Sting
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner (born 2 October 1951), known as Sting, is an English singer-songwriter, musician, activist, and actor. He was the frontman, principal songwriter and bassist for new wave band the Police from 1977 until their breakup in 1986. He launched a solo career in 1985 and has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new-age, and worldbeat in his music. Sting has sold a combined total of more than 100 million records as a solo artist and as a member of the Police. He has received three Brit Awards, including Best British Male Artist in 1994 and Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2002; a Golden Globe; an Emmy; and four Academy Award nominations. As a solo musician and as a member of the Police, Sting has received 17 Grammy Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Police in 2003. Sting has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors; a CBE from Queen Elizabeth II for services to music; Kennedy Center Honors; and the Polar Music Prize. In May 2023, he was made an Ivor Novello Fellow. Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner was born at Sir G B Hunter Memorial Hospital in Wallsend, Northumberland, England, on 2 October 1951, the eldest of four children of Audrey (née Cowell), a hairdresser, and Ernest Matthew Sumner, a milkman and former fitter at an engineering works. He grew up near Wallsend's shipyards, which made an impression on him. As a child, he was inspired by the Queen Mother waving at him from a Rolls-Royce to divert from the shipyard prospect towards a more glamorous life. He helped his father deliver milk and by ten was "obsessed" with an old Spanish guitar left by an emigrating friend of his father. Sting attended St Cuthbert's Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne. He visited nightclubs such as Club A'Gogo to see Cream and Manfred Mann, who influenced his music. He learned to sing and play simultaneously by listening to records at 78 rpm. After leaving school in 1969, he enrolled at the University of Warwick in Coventry, but left after a term. After working as a bus conductor, building labourer, and tax officer, he attended the Northern Counties College of Education (now Northumbria University) from 1971 to 1974 and qualified as a teacher.[20] He taught at St Paul's First School in Cramlington for two years. Sting performed jazz in the evenings, at weekends, and during breaks from college and teaching, playing with the Phoenix Jazzmen, Newcastle Big Band and Last Exit. He gained his nickname after his habit of wearing a black and yellow jumper with hooped stripes with the Phoenix Jazzmen. Bandleader Gordon Solomon thought he looked like a bee (or according to Sting himself, "they thought I looked like a wasp"), which prompted the name "Sting". In the 1985 documentary Bring On the Night a journalist called him Gordon, to which he replied, "My children call me Sting, my mother calls me Sting, who is this Gordon character?" In 2011, he told Time "I was never called Gordon. You could shout 'Gordon' in the street and I would just move out of your way". Despite this, he chose not to legally change his name to "Sting". ... Source: Article "Sting (musician)" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Known For
Credits
- 2026 · Kaamelott: The Second Chapter (Part II) as Horsa
- 2025 · In Thanks We Trust as Self
- 2025 · Billy Joel: And So It Goes as Self
- 2025 · Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World as Self
- 2025 · When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain as Self
- 2025 · Lubach as
- 2025 · FireAid Benefit Concert as Self
- 2024 · The Making of Do They Know It's Christmas? as Self
- 2024 · Sting: Radio 2 in the Park as Self
- 2024 · Sting and the Police at the BBC as Self
- 2024 · Royal Opera House: Message in a Bottle as Self - Lead Vocals
- 2024 · Billy Joel: The 100th - Live at Madison Square Garden as Self
- 2023 · Dolly Parton - From Rhinestones to Rock & Roll as Self
- 2023 · Zucchero | Sugar Fornaciari as Self
- 2023 · Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story as Self
- 2023 · WHAM! as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · They All Came Out to Montreux as Self
- 2023 · The Book of Solutions as Sting
- 2022 · Il était une fois Champs-Élysées as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Self
- 2022 · Sting : My Songs au château de Chambord as Self
- 2022 · Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon as Self
- 2021 · Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story as Self
- 2021 · The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune as Self (voice) (archive footage)
- 2021 · Sting au Panthéon (50 ans de FIP) as Self
- 2021 · Great North: A Run. A River. A Region. as Self
- 2021 · Only Murders in the Building as Sting
- 2021 · Kaamelott: The First Chapter as Horsa
- 2021 · Mylène Farmer : Les Clips L'Intégrale (1999-2020) as Self
- 2021 · Under the Volcano as Self
- 2020 · Herb Alpert Is... as Self
- 2020 · Le Grand Concert Unis pour le Liban as Self
- 2020 · Mylène Farmer, l’Ultime Création as Self
- 2020 · GIMS: On the Record as Self
- 2020 · Citizens Of Boomtown: The Story of the Boomtown Rats as Self
- 2020 · Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics as Self
- 2020 · Space Songs: Through the Distance as Self
- 2019 · The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration as Self
- 2019 · Mylène Farmer: 2019 - Le Film as Self
- 2019 · Eric Burdon: Rock 'n' Roll Animal as Self
- 2019 · Sting & Shaggy au Château d'Hérouville as Self
- 2019 · I Want My MTV as Self
- 2018 · Reel Stories as Self - Guest Star
- 2018 · Gurrumul as Self
- 2018 · The Queen's Birthday Party as Self - Performer
- 2018 · Ruben Blades Is Not My Name as Self
- 2018 · Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen as Self - Performer
- 2017 · Sting - Grenzgänger und Freigeist as Self
- 2017 · Sting: A Free Man as Self
- 2017 · Pavarotti, Birth of a Pop Star as Self
- 2017 · Sting: Live at the Olympia Paris as Self - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
- 2017 · Sting: Beyond The Police as Self - Musician
- 2017 · Brian Johnson's A Life on the Road as Self
- 2017 · The Dark Side of The Sun as Narrator
- 2016 · Sting au Bataclan as Self
- 2016 · Sting: 57th and 9th - The Interviews as Self
- 2016 · Sting Live At Irving Plaza as Self
- 2016 · Sting - Live at iHeartRadio Music Festival 2016 as Self
- 2016 · Rock'n'roll... Of Corse! as Self
- 2016 · Catherine et Liliane as Sting
- 2016 · Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People as Self
- 2016 · Attenborough at 90 as Self
- 2016 · Sonic Sea as Self
- 2016 · Michael McIntyre's Big Show as Self - Performer
- 2016 · Zoolander 2 as Sting
- 2015 · Mylène Farmer : sur les pas d'une icône as Self
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- 2015 · Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
- 2015 · Biggest Band Break Ups and Make Ups as Self
- 2015 · Jaco as Self
- 2014 · Iain Goes Inside the Last Ship as Self
- 2014 · Sting: When the Last Ship Sails (Live at the Public Theater) as Self - Host, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass
- 2014 · Bruce Springsteen A MusiCares Tribute as Self
- 2014 · John Mayer: Someday I'll Fly as Self
- 2014 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- 2013 · The Michael J. Fox Show as Sting
- 2013 · 20 Feet from Stardom as Self
- 2012 · Radioman as Self
- 2012 · Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving The Police as Self
- 2012 · Finding Your Roots as Self
- 2011 · CMT Crossroads: Sting and Vince Gill as Self
- 2011 · Life's Too Short as Sting
- 2011 · Sting - 25 Years as Self - Vocals, Bass
- 2011 · Sting Festival de Viña del Mar as Self
- 2010 · Sting: Live In Berlin as Self - Performer
- 2010 · 2012: Time for Change as Self
- 2010 · Still Bill as Self
- 2010 · Hope for Haiti Now as Self
- 2010 · Sting - Fields Of Japan 1994 as Self
- 2009 · Bruce Springsteen - 32nd Annual of Kennedy Center Honors as Self
- 2009 · The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts as Self
- 2009 · Sting: A Winter's Night...Live From Durham Cathedral as Self
- 2009 · If on a Winter's Night ... Live from Durham Cathedral as Self
- 2009 · Twin Spirits: Sting performs Schumann as Robert Schumann
- 2009 · Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- 2009 · Brüno as Self - 'Dove of Peace'
- 2009 · PoliWood as Self
- 2009 · Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB as Self
- 2009 · Chris Botti in Boston as Self
- 2009 · The Tribute to Pavarotti One Amazing Weekend in Petra as Self
- 2008 · The Police: Certifiable as Self - Bass, Vocals
- 2008 · The Police: Better Than Therapy as Self
- 2008 · Little Britain USA as Self
- 2008 · The Police: Live In Concert Tokyo as Self
- 2008 · VH1 Rock Honors: The Who as Self
- 2008 · Markus Lanz as Self
- 2008 · Pavarotti The Duets as Self
- 2008 · The Police Rock in Rio - Live Madrid as Self
- 2008 · NPR Tiny Desk Concerts as Self
- 2007 · Bee Movie as Sting (voice)
- 2007 · Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who as Self
- 2007 · Inas Nacht as Self
- 2007 · Scott Walker: 30 Century Man as Self
- 2007 · Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out as Self - The Police Member (archive footage)
- 2007 · The Police - Greatest Video Hits as Self (archive footage)
- 2007 · The Graham Norton Show as Self
- 2007 · STING: The Journey & The Labyrinth as Self
- 2007 · The Police - Live in Rio as Self
- 2006 · Legends as Self
- 2006 · Salut les Terriens ! as Self - Guest
- 2006 · Chris Botti Live: With Orchestra and Special Guests as Self
- 2006 · Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as Self
- 2006 · The One Show as Self
- 2006 · Herbie Hancock: Possibilities as Self
- 2005 · Live 8 as Self
- 2005 · An Intimate Evening with Mary J. Blige - Live from the House of Blues as Self
- 2005 · Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today as Self
- 2004 · Miley's New Year's Eve Party as Self - Musical Guest
- 2004 · Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? as Self
- 2004 · George Michael: A Different Story as Self
- 2004 · Live Aid as Self
- 2004 · The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Music Edition as Self
- 2004 · Kulturplatz as Self
- 2004 · Sting: The Journey & The Labyrinth: The Music of John Dowland as Self
- 2004 · On Air with Ryan Seacrest as Self
- 2003 · Sting: Inside - The Songs of Sacred Love as Self - Bass, Guitar, Lead Vocals
- 2003 · The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- 2003 · The Police - Every Breath You Take as Self - Bass, Vocals
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 2003 · Freedom Beat as Self
- 2002 · The Sweatbox as Self
- 2002 · Chris Botti & Friends - Night Sessions: Live in Concert as Self
- 2002 · CMT Crossroads as Self
- 2001 · Sting: All this Time as Self - Lead Singer
- 2001 · Being Mick as Self
- 2001 · Star Academy as Self
- 2001 · The Police: Ghost in the Machine Tour - Live at Gateshead as Self
- 2001 · America | A Tribute to Heroes as Self - Performer
- 2001 · All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live! as Self
- 2000 · The Beatles Revolution as Self
- 2000 · Sting: The Brand New Day Tour: Live From The Universal Amphitheatre as Self - Vocals, Bass
- 2000 · The Filth and the Fury as Self (archive footage)
- 1999 · Tina Turner : Celebrate! as Self
- 1999 · Rove as Self
- 1999 · Twentieth Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward as Self
- 1999 · The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as Self - Guest
- 1999 · TV total as Self
- 1998 · Vivement dimanche as Self
- 1998 · Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as JD
- 1998 · The Mighty as The Balladeer
- 1998 · Parkinson as Self
- 1998 · Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman as Billy Idol
- 1997 · The Very Best of Sting & The Police as Self (archive footage)
- 1997 · An Audience with Elton John as Self
- 1997 · Music for Montserrat as Self
- 1997 · Ally McBeal as Sting
- 1997 · Behind the Music as Self
- 1997 · Leute heute as Self
- 1996 · The Police – Live Ghost In The Machine as Self - Vocals, Bass
- 1996 · TFI Friday as Self
- 1995 · The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special as Self
- 1995 · MADtv as Self
- 1995 · The Grotesque as Fledge
- 1995 · The Police - Outlandos To Synchronicities as Self
- 1995 · Lo + plus as Self - Guest
- 1994 · Sting – Fields Of Gold - The Best Of Sting as Self (archive footage)
- 1994 · TOTP2 as Self
- 1993 · Peter and the Wolf: A Prokofiev Fantasy as Narrator (voice)
- 1993 · Take That Away! as Self
- 1993 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- 1993 · GMTV as Self
- 1992 · Rolling Stone 25: The MTV Special as Self
- 1992 · Pavarotti & Friends as Self
- 1992 · The Larry Sanders Show as Sting
- 1991 · Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin as Self - Guest
- 1991 · Sting's 40th Birthday Celebration: Live from the Hollywood Bowl as Self - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
- 1991 · The Soul Cages Concert as Self
- 1991 · Sting Unplugged as Self - Double Bass, Vocals
- 1991 · Sting: Unplugged as Self
- 1991 · Branford Marsalis: Steep as Self
- 1990 · One World, One Voice as Self
- 1990 · Captain Planet and the Planeteers as Zarm (voice)
- 1990 · Resident Alien as Singer
- 1989 · The Simpsons as Sting (voice)
- 1989 · MTV Unplugged as Self
- 1989 · MTV Rockumentary as Self
- 1989 · Under the Sun as Self
- 1988 · The Adventures of Baron Munchausen as Heroic Officer
- 1988 · Bruce Springsteen - Human Rights Final - Buenos Aires as Self
- 1988 · Peter Gabriel, Sting, & Bruce Springsteen - Human Rights Now! as Self - Musician
- 1988 · Human Rights Now 25th Anniversary as Self - Musician
- 1988 · LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self
- 1988 · Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute as Self
- 1988 · Stormy Monday as Finney
- 1988 · Julia and Julia as Daniel Hosler
- 1988 · The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert as Self
- 1987 · Le monde est à vous as Self
- 1987 · Sacrée Soirée as Self
- 1987 · Sting and Gil Evans: Strange Fruit as Self - Vocals, Electric Bass
- 1987 · The Best of Max Headroom as Self
- 1986 · U2 & The Police: A Conspiracy of Hope as Self
- 1985 · Victoires de la musique as Self
- 1985 · Sting - Bring on the Night as Self
- 1985 · Plenty as Mick
- 1985 · The Bride as Frankenstein
- 1985 · Live Aid as Self
- 1985 · Dire Straits at Live Aid as Self
- 1985 · Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain as Machiavelli
- 1985 · The Max Headroom Show as Self
- 1984 · Dune as Feyd Rautha
- 1984 · 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' - The Story Of The Official Band Aid Video as Self
- 1984 · MTV Video Music Awards as Self
- 1984 · The Police: Synchronicity Concert as Self - Bass, Vocals
- 1984 · Al TV as Self (archive footage)
- 1983 · The Police - Live In Oakland as Self - Vocals, Bass
- 1983 · Police in Montserrat as Self
- 1983 · Destination Dune as Self
- 1982 · Brimstone & Treacle as Martin Taylor
- 1982 · The Secret Policeman's Other Ball as Self
- 1982 · Late Night with David Letterman as Self
- 1982 · Champs-Elysées as Self
- 1982 · Champs-Elysées as Self - The Police
- 1982 · The Police: Around The World as Self
- 1981 · Artemis '81 as Helith
- 1981 · Urgh! A Music War as Self
- 1981 · De TV Show as Self
- 1980 · The Police: Live in Essen - Rockpalast 1980 as Self
- 1980 · Punk and Its Aftershocks as Self
- 1980 · The Police: Live At Rockpalast as Self - Vocals, Bass
- 1979 · Radio On as Just Like Eddie
- 1979 · Quadrophenia as Ace Face
- 1979 · Talking Pictures: Quadrophenia as Interviewee
- 1979 · The Police - Live '79 at Hatfield Polytechnic as Self
- 1979 · CBS News Sunday Morning as
- 1978 · The Kenny Everett Video Show as
- 1978 · Bio’s Bahnhof as Self
- 1978 · An Audience with... as Self
- 1977 · Acceleration Punk as Self
- 1976 · The Secret Policeman's Ball as Self
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host & Musical Guest
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
- 1975 · Les Rendez-vous du dimanche as Self
- 1974 · Rockpalast as
- 1974 · American Music Awards as Self - Musical Guest
- 1971 · The Old Grey Whistle Test as Self
- 1967 · Titel, Thesen, Temperamente as Self
- 1963 · Viña del Mar International Song Festival as Self - The Police
- 1963 · Viña del Mar International Song Festival as Self - Musical Guest
- 1959 · The Grammys as Self
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self
- 1952 · Today as Self
- 1948 · Bambi as Self
- Future · Sting - Live at iHeartRadio as Self