DIRE STRAITS star JOHN ILLSLEY desperately wants former bandmate MARK KNOPFLER to agree to reforming the group - because he'd "love to do" a comeback tour.
The bassist is keen to join forces with Knopfler and treat fans to a string of reunion shows - but is struggling to convince the guitarist, who is currently concentrating on solo projects.
The Sultans of Swing rockers disbanded in 1995, and Knopfler has often commented on his reluctance to reform the group - insisting he doesn't need the money and isn't even a fan of Dire Straits' early hits.
Illsley, who is set to release his first solo album in more than 20 years later this month (Oct08), is adamant the reformation is a good idea - but admits it's eventually "entirely up to Mark".
He tells the BBC, "He says 'Oh, I don't know whether to start getting all that stuff back together again'.
"I'm very open to doing whatever's suggested. I think we've definitely got one more tour left in us, and probably another record too." He adds, "But he's doing incredibly well as a solo artist, so hats off to him. He's having a perfectly good time doing what he's doing."