Music legend Sting, famed for his work with The Police and an award-winning solo career, will headline the Isle of Wight Festival next month.
Sting, real name Gordon Sumner, was born in Newcastle back in 1951. His nickname came from the fact that he used to wear a black and yellow sweater during his early days as a musician.
Bass player and singer-songwriter Sting’s solo career has surpassed his success as a member of that group. He has garnered Brit and Grammy Awards under both incarnations, as well as an Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement in Music.
Sting’s solo career commenced in 1982, predating the demise of Police.
Branching out into acting, he starred in the 1982 TV film ‘Brimstone and Treacle’, having debuted in ‘Quadrophenia’ in 1979. While still with the Police, he co-wrote the Dire Straits hit ‘Money for Nothing’ (1985), singing ‘I Want my MTV’ on the intro of the album version.
On Phil Collins’ 1985 album ‘No Jacket Required’ Sting can be heard singing some of the harmonies. In 1988 he began a 2-year period of campaigning and raising the profile of environmental issues as well as fundraising on that platform.
Amongst his solo songs, ‘Russians’ addresses the issue of nuclear annihilation, and is based on the theme from the Lieutenant Kije Suite, while ‘Englishman in New York’ has the British eccentric, Quentin Crisp as its subject matter.
Other hits include ‘If I ever lose my faith in you’, the perennial ‘Fields of Gold’ and various reworkings of the Police back catalogue. He scored 2 Number 1 solo albums with ‘Nothing Like the Sun’ in 1987 and ‘The Soul Cages’ in 1991.
Sting has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new age and world beat in his music. In the 2003 HM Queen’s Birthday Honours he was awarded a CBE for services to the music industry.
In February 2007, he reunited with Police to open the Grammy Awards. A reunion tour ran from May 2007 until August 2008. Of course, the trio played Seaclose Park back in 2008.
He is a keen chess player and supports his hometown football club Newcastle United. At this year’s Isle of Wight Festival, Sting will headline Friday night (20th June).
Last Friday (25th April) he released a new live album, ‘Sting 3.O Live’ comprising 10 songs. Recorded on his world tour, tracks include ‘Message in a Bottle’, ‘Fields of Gold’, ‘Every Breath You Take’ and ‘Roxanne’.
I can’t wait to see Sting, a great guy who is on the
right side of history.
Should be a great night.
Perfect cure for insomniacs. Glad I won’t be there.