Sting was born Gordon Sumner in Wallsend in 1951. He grew up in the now
demolished Gerald Street in Wallsend near the Swan Hunter shipyard. Sting
trained as a teacher but music was always his first love. Before long, he'd
swapped the classroom for the live music circuit. His first North East band was
the jazz funk outfit Last Exit. But it was with The Police that he gained
superstar status with hits like 'Roxanne' and 'Every Breath You Take'.
Sting has drawn on his North East roots for several of his songs. 'Island of
Souls' from the 1991 album 'Soul Cages' has Sting reminiscing about his
shipbuilding memories. It tells the story of Billy 'born within the sight of the
shipyard' on the Tyne. Sting's acting career has also taken him back to his
hometown. He played a Geordie night club owner in the 1988 film 'Stormy Monday'
which was filmed on Newcastle's quayside. Sting may have turned 50 but he's
busier than ever, his last studio album 'Brand New Day' earned him two Grammys.
It also sold over 7 million copies worldwide. Not bad for a Geordie boy whose
dad was a milkman from Wallsend.
Police reformed in the summer of 1986 for several shows
on Amnesty International's Conspiracy of Hope Tour. Following that they
immediately went into the studio to work on a new album, no one had any
new Police material written, so the album turned into a greatest hits.
Sting wanted to re-record all the hits. His idea was that the three of
them were better musicians now and that the songs should reflect that.
Andy and Stewart however, felt that the originals were best left alone. In
the end, they only re-recorded two: Don't Stand So Close To Me and De Do Do Do, De Da Da.
