Why I lost a bit of respect for Sting (Rick Beato Interview)

[buldog5151bass]

In my experience, very talented people tend to be at either edge of the attitude spectrum - either 5hey are extremely gracious, or extreme aholes. I think it comes with the territory.

 

[fhm555]

There's an old saying that runs along the lines of, "it's not bragging if you can do it."

 

[brianrost]

when Rick began to discuss the other members of The Police (Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers), Sting stepped in and essentially gave himself credit for their contributions to the band

I must have seen the version edited for space aliens to watch I didn't think Sting was taking credit for the others' contributions at all. He was taking credit for his compositions, which is justified. The few Police songs that he didn't write are just not as good as his.

When I listen to the Police records, what I hear more than anything else is restraint. There's no guitar solos, the songs are short and the arrangements leave a lot of wide open space. What they left out is almost more important than what they left in. A lot to learn there about how to make a trio sound huge without overplaying.

 

[matthewbrown]

I'm sure many of you have seen the Rick Beato interview with Sting and his guitarist, Dominic Miller. It was a fascinating look into songwriting, basslines, and (inadvertently) one gargantuan ego.

It was a great conversation. But when Rick began to discuss the other members of The Police (Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers), Sting stepped in and essentially gave himself credit for their contributions to the band.

At some points it was subtle. Others, not so much. But I found it to be very off-putting that one of my all-time favorite musicians showed so little humility in dealing with his bandmates.

Did anyone else notice that?

The Police appeared with Elvis Costello on his interview show; you could see the dynamic at work despite Sting's efforts to keep his ego in check. He's made some great music that's given joy to millions, and he's done a lot of good in the world. I balance those against his obvious shortcomings.

 

[Guitalia]

Say what you will: Sting played Billy Idol to perfection.

 

[Phaidrus]

He's extremely good at what he does, he knows it, and he's a pompous ass about it. I don't think this has been a secret for at least twenty years, likely longer.

I tried to watch the video but Sting's well-developed ego was too off-putting. I love the Police, though, and some of his solo work.

+1
All Police albums and especially the first two are just so good. The first three notes (C-C-D) of the Walking on the Moon bassline are like a window to new vistas. Inflated egos not so much.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Sounds like an unbearable video. YouTube is so weird.

 

[Guitalia]

I worship at the Temple of King Branford...

Miles Davis might have been a less than stellar human being, but he was a restless innovator. He moved on from traditional bebop in the early '70s, and Branford Marsalis (and other jazz academicians/embalmers, including the always bitter Stanley Crouch) never forgave him.

Miles Davis: "Kind Of Blue is the past. Do they want me to wear a zoot suit, too?"

Davis to Marsalis, when Branford walked uninvited out of the wings at a Davis concert, with his horn in his hand and blood in his eye: "Get off my ****ing stage, man!"

 

[JimK]

In Miles' autobiography he talked about Sting "stealing" Darryl Jones from his band.

There's stealing & then there's "stealing". IMO, MD was OK with the "stealing"...like he never did?
Too, unless my memory is fading, I thought Jones & Branford were a package deal. Both were in MD's early '80s band with John Scofield. One of my 1st CDs was Decoy...a freebie because my CD machine was a Sony.
So, Jones leaves & Marcus Miller re-enters MD's world as musician, composer, & producer. All worked out.

On a tangent-
Anyone recall the MTV video of "If You Love Somebody"? Daryl Jones is almost acting like it's his video. Sting was OK giving him free reign. It's not like he couldn't have recut the whole video.

 

[HaphAsSard]

There was a Bass Player magazine interview in which he said some wonderful and insightful things about Jack Bruce, and that redeemed him, for me.

A long time ago I was surprised to see Songs for a Tailor make Sting's 10 desert-island disc list. However, it quickly made sense to me. Nothing (except explicit mention to the contrary) will convince me he didn't take that concept of surprise in pop songwriting directly from Jack Bruce.
Some time later, I was browsing Sumner's autobiography at a library, and came upon his mention of going to see the Graham Bond Organisation in Newcastle as a kid, and contextual Bruce namedrop. So he was exposed to JB pre-Cream. He must be a serious, lifelong Jack fan.

 

[Lownote38]

Man, I skipped to the end of this thread hoping the Beato criticisms would have increased! That would be a worthy read!

 

[nick4bass]

Say what you will: Sting played Billy Idol to perfection.

Man, I miss Phil Hartman. He was awesome!

 

[two fingers]

I have met Michael Manring a few times and i dobt there is a more talent bassist around. he is the kindest most humble musician. not all great are douches

I never said "all of the greats" are horrible people. But that hasn't kept everyone from posting the anecdotal exception in their lives.

 

[4dog]

entertainers are just people,people.

 

[31HZ]

Gosh…now what do we do?

 

[azureblue]

Honestly, Stewart acts the same way, and would probably give himself all of the credit for the success of the Police. But he, Sting and Andy are so talented, I don't really care.

It was Stew's brother that had the record company the Police signed to. Andy is a bit like George Harrison - rarely played anything spectacular, but always something that is exactly what the song needed.

 

[Monkey]

I enjoyed the interview and respect both Sting and Rick Beato. Sting is an amazing artist. Just saying….

 

[80jazz]

The few Police songs that he didn't write are just not as good as his.

Have you heard the story about A&M wanting Omegaman as the first single off of Ghost in the Machine?

I can see where your point comes from and will largely agree, but the other 2 at least had some moments of being able to write well.

On the album above, Sting did have some stuff that was perhaps filler (Too Much Information is a good example of this IMO).

 

[AngelCrusher]

I believe it! I've heard some rumors myself. Even just the way he has conducted himself online is ridiculous. And his constant victim complex.

Well I don't speak to rumors, only facts. I have worked with him and his close associates few times on projects back in the early 2000s and he was very well liked by all of us. Good dude. I'm glad to see him having success with YT and making such an informative channel.

 

[80jazz]

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.

In the Behind the Music special, Stewart Copeland said that they all wrote the same number of songs but that Sting`s were always the best.