Facts about Sting

We found 23 facts about Sting

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner

Since the beginning of his career, he has been hiding under the pseudonym Sting. He is undoubtedly one of the most significant individuals and stars in the history of rock music. In 1977, hitherto engaged in teaching English and playing bass in a jazz band, he founded the rock band "The Police," whose international fame and place in history brought the album "Synchronicity." Soon after the release of this album, the band broke up, and Sting took up a solo career, which he continues successfully to this day - both as an actor and musician. Sting is an undisputed legend. As the author of many hits, a philanthropist, and an inspirational figure, he is one of the most versatile and prolific artists of the turn of the century.

1
Sting - Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner - was born on October 2, 1951, in Wallsend, Northumberland County, England.

2
He grew up in a Roman Catholic family and attended Catholic primary and secondary school.

His mother, Audrey, worked as a hairdresser, and his father, Ernest, was a dairyman. The musician has a brother Philip and two sisters, Anita and Angela.

3
From an early age, he was a music enthusiast, with a particular fondness for the Beatles and jazz musicians, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.

4
He intended to become a teacher and enrolled at the Northern Counties Teacher Training College (now Northumbria University).

5
While at school, he performed in local clubs, mainly with jazz bands such as "Phoenix Jazzman" and "Last Exit."

6
His bandmate from "Phoenix Jazzman" gave him the nickname Sting because of the black and yellow striped sweater he often wore during performances.

7
After graduating in 1974, Sting taught English at St. Paul's First School in Cramlington for two years.

8
In 1977, he moved to London and formed the rock band "The Police" with musicians Stewart Copeland and Henri Padovani (soon replaced by Andy Summers).

Sting was the vocalist and played bass, Summers played guitar, and Copeland played drums. The band was very successful but broke up at the height of its career in 1983. In 1983, "The Police" won two Grammy Awards - for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Rock Band Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocals. In addition, Sting, with the song "Every Breath You Take," won the Grammy for Song Of The Year, and the Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for the soundtrack to the film "Brimstone and Treacle." In 1986, the musicians announced "The Police" reactivation after a hiatus of several years to record a new version of the song "Don't Stand So Close to Me."

9
Sting began his solo career with the album "The Dream of the Blue Turtles," which proved to be a great success - the singles from it are: "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" and "Fortress Around Your Heart."

10
A year later, he released a live album, "Bring on the Night," which featured songs from his debut album and earlier periods of his career. The album was filmed on VHS, later also on DVD and Blu-ray.

During this time, Sting became a true multi-instrumentalist - he played bass, keyboards, and saxophone.

11
His next album, 1987's "Nothing like the Sun, "was recorded by Sting in collaboration with Eric Clapton and former bandmate of "The Police," Andy Summers.

From the album came such hits as "Fragile," "We'll Be Together," "Englishman in New York," and "Be Still My Beating Heart." The album went platinum in the UK and double platinum in the U.S.

12
In the 1990s, Sting released four albums.

"The Soul Cages" - a darker one, reflecting the recent loss of his father;
"Ten Summoner's Tales" - triple platinum (sold over three million copies);
"Mercury Falling" - earned him 2 Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot.";
"Brand New Day" - also triple platinum.

13
In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Sting appeared in many films - he has 19 acting roles to his credit. In addition, he appeared in films, TV series, and as a voice actor.

He made his debut in "Quadrophenia" (1979), followed by roles in "Artemis 81" (1981), "Brimstone & Treacle" (1982), " Dune" (1984), "Plenty," "The Bride" (1985), "Julie and Julia" (1987), "Stormy Monday," "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (1988), "The Grotesque" (1995), and in "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" (1998). Finally, in the animation "The Bee Movie" (2007), Sting starred as himself.

14
Sting has co-written music for many soundtracks, most notably Disney's animated film "The Emperor’s New Groove," the romantic comedy "Kate & Leopold," and the Civil War drama "Cold Mountain"

15
In the summer of 2014, he wrote the musical "The Last Ship," inspired by his childhood in the shipyard town of Wallsend.

“The Last Ship”, Sting’s eleventh studio album, was released in 2013.

16
As a solo musician and member of The Police, Sting won 17 Grammy Awards, won Song of the Year for "Every Breath You Take," three Brit Awards, including Best British Male Artist in 1994, a Golden Globe, an Emmy and four Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song.

17
In the 1980s, Sting also gained recognition for his interest in social issues.

In 1985 he performed at Live Aid, a charity concert for famine relief in Ethiopia. In 1985, 1986, and 1988, he performed at Amnesty International concerts to support human rights.

18
In 1987, he and his future wife, Trudie Styler, founded the Rainforest Foundation, a charitable foundation dedicated to bringing attention to the rainforests and defending the rights of the indigenous people.

One of the frogs discovered in Colombia was named Dendropsophus stingi in recognition of Sting's contributions.

19
Sting's face inspired the creator of the "Hellblazer" comic book.

The character of John Constantine, the English exorcist and street magician, was drawn in Sting's likeness. Although in the famous film adaptation of the comic book ("Constantine"), the role of the brave exorcist was played by Keanu Reeves, there were ideas that Sting should star in the film

20
Sting is the father of six children. He has two children with his first wife, Frances Tornelty (1976 - 1984), and four with Trudie Styler, with whom he has formed a happy relationship since 1992.

Sting's daughter from his second marriage, Eliot Paulina Sumner, also known as Coco, is a singer and formed the band I Blame Coco. Sting's son from his second marriage, Jake Sumner, became a model - his birth was depicted in the documentary film "Bring on the Night." Sting's eldest daughter, Fuschia Sumner, is an actress and director.

21
Sting's relative came from Warsaw.

In an interview, Sting mentioned that his uncle Stanislaw emigrated to the UK, settled in Newcastle, and became a miner there. Sting confessed that he had a perfect relationship with his uncle and feels a kinship with the Poles.

22
On October 10th, 2003, Sting was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for his countless contributions to music.

23
Throughout his career, Sting has been and continues to be an ardent advocate of human rights and environmental issues.

In 2001, he has been decorated with the Gabriela Mistral medal, one of Chile's highest state honors. The order was awarded to him for his contribution to the defense of human rights. The award was greatly aided by his song "They Dance Alone," written in the 1980s, telling the story of women living in Chile whose loved ones were victims of the General Augusto Pinochet regime's persecution.

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