Getting lost in hypothetical questions can be tempting. Apparently Sting also appreciates the fruitless circling of thoughts: In an interview with the British music magazine “Mojo” he has now speculated about the case in which his solo career would have failed. It also raised the question of whether he would have returned to The Police if his 1985 solo debut The Dream of the Blue Turtles had flopped.
“Who wants to be in a teenage gang when you’re approaching 70?”
Although the singer and bassist emphasized that he appreciates former bandmates Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, he probably wouldn’t have been drawn back to his former band: “I don’t think a grown man can really be a member of a band,” said Sting, and continued: “A band is a teenage gang. Who wants to be in a teenage gang when you’re approaching 70? That doesn’t allow you to develop further. You have to obey the rules and the structure of the band. As much as I love the Stones and AC/DC, it’s hard to see an evolution in their music. For me the band was just a vehicle for the songs and not the other way around.”
Platinum discs
Both Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland would have made albums without him, so it was equally his right to go solo: “I was recruiting (for “The Dream of the Blue Turtles”) a band from the jazz world and I was lucky that it became a hit. I have no idea what would have happened if it hadn’t been a success. Would I have gone back to the band and eaten humility cake? I hope not,” said the 70-year-old. To date, “The Dream of the Blue Turtles” has sold a good 5 million copies and has gone platinum eleven times in different countries. The last Police concert was after Sting’s first solo album, in 1986. A planned new studio session came to nothing as drummer Copeland broke his arm in a riding accident and had to take a long break. Sting then went on to work on his second solo effort, “…Nothing Like the Sun.”
Never again police
From May 2007 to August 2008 The Police played the stages of this world for the last time. On August 7, 2008, their band story found its final chapter at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Briton ruled out a comeback forever: “The tour was very successful, but I wouldn’t do it again. That would be too big a challenge.” Although he does not regret the concert tour, the implementation was difficult because of the power struggles that were still raging.
Sting went on to say that the three former bandmates still “communicate on birthdays. We have separate lives but it’s very affectionate. I am very grateful for these guys and their immense talent and patience with me. I love her.”
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