing vocals.

See the-brook.com for tickets.