Biographic - Sunday March 18, 2007 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

Born the son of a milkman in the north east england town of Wallsend, on October 2, 1951, Gordon Matthew Sumner dropped out of university and worked a variety of jobs, from laborer to tax officer, before entering the teaching profession. Meanwhile, he played bass in a number of local bands, earning his nickname "Sting" from a yellow and black hopped sweater he frequently wore onstage. In 1977, with his wife and young baby in tow, he moved to London to team up with guitarist Henry Padovani and drummer Stewart Copeland and form The Police. The addition of guitarist Andy Summers soon precipitated the departure of Padovani. The band's unique blend of rock and reggae saw The Police ride the crest of "New Wave" to worldwide superstardom. Songs such as "Don't Stand So Close To Me" "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" and "Every Breath You Take" ensured the band's multi-platinum success. But by the mid-1980's, internal friction was evident, and in 1985 The Police effectively disbanded, leaving Sting free to pursue the solo career for which he was clearly destined. His subsequent work has spanned the spectrum, from Jazz to Elizabethan folk via chart-topping rock, and has earned him Grammy's, A Golden Globe and three Oscar Nominations. Beginning with a prominent role in 1079's "Quadrophenia" he has frequently ventured into acting, starring in such movies as "Dune" and "Lock, Stand and Two Smoking Barrels" and undertaking a run in a stage production of "The Threepenny Opera" that took him to Broadway. He has six children from his two marriages, to actress Frances Tomelty and Trudi Styler. A noted environmental activist, he was made a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth in 2003. In 2003, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the members of The Police came together to perform at the ceremony. Then in 2007, the trio regrouped once more to perform at the Grammy's in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Band's formation. News of the show immediately tour, sparking fevered anticipation among fans and setting the stage for one of Rock's most eagerly-anticipated reunions.

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