ABOUT
Born Gordon Matthew Sumner in the industrial town of Wallsend, his early life was dominated by the sight of the massive Swan Hunter shipyards. This industrial backdrop would later inspire much of his songwriting. Before becoming a global icon, he worked as a ditch digger, a bus conductor, and eventually a qualified primary school teacher.
His musical education took place in the smoky rooms of local jazz clubs. Playing bass for the Newcastle Big Band and Last Exit, he honed a sophisticated musicality that set him apart from the burgeoning punk scene. It was during this time that he earned the name “Sting” from his habit of wearing a yellow and black striped jersey that made him look like a bee. In 1976, a chance meeting with American drummer Stewart Copeland changed everything; Copeland saw a “charismatic” bass player wasted in jazz-fusion and convinced him to move to London to embrace the energy of the New Wave.
In London, Sting joined forces with Copeland and veteran guitarist Andy Summers to form The Police. Initially, the band “camouflaged” themselves as a punk act to get gigs at legendary venues like The Roxy. However, their musical complexity—a unique mix of reggae-influenced basslines, atmospheric guitar, and rock energy—couldn’t be hidden for long.
After struggling to find success in the UK, they took a “bargain-flight” tour to America, driving their own van and playing to tiny audiences at CBGB’s. This tenacity paid off. With the re-release of “Roxanne,” they exploded globally. A string of five consecutive #1 albums followed, culminating in the 1983 masterpiece Synchronicity. The lead single, “Every Breath You Take,” became one of the most-played songs in radio history. By 1984, following a massive sell-out show at Shea Stadium, Sting realized the band had reached its peak and decided to walk away to pursue a solo path.
Sting’s solo debut, The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985), featured a band of young jazz virtuosos and signaled his intent to move beyond the boundaries of rock. He became a voice for global issues, writing about the Cold War (“Russians”), the UK miners’ strike, and the “disappeared” in Chile (“They Dance Alone”). The 1990s were a period of immense personal and commercial success.
After the death of his parents, he released the deeply introspective The Soul Cages (1991), followed by the universally acclaimed Ten Summoner’s Tales (1993). This era defined his sound: a polished, literate, and genre-blending pop that earned him dozens of Grammys. During this time, he also became a prominent activist, co-founding the Rainforest Foundation with his wife, Trudie Styler, to protect indigenous lands and the environment.
As the new millennium began, Sting continued to innovate. The album Brand New Day was a massive hit, notably for “Desert Rose,” which brought Middle Eastern “rai” music to the Western mainstream. Never one to stay in one place, he shocked the industry by recording Songs From The Labyrinth, an album of 16th-century lute music, which remarkably topped the classical charts for two years.
In 2007, he surprised the world by reuniting with The Police for a massive world tour, which became one of the highest-grossing tours of all time. However, his most personal project came in 2013 with “The Last Ship.” This Broadway musical was a tribute to his hometown’s shipbuilding heritage. Despite the challenges of the theater world, the project showcased his evolution into a sophisticated storyteller and playwright.
Sting has entered his eighth decade with the energy of a musician half his age. After returning to rock with 57th & 9th and collaborating with reggae star Shaggy on the Grammy-winning 44/876, he continues to reinvent his legacy. During the 2021 pandemic, he recorded The Bridge, an album focused on personal and political transitions.
Today, he is touring under the “STING 3.0” banner—a power trio that strips his massive catalog down to its core essentials of bass, drums, and guitar. His schedule remains relentless, with theatrical runs and stadium shows booked through 2026. Whether performing with a symphony orchestra, a jazz quintet, or a rock trio, Sting remains a restless artist, famously stating that his only goal is to remain a “student of music.”
