Dire Straits songwriter Mark Knopfler and the musician Sting talked about their memories of the Spanish City. Knopfler, who was born in Glasgow but grew up in Blyth, Northumberland, a few miles from the Spanish City, said it was the first place he had ever heard really loud rock and roll.[1] Sting, born near Newcastle, spent his afternoons and evenings in the Spanish City when he should have been studying for his A levels.[15]