Biography
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.
Acted in 40
2020s
- 2027
- 2026
Sting - Sounds Like Art Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Movie
- 2025
- 2023
- 2021
Kaamelott: The First Chapter
Horsa
2010s
- 2016
Catherine et Liliane
Sting · 1 episode
- 2013
- 2011
Life's Too Short
Sting · 1 episode
2000s
- 2009
Twin Spirits: Sting performs Schumann
Robert Schumann
- 2007
1990s
- 1998
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman
Billy Idol
- 1997
- 1995
The Grotesque
Fledge
- 1992
- 1990
Resident Alien
Singer
1980s
- 1989
Dance of Hope
Movie
- 1988
- 1985
Plenty
Mick
Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain
Machiavelli
- 1984
- 1982
Brimstone & Treacle
Martin Taylor
- 1981
Artemis '81
Helith
1970s
- 1979
Radio On
Just Like Eddie
- 1978
The Kenny Everett Video Show
TV
- 1974
Sound 15
2020s
- 2024
Message in a Bottle
Music
- 2023
Dolly Parton Rockstar Global First Listen Event
Music
- 2022
Sting : My Songs au château de Chambord
Songs
- 2021
2010s
- 2016
- 2010
Sting: Live In Berlin
Music
2000s
- 2005
- 2003
- 2001
- 2000
1990s
- 1995
- 1992
1980s
- 1987
- 1982
Brimstone & Treacle
Original Music Composer
Wrote 4
2020s
- 2026
Sting - Sounds Like Art Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Author
- 2024
Message in a Bottle
Lyricist
- 2022
Sting : My Songs au château de Chambord
Author
2000s
- 2000
Other crew 1
2020s
- 2026
Sting - Sounds Like Art Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Compositor
Produced 1
Directed 1
2000s
- 2007
The Police - Greatest Video Hits
Director
Appearances226
2020s
- 2026
Nino – A Film About Nino Rota
Self – Narrator
Eddie Cochran: Don't Forget Me
Self
- 2025
GIMS à Paris la Défense Arena : le concert événement
Self : Guest (virtual)
In Thanks We Trust
Self
When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain
Self
FireAid Benefit Concert
Self
- 2024
The Making of Do They Know It's Christmas?
Self
Sting and the Police at the BBC
Self
Sting: Radio 2 in the Park
Self
Message in a Bottle
Self - Lead Vocals
Billy Joel: The 100th - Live at Madison Square Garden
Self
- 2023
Dolly Parton - From Rhinestones to Rock & Roll
Self
Zucchero | Sugar Fornaciari
Self
Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story
Self
They All Came Out to Montreux
Self
- 2022
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
Christmas@Home 2022: Das Weihnachtskonzert mit Daniel Hope, Sting und weiteren Gästen
Self : Singer
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
Sting : My Songs au château de Chambord
Self
Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon
Self
- 2021
Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
Self
The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune
Self (voice) (archive footage)
Great North: A Run. A River. A Region.
Self
Up From the Streets - New Orleans: The City of Music
Self
Mylène Farmer : Les Clips L'Intégrale (1999-2020)
Self
Under the Volcano
Self
- 2020
Le Grand Concert Unis pour le Liban
Self
Mylène Farmer, l’Ultime Création
Self · 3 episodes
Citizens Of Boomtown: The Story of the Boomtown Rats
Self
Space Songs: Through the Distance
Self
The Big Night In
Self
2010s
- 2019
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade
Self
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration
Self
Mylène Farmer: 2019 - Le Film
Self
Eric Burdon: Rock 'n' Roll Animal
Self
Sting & Shaggy au Château d'Hérouville
Self
I Want My MTV
Self
- 2018
Reel Stories
Self - Guest Star · 1 episode
Gurrumul
Self
Ruben Blades Is Not My Name
Self
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
Self - Performer
- 2017
Sting - Grenzgänger und Freigeist
Self
Sting: A Free Man
Self
Sting: Beyond The Police
Self - Musician
Sting: Live at the Olympia Paris
Self - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
Brian Johnson's A Life on the Road
Self · 1 episode
The Dark Side of The Sun
Narrator
- 2016
Sting au Bataclan
Self
Sting: 57th and 9th - The Interviews
Self
Sting Live At Irving Plaza
Self
Sting - Live at iHeartRadio Music Festival 2016
Self
Rock'n'roll... Of Corse!
Self
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
Self (archive footage)
Attenborough at 90
Self
Sonic Sea
Self
- 2015
Jaco
Self
- 2014
Iain Goes Inside the Last Ship
Self
Sting: When the Last Ship Sails (Live at the Public Theater)
Self - Host, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass
Bruce Springsteen A MusiCares Tribute
Self
John Mayer: Someday I'll Fly
Self
- 2013
20 Feet from Stardom
Self
- 2012
Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving The Police
Self
- 2011
Sting - 25 Years
Self - Vocals, Bass
Sting Festival de Viña del Mar
Self
- 2010
Sting: Live In Berlin
Self - Performer
2012: Time for Change
Self
Still Bill
Self
The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3D! On Ice!
Self
2000s
- 2009
Bruce Springsteen - 32nd Annual of Kennedy Center Honors
Self
The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts
Self
Sting: A Winter's Night...Live From Durham Cathedral
Self
PoliWood
Self
Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB
Self
Chris Botti in Boston
Self
The Tribute to Pavarotti One Amazing Weekend in Petra
Self
- 2008
The Police: Certifiable
Self - Bass, Vocals
The Police: Live In Concert Tokyo
Self
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
Self
Pavarotti The Duets
Self
The Police Rock in Rio - Live Madrid
Self
- 2007
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
Self
Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation
Self
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
Self
Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out
Self - The Police Member (archive footage)
The Police - Greatest Video Hits
Self (archive footage)
- 2006
Chris Botti Live: With Orchestra and Special Guests
Self
- 2005
Live 8
Self
An Intimate Evening with Mary J. Blige - Live from the House of Blues
Self
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Self
- 2004
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self
George Michael: A Different Story
Self
Live Aid
Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Music Edition
Self
Sting: The Journey & The Labyrinth: The Music of John Dowland
Self
- 2003
Sting: Inside - The Songs of Sacred Love
Self - Bass, Guitar, Lead Vocals
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Self - Bass, Vocals
Freedom Beat
Self
- 2002
Chris Botti & Friends - Night Sessions: Live in Concert
Self
- 2001
Sting ...All This Time
Self - Lead Singer
The Police: Ghost in the Machine Tour - Live at Gateshead
Self
America: A Tribute to Heroes
Self - Performer
All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live!
Self
- 2000
Sting: The Brand New Day Tour: Live From The Universal Amphitheatre
Self - Vocals, Bass
The Filth and the Fury
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1999
Tina Turner : Celebrate!
Self
Eric Clapton: Standing at the Crossroads
Self
TV total
Self · 1 episode
- 1998
Twentieth Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward
Self
- 1997
The Very Best of Sting & The Police
Self (archive footage)
An Audience with Elton John
Self
Music for Montserrat
Self
- 1996
The Police – Live Ghost In The Machine
Self - Vocals, Bass
- 1995
The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special
Self
MADtv
Self · 1 episode
The Police - Outlandos To Synchronicities
Self
- 1994
Sting – Fields Of Gold - The Best Of Sting
Self (archive footage)
Sting - Englishman In Japan
Self
- 1993
Peter and the Wolf: A Prokofiev Fantasy
Narrator (voice)
Take That Away!
Self
- 1992
Pavarotti & Friends
Self
- 1991
Sting's 40th Birthday Celebration: Live from the Hollywood Bowl
Self - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Self - Guest
The Soul Cages Concert
Self
Branford Marsalis: Steep
Self
- 1990
One World, One Voice
Self
1980s
- 1989
MTV Rockumentary
Self · 1 episode
- 1988
Bruce Springsteen - Human Rights Final - Buenos Aires
Self
Human Rights Now 25th Anniversary
Self - Musician
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
Self
Prince's Trust Rock Gala - Volume 3
Self
The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert
Self
- 1987
Sting and Gil Evans: Strange Fruit
Self - Vocals, Electric Bass
The Best of Max Headroom
Self
- 1986
Prince's Trust Rock Gala - Volume 1
Self
- 1985
Sting - Bring on the Night
Self
Live Aid
Self
Dire Straits at Live Aid
Self
The Max Headroom Show
Self · 2 episodes
- 1984
'Do They Know It's Christmas?' - The Story Of The Official Band Aid Video
Self
The Police: Synchronicity Concert
Self - Bass, Vocals
Al TV
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
- 1983
The Police - Live In Oakland
Self - Vocals, Bass
Police in Montserrat
Self
Destination Dune
Self
- 1982
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Self
The Police: Around The World
Self
- 1981
- 1980
1970s
- 1979
The Police - Live '79 at Hatfield Polytechnic
Self
- 1978
- 1977
Acceleration Punk
Self
- 1976
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self · 15 episodes
- 1975
- 1974
- 1971
1960s
- 1967
- 1963
1950s
- 1959
The Grammys
Self · 2 episodes
- 1953
- 1952
1940s
- 1948
No release date
Pinkpop - The Vintage Years (1975-1979)
Himself
Thanked in the credits2
2000s
- 2007
The Trial of Tony Blair
Thanks
1990s
- 1995