Skateaway

Zoo Freaks, get ready to glide into the groove with "Skateaway" by Dire Straits, a track from their 1980 album Making Movies that’s got the Zoo Crew spinning with delight. This song paints a vivid picture of a roller-skating girl weaving through city streets, headphones blasting rock ’n’ roll, as penned by frontman Mark Knopfler. One juicy bit of trivia comes from the song’s music video, which hit MTV in 1981 and featured Jayzik Azikiwe, credited as Jay Carly, skating as the iconic Rollergirl. Sadly, Azikiwe, a poet and daughter of Nigeria’s first president, passed away in 2008 at 49, but her performance left a lasting mark, with fans on platforms like Google Groups calling her the “Phenomenal Woman” of the video. The video, directed by Lester Bookbinder, was part of a pre-MTV compilation sold on home video, showing Dire Straits’ early knack for visual storytelling.

Another tidbit from Rhino highlights the song’s production, featuring Roy Bittan of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band on keyboards, adding those “hallowed organ textures” that Record World raved about in 1980. The track’s six-minute album version was trimmed to under five for radio, peaking at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #37 in the UK. Fans on SongMeanings love how Knopfler’s lyrics, like “urban toreador,” capture the skater’s fearless dance through traffic, with one user noting the song’s outro as a musical masterpiece. Posts on X from 2025 still celebrate Making Movies as Dire Straits’ peak, with users like @LouderPosts praising the band’s rise from London pubs to global fame.

Dire Straits’ journey began in 1977 in London, sparked by Mark Knopfler, a former journalist and teacher with a passion for guitar. Alongside his brother David on rhythm guitar, bassist John Illsley, and drummer Pick Withers, Mark formed the band, drawing from pub rock and blues influences. Their self-titled debut in 1978, featuring “Sultans of Swing,” broke them into the UK and US charts, as noted on Last.fm. Knopfler’s storytelling and distinctive fingerstyle guitar set them apart, though tensions led to David’s departure during Making Movies’ recording, with Mark re-recording his parts. The band’s early gigs in London’s pub scene honed their raw, rootsy sound, which evolved into the cinematic polish of Making Movies, produced by Jimmy Iovine.

Stay connected with Dire Straits through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share updates and throwbacks. Fans can dive deeper at Mark Knopfler’s website for solo projects or join discussions on Steve Hoffman Music Forums. The Dire Straits Fans Facebook group is a vibrant spot for Zoo Freaks to swap stories and celebrate classics like “Skateaway.” So, keep those dials locked on THE ZOO, and let the Rollergirl’s rock ’n’ roll dream keep you slippin’ and slidin’!