Sting [Behind the Scenes]

Sting was a school boy champion, regularly winning at 100 yards. Though he gave up his promising running career after only finishing third in the National Junior Championships, claiming that if he couldn t be number one there wasn t much point carrying on. But he succeeded in music, turning sports into his hobby. During his Police days he was a keen jogger and wind surfer. These days he pays much attention to yoga and chess. Like some of his fellow-musicians, Rod Stewart or Elton John, Sting is an avid soccer fan. Sting now claims to support Newcastle United F.C. but in his youth he was ribbed for supporting Sunderland F.C. (The Mackem s) the local rivals to Newcastle.

Sting is socially aware and active, to no small measure because he is the loving father of many children. He cares what kind of world his children are going to live in. He supports a number of charity organizations, like Live Aid/Band Aid/Sport Aid, Elton John’s AIDS Charity, Rainforest Foundation, Amnesty International.

Over the number of years Sting participated in several movies:

1979 Quadrophenia (acting)

1982 Brimstone and Treacle (acting and soundtrack)

1984 Dune (acting)

1987 Julia and Julia (acting)

1988 Stormy Monday (acting)

1992 Lethal Weapon 3 (soundtrack)

1994 Professional (Leon) (soundtrack)

1998 Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (acting)

When the singer was approached with a request to put together a list of his favorite rock, pop, jazz and blues titles to fit onto a 60-min tape, Sting selected the following:

1. Love Me Do The Beatles

2. Solo Monk Thelonious Monk

3. The Wind Cries Mary Jimi Hendrix

4. Sweet Baby James James Taylor

5. Big Bottom Spinal Tap

6. Rope Ladder To The Moon Jack Bruce

7. So What Miles Davis

8. Smells Like Teen Spirit Nirvana

9. Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy Return To Forever

10. Hideaway The Bluesbreakers