English Project

by Machedon Emilia
8B

Sting

Quick facts on Sting:

Birthdate

Sting was born in Wallsend, Northumberland (a working class district of Newcastle Upon
Tyne) England on October 2, 1951.

Sting's real name

Gordon Matthew Sumner.

Sting's former career (before The Police)

Before becoming lead singer of the band The Police, Sting was a ditch digger. He was
also a school teacher at St. Paul's Roman Catholic First School in Cramlington, England. There
he taught English and was also a football (soccer) coach. Before being invited to join The Police
by Stewart Copeland, Sting was in many jazz bands, including The Ronnie Pierson Trio,
Earthrise, the Phoenix Jazz Band, the River City Jazz Band, the Newcastle Big Band, and Last
Exit.

How did Sting receive his nickname?

He received the nickname Sting while a member of The Phoenix Jazzmen. Everyone in
the band had a nickname. One day Sting came to a rehearsal in a striped soccer sweater and the
trombone player, Gordon Solomon, remarked that Sting looked like a bee. This led to him being
called "Stinger" - which eventually became "Sting."

Is Sting going deaf?

It is true that Sting has been slowly losing his hearing. He is working with doctors trying
to regain some of the hearing he has lost. He said on November 7, 1995 that the problem is not
serious or career threatening.

What instruments does Sting play?

He plays guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, piano, harmonica, saxophone, and pan flute.

Regarding Sting's preferences in bass guitars, one of his favorites is a 1954 Fender
Precision Bass. He is also quite fond of his 1962 Fender Jazz Bass. He owns a 150 year-old
upright bass (seldom used on tour) as well as a custom-made Hamer eight string. During his early
Police days he used an Ibanez (long-scale fretless), a Z-bass that he purchased during the
Zenyatta Mondatta tour which is a long, narrow upright bass that can be heard on the original
"Don't Stand So Close to Me" and "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic". He used a
Steinberger during the Ghost in the Machine tour, a Spector, a Fender Telecaster, and a Fender
Stratocaster for the Synchronicity tour (and a Fender Precision fretless from 1954 during the
recording of the album). In the studio he uses any combination of bass guitars. During his solo
career, Sting used his '62 Jazz Bass, an Ibanez Roadstar II fretless, and a Precision with a
Modulus Graphite neck for the Soul Cages tour, a short-scale Ibanez fretless for the Ten
Summoner's Tales tour, and a Yamaha jazz bass for the Mercury Falling tour. He usually uses a
Gibson Chet Atkins for most performances of Fragile.

Is it true that Sting has a name for his bass guitar?

He calls his Z-bass "Brian".

Some information on Sting's personal life and family

Sting has been married twice, first to Frances Tomelty (1976-1982) and currently to
Trudie Styler whom he married in August, 1992 at his childrens' urging. Sting has six children,
two with his first wife and four with Trudie.
Sting's mother, Audrey, died of cancer while Sting was in Montserrat recording Nothing
Like the Sun at the time and refused to fly back for the funeral, because he did not want to turn it
into a media circus. Instead, he dedicated the album to her.
Sting's father, Eric, died of cancer shortly thereafter. Sting was in Brazil touring for
Nothing Like the Sun at the time. He later wrote and dedicated some of the music from The Soul
Cages to his father.
Sting is the oldest of four children.

Where does Sting live?

He owns an estate in Wiltshire, England called Lake House where Ten Summoner's Tales
and Mercury Falling were recorded. He also owns a home in the London area. He owns an
apartment in New York City formerly owned by Billy Joel. He also has a home in Malibu,
California and a villa in Tuscany, Italy.

Work with charities

Sting has played benefit concerts for Amnesty International and The Rainforest
Foundation.
In June 1995, Sting designed a limited edition tee shirt for the Hard Rock Cafe chain of
restaurants. Part of the proceeds from tee shirt sales will benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation.
Sting, his wife Trudie, and a Brazilian Indian Chief started The Rainforest Foundation in 1989 to
stop the destruction of the Brazilian rainforests.

Honorary degrees

Sting received an honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Northumbria University in

October, 1992 and an honorary degree from Berklee College of Music in May, 1994.

One of my favourite songs from his last album is "Desert Rose". Here are the lyrics:

Desert Rose
From the album "Brand New Day"
Words and music by Sting
I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
I dream of fire
Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire
And in the flames
Her shadows play in the shape of a man's desire
This desert rose
Each of her veils, a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this
And now she turns
This way she moves in the logic of all my dreams
This fire burns
I realize that nothing's as it seems
I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
I dream of rain
I lift my gaze to empty skies above
I close my eyes, this rare perfume
Is the sweet intoxication of her love
I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
Sweet desert rose
Each of her veils, a secret promise
This desert flower,
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this

Sweet desert rose

This memory of Eden haunts us all
This desert flower, this rare perfurme
Is the sweet intoxication of the fall

English Translation for the Arabic lines in Desert Rose

It has been a long time,
And I am looking for myself and my loved one
And I am looking for myself and my loved one
And I am looking for myself and my loved one
My life is for you,
And no one other than you.