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Clarkson, Wensley. Sting: The Secret Life of Gordon Sumner. New York City,
Thunder's Mouth Press, 1999.

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From ch.1,  L' enfant terrible

Sting (real name: Gordon Sumner) moved from the town Wallsend to the Marden Farm Estate and switched schools to attend St. Cuthberts (school) which forced Sting to be faced with a change in social class. Sting, at first grew up in the slums of England (not wealthy), but eventually, that changed. Due to the change of schools, Sting faced the reality of basing people on social class. To deal with this, Sting tried to fit in with his peers by learning the 'posh' accent. (Pgs. 8-11)

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From ch. 2, School Daze

Sting became passionate about  A wide variety of music: While still in adolescence, Sting continuously visits the A Go Go Club to see famous artists like,  Pink Floyd, The Animals, and Jimi Hendrix. Sting also loved The Beatles, Jack Bruce, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and more. His musical interest was mainly jazz, but also soul, and blues. During this time he had acquired a bass guitar and would practice playing his favorite music styles nonstop. (Pg. 17)

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From ch. 3, Geordie Tales

Sting met Gerry Richardson while at teacher training college in 1971, who would influence where Sting's life was going the most. It started with Richardson (keyboard player) who hear about Sting's bass playing, and together they formed a band called Earthwise.

Ricardson said what he really felt about Sting, "Frankly, I didn't give a toss about Sting's bass playing until we got talking and I discovered he knew a drummer who owned a van and a PA" (Pg 29)

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From ch. 4, The Rookie

After becoming a teacher, at St. Paul's school (5-9-year-olds). He firmly believes that his teaching experience was very related to what it took to become a rock n' roll star because he had to stand up in front of them and teach. He wanted the kids to be excited to learn, which also related to what it's like to be the concert's audience, to be excited to hear the performance.

As stated by Sting, "I learnt timing, rapport, how to talk to kids without making them think you're a jerk" (Pg. 38)

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From ch. 5, Sinking Ship

The Virgin music publishing company took notice of Sting's band (Last Exit), so they played for the Virgin. But, the Virgin turned away the band and instead only offered Sting a recording contract (separate from the other members of Last Exit).  But, Sting was given 50 percent, not 80-90 percent, which is what major singers receive from their recording companies. But, at the time, all that mattered was simply success. (Pg. 53)

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From ch. 6, Lucky Break

Sting was swept up by Stewart Copeland, who started the band The Police. While in the band, other bands were trying to get Sting to join them, including his old band (Last Exit). But, Sting refused and remained loyal to The Police even though he was paid much less and he wasn't a fan of the band's members.

Stewart Copeland (of The Police) saw through to Stings' true feelings about the band, "He didn't identify with the group. His attitude was, 'Convince me- keep me in the band'" (Pg 63).

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From ch. 7, Punk Wars

It was now 1977, and Sting's new band (The Police) was struggling to take off (as a band). Thought, they happened to get a gig in Paris but did not have enough money to afford a place to stay for the meanwhile, so they slept in the car. While staying there, Sting happened to get inspiration for one of his (and The Police's) future greatest hits "Roxanne". Sting reflects that when he did happen to write "Roxanne", the song meant something to him (Pg.  70).

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From ch. 8, Tricks and Treats

Sting started getting acting jobs in shows like Quadrophenia around 1979, and due to that, Sting's face could be seen on many posters and billboards. So, Sting came to front and center for his band The Police, the other band members sat in the background with Sting as the "popular one".  Sting loved the attention but did not appreciate what consequences it would have, being that everyone flocked over him while his marriage with Frances was neglected because he never had time to see her. (Pgs. 87-89).

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From ch. 9, Casualties of War

The Police had stumbled into sudden stardom, and Sting most of all. Sting became so depressed that he considered ending his life. Due to drugs, feeling guilt for having been neglecting his relationship with his wife and son, and the sudden wealth and fame. All making him feel depressed because Sting had a Marxist, working-class background, and Catholic beginnings; therefore those beliefs still stuck with him. (Pg. 94)

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From ch. 10,  Cool As Ice

The Police canceled their tour around Europe in March of 1980. Sting believed he needed a break from the constant traveling and from his band more than the band's other members needed it. While on break, Sting started his acting career with a role in Artemis 81.

A brief insight into what Sting felt during the break, "Sting started to wonder if he hadn't put too many of his eggs into one basket."  (Pg. 110)

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From ch. 12, Close Encounters

Sting and The Police, mainly Stewart Copeland and Sting would squabble frequently. Often, the band members admitted it was due to all the attention Sting got. Sting felt he deserved the attention because he was the one writing the songs, meaning he also deserved more credit. The squabbling became so often, that Sting admits that he believed the band was held together by it, without it the band would be no more.

Like the claim Sting made about the band, saying "I fought tooth and nail for what I wanted. I was very myopic about that. Stewart is a very similar character and there was a lot of conflict between us"  (pgs. 117-120)

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From ch. 12, The Corporate Player

After the Police came out with the song "Invisible Sun", protesting started in London because people believed it to show political views in the music video by showing a funeral, armored cars, the British army, graffiti, and kids in Belfast streets. Sting was offended and insisted that the video was for the purpose of showing people who deserve to have a choice in life. in Belfast, Irland. He got extra upset due to the fact that his wife was from Ireland and he himself was upset by the issues in Ireland at the time. (Pgs. 126-127)

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From ch. 13, The Root of All Evil

Wealth confused sting, he didn't know what to do with it. He did want to contribute to things he felt to be right. As he made donations across the world, to charities, to flood and earthquake victims, and to help in the education of a girl named Achira in Kenya. Sting didn't want money in the form of his taxes spent on things he believed Margaret Thatcher was doing. (Pgs 131-132)

As Sting claimed about Thatcher, "...she's building sites for American nuclear warheads and sending working-class kids to get killed in Belfast. I'm not going to pay for it if I can help it". (Pg 132)

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From ch. 14, Pumping Iron

Sting wanted ownership of his songs back from the Virgin Recording Company, songs that he had published when he was still with the band Last Exit when he first signed the contract with them. The use of his songs was out of his control. So, he went to court with the Virgin manager Richard Branson and, but didn't get what he wanted. what irked Sting was the lower money due to the Virgin's power over his songs, so, therefore, he got less money from gigs than his band partners even though he was the one writing the songs. The things that irked Sting were the money loss and the fact that his songs were out of his control until 50 years after his death. To this day, there is still a rift between Sting and Richard Branson. (Pgs. 143-144)

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From ch. 15, Femme Fatale

Sting wrote the song "Every Breath You Take" (while still part of The Police). Sting says about the song: "It was a fairly nasty song that deals with surveillance, ownership, and jealousy". Whilst he claimed that "I'm very suspicious of myself. I wonder if I manufacture pain in order to create". This all followed Sting's affair with Trudie Styler, and divorce with Francis Tomelty. which included much pain and isolated feelings for Sting. (Pgs. 152-153)

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From ch. 16, The Beat Goes On

The Police came to a close, and Sting went off to form a new band on his own. Sting shied away from the music he used to write and started writing music based on political stances. By rewriting the lyrics of his song "Every Breath You Take", and turning it into a song that expressed concerns over "reconciling wealth with a social conscience". Sting stated about the song remake.

"...I'm not worried about the gas bills, I'm horrified at Thatcher's missile bases - someone who's desperately trying to pay the rent or get a job isn't." (Pgs. 166-167)

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From ch. 17, On Camera

Live aid occurred (musical event, campaign) in the summer of 1985, and Sting adored it. He was disturbed by the thought of all the starving children in Africa (what Live Aid supported). He also liked it because it brought rock bands together because generally there is soo much competition between the bands that it creates an "ill-feeling". Then, the last reason he liked it was because he meet some other musicians whom he discovered to be "nice guys".  From Live Aid, he developed a life-long friendship with Bob Geldof (one of the Live Aid creators). (Pgs. 183-184)

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From ch. 19, Rumble in the Jungle

Sting was touring in South America, and Jean-Pierre Dutilleux confronted him to ask/force him to visit the native Indians in the Amazon Jungle w/him. Sting agreed reluctantly, but during his stay with the Indians, he took their drugs made from natural vegetation. Causing him to go through a ton of emotion, experience his own death, and see himself dead. The chief and Sting developed a close bond, a father-to-son bond (Sting's father had recently passed). From the experience, Sting became obsessed with conserving the Amazon and vowed to do everything in his power to protect it. (Pgs. 202-210

As Deborah Cohen claimed about Sting's behavior after his Amazon experience, "Sting was completely changed and utterly entranced by the plight of the Indians. He was a changed man." (Pg 210)

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From ch. 20, An Englishman Abroad

Following Sting's rainforest visit he became soo obsessed with saving it that he set up a rainforest foundation. He took chief Raoni on a worldwide tour with him in the hopes that it'd publicize the rainforest's situation further. He took Raoni back to his mansion before starting the tour, and a supposed spy sent out by the Brazilian government came out to watch them. When writtings were discovered about what the spy claimed to be Sting's intentions.

Sting was enraged by the spy, "Sting was so infuriated by the existence of the spy that he asked Carlos Paiva to contact the Brazilian Embassy in London and insist they send out a more professional snoop." (Pg. 219)

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From ch. 21, Citizens of the World

During the rainforest foundation project, Sting felt used, as sometimes people merely saw him for his riches. Sting was offended by the Brazilian part of their foundation because they didn't step up to their part. Also, Sting became very criticized for his efforts, which hurt him. Also, Sting was warned about starting the foundation on a whim, without warning but continued on with it which is believed to have led to the foundation being less of a success. Sting believes he used the foundation as a way to escape from his depression following both parents' deaths,

as claimed by the author, "For Sting, the Rainforest Campaign was a catharsis, a release from the pain and anguish suffered after the premature death of his parents" (pg 231).

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https://www.borgenmagazine.com/stings-philanthropy/

Sting's work with Philanthropy

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SEATTLE, Washington - When thinking of Sting, immediate thoughts arise of his famous music career with The Police rock band, but that's only touching the surface of his global impact. Sting has been involved with over 40 charities and foundations throughout his career. From supporting Elton John's AIDS Foundation to helping save rainforests, Sting is an admirably philanthropic musician. The world has seen half a century of Sting's philanthropy so far and it seems his efforts will only continue.

Sting's Philanthropic Efforts

1. Lyrics with a Purpose: Being a world-famous musician, Sting has used lyrics and song to raise awareness for global issues. "Driven to Tears" was released in 1980, showing Sting's commitment to addressing world hunger. The song explains how people can afford technology but not food for the hungry. Seven years later in his 1987 single, "They Dance Alone", Sting raised awareness for the innocent victims of the Pinochet regime in Chile.

2. The Rainforest Fund: It all started with Raoni, an Indigenous leader of the Kayapó tribe asking Sting to help him and his people obtain legal rights to their traditional lands. Eventually, this request birthed the Rainforest Foundation Fund in 1989, founded by Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler. With many contributions all over the world, the Rainforest Fund grew, and in 1992, Sting fulfilled his promise to Raoni. A whole 30 years later, the Rainforest Fund continues to help Indigenous tribes all over the world, from Brazil to Papua New Guinea. The focus of the Fund includes supporting on-the-ground projects initiated by indigenous groups, dealing with land rights, forest protection, legal support, human rights protection, campaigning and advocacy.

3. Benefit Concerts: Amnesty International's famous benefit concert the Secret Policeman's Ball in 1979, inspired Sting to mix concerts and humanitarian work. Through the years he has performed at and organized many benefit concerts. His first performance was the Secret Policeman's Other Ball in 1981. Just some of his benefit performances include Amnesty's Conspiracy of Hope Tour, Don Henley's Concert for Walden Woods and Live 8. And of course, every year, Sting hosts a benefit concert for his own organization, the Rainforest Fund.

4. Hope is a Game-Changer Project: In 2010, Sting partnered with Grassroot Soccer. Grassroot Soccer (GRS) uses the influence soccer has on adolescents in developing countries to educate. The organization uses soccer as a motivation to learn about pressing health issues. GRS partnered with Sting for the "Hope is a Game-Changer" project, through which GRS and its partners in six countries receive 10,000 indestructible soccer balls for use in programs. These indestructible balls are a symbol of hope but there are no handouts in the project. Every child and coach who receives a ball must earn it by getting educated about HIV prevention and other life skills.

5. UNICEF: On October 24, 2011, Sting and his wife received UNICEF's annual Children's Champion Award. The Award is presented to public figures who strive to help UNICEF reach the day when zero children die from preventable causes. Over the years, Sting's philanthropy has involved supporting UNICEF by hosting various benefit concerts to raise funds and awareness for UNICEF's programs. "Sting and Trudie Styler truly embody the spirit of the Children's Champion Award", said President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Caryl Stern.

For years, Sting has used his influence to help the world's vulnerable. Through his celebrity platform, Sting's philanthropy efforts raised millions of dollars to address global issues. Sting serves as an inspiration for others with similar platforms to do the same.

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5 Facts About Sting's Philanthropy Efforts - BORGEN

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SEATTLE, Washington - When thinking of Sting, immediate thoughts arise of his famous music career with The Police rock band, but that's only touching the surface of his global impact. Sting has been involved with over 40 charities and foundations throughout his career.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d27gTrPPAyk

Sting's work; one of his songs

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https://www.songhall.org/profile/Sting

The accomplishments and awards of Sting

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwcd8DXxQQ0

How Stings childhood inspired play The Last Ship

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Sting's Childhood Inspired The Last Ship

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/06/entertainment/sting-russians-song/index.html

Modern connection; Stings support today

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sting posts video of himself singing his 1985 song 'russians' amid war in ukraine - cnn

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Sting posts video of himself singing his 1985 song 'Russians' amid war in Ukraine

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Sting says his 1985 song "Russians" is more relevant than ever due to the war in Ukraine.