I was also Sting in a Police trip band. His bass lines aren't complex, but the meter of the lyrics is often not in synch with the bass line, which made putting the two together quite a challenge on several song.
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Why I lost a bit of respect for Sting (Rick Beato Interview)
- Thread starter tb-player
- Start date
I was also Sting in a Police trip band. His bass lines aren't complex, but the meter of the lyrics is often not in synch with the bass line, which made putting the two together quite a challenge on several song.
He did not choose his own nickname. Bono A.K.A. Paul Hewson named his friend Dave Evans "The Edge". He said it was because "Dave was so skinny that he vanished whenever he turned sideways". Paul Hewson was named "Bono Vox" by his friend Gavin Friday (real name). Hewson/Bono didn't like it at first, but says that it grew on him.
I'm also of the opinion that Sting went on to his better work as a solo artist.Well that's a matter of opinion.
IMO the best album Sting ever made was Ten Summoner's Tales, and the best individual tune he ever wrote was Fortress Around Your Heart.
Many, many years ago I had an email conversation with one of my heroes, and it wasn't bad. No arrogance, just a different plane of existence. I did get some useful tips out of it, though. But then I doubt Sting would have responded to my emails. I exchanged a few emails with Tony Levin too, and he was really gracious. I even got on really well with Carol Kaye, although I never told her I hate playing with a pick.
I was Facebook friends with Carol Kaye in the brief time she was on the platform. She stopped because too many people were pissing her off. She is very prickly, but in her defense, she had to be to be able to be where she was. She took no gruff from no one. I made her laugh once in a convo. That's still a highlight of my social media history.
I have no beef with either Sting or Beato.
As far as I'm concerned, the world is a better place with them than without.
As far as I'm concerned, the world is a better place with them than without.
In the interview he does at one point praise the musicianship of Stew and Andy. But he also expresses the fact that he wanted songs to sound different from what the Police did.
Also, one thing I loved was that, unlike many musicians and people on social media, he went out of his way to acknowledge the newer forms of music, and respect the reality that music is not played and presented the same way now as it was when he was coming up.
Also, one thing I loved was that, unlike many musicians and people on social media, he went out of his way to acknowledge the newer forms of music, and respect the reality that music is not played and presented the same way now as it was when he was coming up.
Tell ya what, learn a handful of his songs, solo or with the band. Play and sing. He can be how he chooses. He's a straight up genius. The Police were 3 geniuses. No doubt they butted heads.
This is just like bus drivers. I know some bus drivers who are seriously talented (and yes, I'm being serious; so smooth you could forget you're even on a bus, perfect judgement, amazing trouble spotting skills etc) and are really nice people. Others are just operators bouncing you about all over the place. Some of those are really nice. There are other bus drivers who are just difficult, talented or otherwise. I worked with one who had "never had an accident in twenty blah blah years" despite knocking a mirror off on a powerpole or a truck body every six months just like the rest of us. In blah blah years of driving crash boxes (non-synchromesh gearboxes) in coaches he'd never even worn out a clutch! You think he might have caused a bit of clutch wear starting up again at a traffic light or pulling away from a hotel foyer but no - never. Genius.
This is a regular occurrence for me:
I watched this interview with Beato and Sting, and of course I had a few opinions or reactions to things they said.
Then as I often do, I remind myself: I've never met any of those guys, don't know them personally, and have no idea what they're like as people, and have been around enough 'famous' musicians who've been burned a zillion times already in the press, THEY WILL NEVER let the wall down and even give you a glimpse of who they really are away from the stage.
So I usually steer around these things, as I really don't know who I'm really watching or listening to. Wish I had this one as well.
I watched this interview with Beato and Sting, and of course I had a few opinions or reactions to things they said.
Then as I often do, I remind myself: I've never met any of those guys, don't know them personally, and have no idea what they're like as people, and have been around enough 'famous' musicians who've been burned a zillion times already in the press, THEY WILL NEVER let the wall down and even give you a glimpse of who they really are away from the stage.
So I usually steer around these things, as I really don't know who I'm really watching or listening to. Wish I had this one as well.
I'll admit I have always loved Fields of Gold.
I agree with much that's been said here. Including opinions that Sting is egotistical, to an off-putting degree, and that it's beneficial to ignore that if you enjoy his music.
With that said, I do get a little extra enjoyment from knowing that an artist whose work I like, is a person with a balance of genuine humility and well earned confidence.
Rick Beato's interview with Pat Metheny was extraordinary. Metheny can tell of asking Jaco not to play so many notes without seeming like a jerk.
With that said, I do get a little extra enjoyment from knowing that an artist whose work I like, is a person with a balance of genuine humility and well earned confidence.
Rick Beato's interview with Pat Metheny was extraordinary. Metheny can tell of asking Jaco not to play so many notes without seeming like a jerk.
Well he didn't listen to anyone so...
Yeah, and this is the thing about solo Sting. Some of his stuff is incredibly cheesy and dated-sounding (IMO of course), but somehow Fields of Gold and everything else on that record just works so well. Honestly there are some Police tunes that I find to be rather 80's-sounding (IMO once more, and I like the Police!).
Anyway, here is my favourite Sting-related interview:
I loved him in Only Murders in the Building, but yeah, I'd be bummed by that interview, too, if I were big into Sting.
I thought the interview was good and I did not get the impression that there was any jerky-ness and ego going on. He complimented both Stewart and Andy and acknowledged their contribution to how the songs came out. But, he was the main songwriter and wrote the best songs, so maybe that can get interpreted as ego but it's just the truth.
So, to the OP's original question: no, I didn't notice that Sting diminished the contributions of Stewart and Andy to the band.
Have you ever seen interviews with Stewart Copland? It sounds like just about everything out of his mouth is BS! I'd have a hard time getting along with him as well! He's a great drummer though. I am sure the tensions in the band played a part in how those songs came out.
Funny you should post this. I couldn't get over the cocky "why am I here wasting my time with you" look in his face and posture. That said, I love his writing and playing. I enjoy Rick, too...he does share a lot of useful information free of charge.
I'm a 1/4 of the way into it, he's not a dick, he's just English.
present company excepted
present company excepted
