John Illsley (born 24 June 1949, Leicester) is an English musician who rose to fame as the bassist of the BRIT and Grammywinning rock band, Dire Straits. As one of the founding band members, with brothers and guitarists David and Mark Knopfler, and drummer Pick Withers, Illsley played a role in the development of Dire Straits' sound. When David Knopfler would later leave the band at the dawning of the1980s, Illsley not only lost a bandmate but also a former roommate and good friend. By the time the group disbanded in 1995, with changes in personnel, Illsley, and frontman Mark Knopfler, were the only two original band members remaining. Illsley has also kept a low-key profile about his own abilities as a singer-songwriter, producing two albums of his own making with Mark Knopfler guesting on his albums and videos on guitar, with Illsley reciprocating on Knopfler's personal projects and charities. Recently, he has released two more albums, with influence from the Celtic based band, Cunla. As an artist, he has pursued some enjoyment in painting.