
Born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner in Wallsend, Northumberland, England, Sting grew up near the shipyards of northeast England before music pulled him in a different direction. He picked up the guitar at ten years old, played jazz in local clubs while studying to become a teacher, and earned his stage name from a black-and-yellow striped jumper he wore while performing with the Phoenix Jazzmen in Newcastle. In 1977, he joined drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers to form The Police, serving as the band's lead vocalist, bassist, and primary songwriter.
The Police released five UK chart-topping albums between 1978 and 1983, blending punk energy with reggae grooves and minimalist pop. Their final album, Synchronicity, earned five Grammy nominations including Album of the Year and produced "Every Breath You Take," the song that went on to become the most-played track in US radio history. After deciding to step away from the band in 1984, Sting launched a solo career that proved just as ambitious. His 1985 debut, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, featured jazz musicians like Branford Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland, reaching Triple Platinum status. Albums like ...Nothing Like the Sun, Ten Summoner's Tales, and Brand New Day each went multi-Platinum, drawing from rock, jazz, reggae, classical, and worldbeat influences in ways that made his catalog nearly impossible to categorize.
Sting has sold over 100 million records combined as a solo artist and with The Police. His live shows reflect the same restless curiosity as his recordings, pulling from decades of material that spans genres and moods. Whether performing intimate theater dates, arena tours with Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel, or reuniting with The Police for a world tour, Sting brings a musicianship and vocal presence that rewards repeated viewing.
32 events
Ohio · 2 events
New York · 8 events
Ohio · 1 events
Florida · 1 events
Indiana · 2 events
Minnesota · 2 events
Tennessee · 2 events
Florida · 1 events
Pennsylvania · 2 events
Illinois · 1 events
Washington · 2 events
Missouri · 1 events
British Columbia · 2 events
Connecticut · 1 events