• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

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?

I like Paul McCartney’s music, but I also recognize that he was probably a nightmare to work with.

I think Michael Jackson has made some wonderful music from childhood through adulthood, and yet…well, you know.

Phil Spector has produced some wonderful music, but he murdered a woman.

Ike Turner made great music, but I think we all know the story about how he treated Tina.

Metallica basically abused Jason the entire time he was with the band, and then went the opposite direction with Robert.

In short, it’s probably better that you know as little as possible about the actual “people” behind your favorite music, because you’re probably going to be really disappointed.
 
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. :)
The Flintstones Theme is "Rhythm Changes"...a common Jazz progression, right? :)
There's an issue of Downbeat with the 4 Jazz guys talking about the Blue Turtles band. Branford, of course, was the most outspoken. Remember the part in the movie when Sting was telling Branford about soloing in Rock/Pop vs. Jazz?
Apparently, that wasn't too well-received.
 
Sting should realize that The Police were a BAND. It took those 3 specific guys to make it work and to make that sound. It wasn’t Sting solo with hired hands until much later.

Back in the early days when the Police were just another band on the bottom of a multi band show, it wasn’t all about Sting….without Stewart and Andy (I know Andy wasn’t their first guitarist) it wouldn’t have been such a success.
 
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?

One of my favorite and in my opinion underappreciated, bassist is Gene Simmons. He is the reason I picked up the bass in the first place and went on to discover other bassist like Jaco, Geddy, Steve Harris, Stanley and etc. His melodic, dirty, and growly bass lines, hooked me on bass.

Now it goes without saying that Gene and Paul could be D.Bags at times. I just learned to ignore that part and appreciate the two and other members of the band for the great music they gave me over the years. The sound track to my life.

That old expression that I think goes like, don't get to know your heroes, or something along those lines are pretty true. Just enjoy the music and talent my friend. Just be the best you that you can be. That is my logic anyway.
 
Im sure it has been discussed here before but, imagine if your family and friends all thought you were the greatest thing ever and constantly told you that. Just followed you around smiling like a loon telling you how great you are. Then imagine your whole town did that. Then, the whole world. Probably can go to your head, especially if it starts when you are young. You begin to believe it. I do think he can be pompous for sure, but i know from my own life that people can sometimes come across completely different than how then intend, myself included. I think Sting left the Police because he was writing just about all the "hits" and started reading his own press, so he thought why should i put up with the drummer telling me what to do. If you watch the interesting reunion video and the run up to their concerts, they basically come out and say just that.
 
One of my favorite and in my opinion underappreciated, bassist is Gene Simmons. He is the reason I picked up the bass in the first place and went on to discover other bassist like Jaco, Geddy, Steve Harris, Stanley and etc. His melodic, dirty, and growly bass lines, hooked me on bass.

Now it goes without saying that Gene and Paul could be D.Bags at times. I just learned to ignore that part and appreciate the two and other members of the band for the great music they gave me over the years. The sound track to my life.

That old expression that I think goes like, don't get to know your heroes, or something along those lines are pretty true. Just enjoy the music and talent my friend. Just be the best you that you can be. That is my logic anyway.
I like to read musician bios. Some stories are not pretty (Miles Davis?). It's just life. Someone else may throw the 1st stone...it ain't gonna be me. :)
 
I guarantee you that most of your favorite musicians would not be a great hang.

Went to go see the band Nashville (insert nickname for a cat here that starts with the letter p) and before the show I ended up sitting at the bar with the lead singer.

He just sat there quietly enjoying a beer, watching the Atlanta Braves play, and I sat at the bar quietly enjoying my drink and trying not to stare at their bassist (Corey Parks).

Something about the guy just wanting to enjoy the game while drinking a beer made me appreciate the band more.
 
He and his wife have a horrendous record with domestic staff, court cases etc if he can’t treat his staff well I doubt he has any space to treat anyone else well, total egomaniac with a fake accent he calls himself a Gordie
 
Last edited:
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.
"He received the nickname “Sting” from one of his Phoenix Jazzmen bandmates because of the black-and-yellow striped sweater he often wore while performing. After graduating in 1974, Sting taught at St. Paul's First School in Cramlington for two years."
 
Last edited:
Sting is the rare talent that made it big in a band, then said, "screw you guys, I'M THE STAR!!" then he went and started another band and made it even bigger. Not too many of those. Gotta have an ego to do that, much less succeed at his level!
Actually, he took a decent risk with the Blue Turtles band. Fans of the The Police, MTV may have poo poo'd the experiment. Jazz fans weren't too thrilled, either.
But it worked out.
 
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.
Tell that to George Harrison. :D

Yes, you need a strong ego (which is not the same thing as having a big ego). But you also need to be able to convince people with similar-sized egos to do what you want... and they won't always want to cooperate. You have to be disciplined, you have to learn from and rebound from failure, you have to be lucky. The list goes on.

There are a lot of different strategies and personalities that can get to and/or stay at that level. What works for one artist may not work for another; what works one year may not work the next.


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?
Arrogance and taking credit for other people's work doesn't protect artists from exploitation. Humility doesn't mean you're a push-over.


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.
Have they? I don't think that's clear. We can't roll back the universe, change Sting's personality, and see if a Kinder, Gentler Sting would be more or less successful.

On a side note, Sting didn't seem all that egotistical -- e.g. a true egomaniac wouldn't let a sideman talk at length during an interview. It seems more like some people expect Sting to have a massive ego, and let that color their interpretation of the interview.
 
I've been lucky in that many of the music performances I've participated in have contributed to the deepening of my relationship with some (if not all) of the other musicians, and I find it unfortunate that not everyone has the capacity for that kind of authentic connection.