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

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?
In my appreciation for the art produced by people who were prostitutes, hopeless drug addicts, thieves, pimps, alcoholics, domestic abusers, etc., an artist with an enormous ego has a mere quaint affectation.
 
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Damian Erskine, Steve Bailey, the late/great Charlie Hayden
There is the slight difference that Sting is very well known, a household name as it’s said. Those three guys… Not so much. As much as we know their names as bass players, the common public certainly doesn’t.

There seems to be some connection between personality type and being uber famous.
 
As a contrast, I think that Damian Erskine, Steve Bailey, the late/great Charlie Hayden and others show that you can be famous and still be a decent human being.

Yea but compared to Sting those guys are barely more famous than you or me. You don't really get to Sting's level with the "aw shucks" routine. It takes a big ego to operate at that level of fame for such a long time. Put it this way: the music industry is an efficient system of sleazebags extracting value from artists. How well are meekness and humility really going to serve you in such cynical conditions? If you're a sideman sure, you can be humble. You're just showing up for work, nobody cares about you. It's a completely different thing when you're a brand. In order to get to that point you have to beat all the industry people at their own game. I'm sure the qualities that you and I find offputting in a YouTube interview have served Sting well and are actually highly advantageous in his line of work.
 
...also a noun, right?

Although it takes a bit of ego to shun your given name for a noun more special, it takes a bit more hipsterishness(?) to go "No, that won't do. It's too mainstream! Any common criminal or Hell's Angel can be a noun. I want to be "THE (noun), NO wait! I want to be a (symbol)! And if that doesn't work out I'll be The artist formerly known as (symbol)! Actually, that's just trying too hard. It needs to be more subtle and annoying. I'll be a noun that is more commonly a (verb)."

I actually think this sort of thing went through his head.
 
I saw Bring On The Night in the theatre. I don't think too much was known about Sting at the time. A bit pompous, yes.
I was just going to mention that.
My favorite part is when the amazing musicians in the band all start jamming on a bebop version of The Flintstones theme song, of all things. Sting tries to join in, but can't keep up. They all laughed at him for playing in the wrong key, and it really took him down a notch. :)