At least he admits it...

[luna_virgo]

It's unfortunate that the atmosphere on Stewart's site is so toxic with negativity about Sting that those of us who are able to move on from the Reunion tour and embrace what Sting is doing after the fact are made to feel less than welcome to enjoy talking about Stewart on his site because of the toxic atmosphere. It's sad, very sad.

I have to admit that I've taken a few shots at Sting here myself, but I've never said that he isn't a talented musician/songwriter, and capable of much more than what he's been putting out recently. I can't speak for anyone else, but my problem with him is disappointment that he seems to be coasting right now. If he has writer's block, that explains a lot, and I hope he gets over it. I'll be happy to buy any new releases from him that I actually find enjoyable.

I've also taken issue with a few things he's said in interviews, but I could say the same about any musician I like, including Stewart. Doesn't mean I'm not still a fan. We all have our own opinions, and we don't have to agree on everything.

[iburn4u]

I agree. We all are entitled to our opinions. We don't have to agree. Nobody expects everyone to like everything that Sting Andy and Stewart do. That said, there is an overwhelming negativity and repeated cheap shots taken at Sting on this site. I know all sorts of Police fans who avoid this site and did not participate on the Police.com site because of the chronic negativity about Sting. It's just sad that people take such pleasure in dumping on him in a less than respectful way. It's like being back in high school with bullies.

[Kim]

I never intended to trash him. The problem is you have two camps - one that likes his solo work better, and one that likes the Police better. The latter tend to gather here. *Raises hand* Music is subjective. Neither camp is right, just voicing their opinions. Sometimes people think that Sting = Police. I don't think so, and I suspect others here feel the same. We tend to want to defend Andy & Stewart's contribution to the band, which can at times look like we are taking the offensive toward Sting. I love the guy, but I'm not a sheep. I have issues with blind faith, without reciprocation. I've decided to stop buying stuff like boxed sets and concert tickets just because I thought I should, out of loyalty. Looks like Sting and I have met a fork in the road and have decided to take different paths. It happens, but, I'm sad about it. I thought I'd share.

[iburn4u]

[quote="Kim"]I never intended to trash him. The problem is you have two camps - one that likes his solo work better, and one that likes the Police better. The latter tend to gather here. *Raises hand* Music is subjective. Neither camp is right, just voicing their opinions. Sometimes people think that Sting = Police. I don't think so, and I suspect others here feel the same. We tend to want to defend Andy & Stewart's contribution to the band, which can at times look like we are taking the offensive toward Sting. I love the guy, but I'm not a sheep. I have issues with blind faith, without reciprocation. I've decided to stop buying stuff like boxed sets and concert tickets just because I thought I should, out of loyalty. Looks like Sting and I have met a fork in the road and have decided to take different paths. It happens, but, I'm sad about it. I thought I'd share.[/quote]

I get it Kim. I don't classify myself with the sheep. Over my years on the Sting site I have yet to hear anyone voice an opinion that Sting=The Police. There are certainly those who do seem to have blind faith in him then there are others who are not so invested in their worship of the Police that they can't move on with Sting as he challenges himself with other projects/genres. There are two camps because people on this site have made it two camps. If you like Sting's solo work, you're being disloyal to The Police and Stewart. Puleez. It's so high school.

Deciding to stop buying tix, box sets etc is absolutely fine. Vote with your wallet. What is sad is that so many on Sting.com who love the Police and Stewart's and Andy's solo work don't frequent this site anymore because of the toxicity from so many members, not all but many. For example, do folks really think that because the CBC talked about the Massey shows coming up (as they talk about many upcoming shows) it means Sting is having problems filling Massey Hall? Come on folks. Or that someone who is so committed to his musicianship and his work as a songwriter is just being lazy because of his fat cat lifestyle? If folks really paid attention to what he has said and done over the decades, they would know that the last thing Sting is, is someone who sits around waiting for the royalty cheques to arrive while eating bon bons and drinking 30 year old scotch. These people just can't let go of his creative need to move on from the Police. They won't forgive him for breaking up the band and then no being willing to go right back into that pidgeon hole after the reunion tour. They never said it was going to be more than the reunion tour to give us the closure we wanted. I love all three of them and prefer to see them healthy and happy in their creative lives more than my need to have them continue on as The Police.

[Kim]

I was on Sting.com for a bit, and don't recall anyone being negative, but, of course it's Sting's site so folks would focus on him, and many prefer his solo work. After a while, I realized I didn't. That doesn't mean I don't like any of it, by the way. I was once a sheep myself! Only in the last few years have I been able to admit I don't like some of his more recent stuff. I'm not bitter, just sad. It's like I lost a limb or something. Just weird. But, there was one show on the reunion tour where someone sitting behind me actually said Sting = Police. I didn't engage, because it would have gotten ugly, but I suspect others feel the same. I've seen it in the press. I can't recall anything specific, but it's more of an under current when he's interviewed. I mean, he was the one who wrote the hits, had the face and the voice. He WAS a big part of it, and he still has a huge hunk of that "magic" on his own, it's just different. To each his own. He'll always have a special place in my heart. *sniff*

I admit I'd go see this Back to Bass tour for free, and I bet I would like 80% of it.

I'm eager to see how this musical turns out. Broadway is not my thing, but I intend to see it if I can.

[63falcon]

Some of this is in fun, and some is in reaction to having had Sting plastered all ober "back in the day", and THEN seeing media start to do the STing Thing again when the Tour was announced. I suspect that more of the folks who are less than religious about Sting could be in my age range, late 40's, and didn't enjoy having the whole fate of a most favorite band hang on one member-but it wouldn't be the first time that situation exsisted either. I enjoyed Sting's first two solo albums, and I haven't enjoyed most of what I had heard on the next few-the music he was making solo just hasn't grabbed me the way what he did w/ Andy & Stewart did consistantly. And still does after all these years. I have really enjoyed the majority of Andy's solos/duos/etc's, always on the lookout for vinyl or CD's. Same with Stewart's. Sting never was the one w/ any visual appeal for me 'way back when' either, so that whole aspect of his profile has gotten irritating, just seems so overblown.
Bottom line: most of the folks here on this site would REALLY love to see a Police album of new music, written mostly by Sting and sung mostly by Sting. He seems to push himself more out of either competition or sheer irritation to fresher heights when he is in collaboration w/ those two other strong personalities.
And when the the reunion Tour was happening, I had folks say to me oh yeah, Sing's band, arrgggghhhhhh! That is likely the frustration that presents itself as bashiness. I wish I couls have a rational/levelheaded emoticon, because I am writing this from an observer stance, trying to assess, not from an irate position. It is hard to tell when folks are writing, can be easily taken differently.

[sockii]

Toxic negativity toward Stewart is why I long ago gave up on Stingus.net. And anyone else remember the vile atmosphere on the xmission mailing list back in the day toward anyone who was a Stewart-more-than-a-Sting fan? I still have backlogs of archived messages on my harddrive, if I need to remind myself why I turned into a bit of a cynical, die-hard Copeland fan with little patience for forums beyond this one and AUI (may it rest in peace and be long, long missed.)

I never felt the need to spend $$$ just for the privilege of posting or even having access to Sting.com so I have no idea what the atmosphere is like there. Pity us plebes without money to spend on a website membership who can't find out firsthand for ourselves what it's like over there.

For me, it comes down to the fact that 90% of Sting's solo material bores the hell out of me. And I also don't like hearing him perform Police songs solo because it's never the same to me. It's not that I'm toxic toward him, he just doesn't interest me in the slightest in his solo career the way Stewart does. *shrug*

[Pablito]

Sting is a fantastic musician and wrote timeless music. But to call The Police an asset left a bad taste in my mouth.
But it was an eye opener too.

[iburn4u]

"but when you're sitting pretty on countless huge estates and can spend your days lounging about in Tuscany, when not raking in big bucks playing it safe and touring the same songs people have listened to for years? There's no drive for him to take any risks or take any chances - beyond the Police tour, which was a risk in that it reminded so many of us what he HAD be capable of, at one time, and how much he limits himself and plays it safe today."

I don't know, this doesn't sound accurate or benign to me. It is one of the more mild comments I've read here from you.
He takes off the month of August each year. That's about it. If you know anything about Sting, then you know that he is driven to make music, to perform. I think that venturing out into very different genres, whether you like those projects or not, seems to be a very big risk, taking a very big chance and doesn't seem to me to be playing it safe at all. On the B2B tour, he is playing mostly songs from his back catalogue that have not been played in a very long time or not at all. There are very few Police songs. Roxanne is gone ( if only EBYT was as well, regardless of which band). The reviews have been very good.

It seems unfair to be critical of him as a person just because he's not interested in making the music you want him to. Like it. Don't like it. The choice is yours. Characterizing him as a fat cat, counting his money, lazy, Vegas act is neither accurate or very respectful. Calling fans who continue to enjoy his solo work and attend his concerts various names like soccer moms etc is not respectful or fair. Whether you recognize it or not, those who continuously take cheap and nasty shots at Sting as a person and at his work, drive away those of us who love the Police too but don't feel comfortable to participate here because of said attitude. That said, I agree that his characterization of the Police as an asset, as true as that is technically, was a poor choice of words and hurtful to the tens of thousands of us fans who were so thrilled to get closure.

Bottom line, the overall feeling I get on this site is that unless Sting reunites with Stewart and Andy and continues to do what does not fulfill him as a musician, he will be maligned.

There are lots of things I am not enamoured with about Stewart but it would be disrespectful to him and to those who do admire him and his work since the Police to voice those opinions so I don't. He has chosen to move on with what fulfills him. If he is enjoying what he is doing then that is what matters to me, whether I like it or not. For all we know Stewart might not have any more interest in continuing the Police than Sting does.

There are just as many sheep here as there are at Sting.com. It comes with the territory. We all feel passionate about those musician whom we respect and admire. If anyone started criticizing Stewart the way Sting has been here, folks would be every bit as sheep-like, defending Stewart and calling them on their disrespectful comments. I can't speak to the stingus.net site. I've spent little if any time there. I have spent before and after parties during the reunion tour with people from this site and was made very uncomfortable as soon as it was known I belonged to Sting.com. Rolling eyes. Sarcastic comments. So very mature. I endured a wrath of criticism about Sting being yelled in a public washroom at the same concert where later I sat in the bar with a group and was subjected to the most hideous ranting about Sting to the point that the Nutter whom I was with became uncomfortable. After 20 minutes of unending spewing of toxic crap, I went to my room. It spoiled what should have been a great memory of a great night with a great band and some great friends. I've not experienced anything like it since high school.

As for members here being too poor to join Sting.com, please. You take issue with people choosing to join a site that charges membership and equate us with having more money than you? Who are you kidding? Don't buy it for a second. We all make choices. Some of us choose to belong to the site. Many do not. Membership has brought perks, access to events not available to the public etc. The forums are part of it but certainly not all.

That's it. I'm out. I appreciate being able to get this off of my chest. It's been slowly eating away at me since The Police reunion, both here and the Police site while it was running. It is just very sad that all Police fans can't also enjoy Stewart's site in a safe atmosphere without verbal and emotional bullying. If we wanted that, we'd never have left high school.

[iburn4u]

"but when you're sitting pretty on countless huge estates and can spend your days lounging about in Tuscany, when not raking in big bucks playing it safe and touring the same songs people have listened to for years? There's no drive for him to take any risks or take any chances - beyond the Police tour, which was a risk in that it reminded so many of us what he HAD be capable of, at one time, and how much he limits himself and plays it safe today."

I don't know, this doesn't sound accurate or benign to me. It is one of the more mild comments I've read here from you.
He takes off the month of August each year. That's about it. If you know anything about Sting, then you know that he is driven to make music, to perform. I think that venturing out into very different genres, whether you like those projects or not, seems to be a very big risk, taking a very big chance and doesn't seem to me to be playing it safe at all. On the B2B tour, he is playing mostly songs from his back catalogue that have not been played in a very long time or not at all. There are very few Police songs. Roxanne is gone ( if only EBYT was as well, regardless of which band). The reviews have been very good.

It seems unfair to be critical of him as a person just because he's not interested in making the music you want him to. Like it. Don't like it. The choice is yours. Characterizing him as a fat cat, counting his money, lazy, Vegas act is neither accurate or very respectful. Calling fans who continue to enjoy his solo work and attend his concerts various names like soccer moms etc is not respectful or fair. Whether you recognize it or not, those who continuously take cheap and nasty shots at Sting as a person and at his work, drive away those of us who love the Police too but don't feel comfortable to participate here because of said attitude. That said, I agree that his characterization of the Police as an asset, as true as that is technically, was a poor choice of words and hurtful to the tens of thousands of us fans who were so thrilled to get closure.

Bottom line, the overall feeling I get on this site is that unless Sting reunites with Stewart and Andy and continues to do what does not fulfill him as a musician, he will be maligned.

There are lots of things I am not enamoured with about Stewart but it would be disrespectful to him and to those who do admire him and his work since the Police to voice those opinions so I don't. He has chosen to move on with what fulfills him. If he is enjoying what he is doing then that is what matters to me, whether I like it or not. For all we know Stewart might not have any more interest in continuing the Police than Sting does.

There are just as many sheep here as there are at Sting.com. It comes with the territory. We all feel passionate about those musician whom we respect and admire. If anyone started criticizing Stewart the way Sting has been here, folks would be every bit as sheep-like, defending Stewart and calling them on their disrespectful comments. I can't speak to the stingus.net site. I've spent little if any time there. I have spent before and after parties during the reunion tour with people from this site and was made very uncomfortable as soon as it was known I belonged to Sting.com. Rolling eyes. Sarcastic comments. So very mature. I endured a wrath of criticism about Sting being yelled in a public washroom at the same concert where later I sat in the bar with a group and was subjected to the most hideous ranting about Sting to the point that the Nutter whom I was with became uncomfortable. After 20 minutes of unending spewing of toxic crap, I went to my room. It spoiled what should have been a great memory of a great night with a great band and some great friends. I've not experienced anything like it since high school.

As for members here being too poor to join Sting.com, please. You take issue with people choosing to join a site that charges membership and equate us with having more money than you? Who are you kidding? Don't buy it for a second. We all make choices. Some of us choose to belong to the site. Many do not. Membership has brought perks, access to events not available to the public etc. The forums are part of it but certainly not all.

That's it. I'm out. I appreciate being able to get this off of my chest. It's been slowly eating away at me since The Police reunion, both here and the Police site while it was running. It is just very sad that all Police fans can't also enjoy Stewart's site in a safe atmosphere without verbal and emotional bullying. If we wanted that, we'd never have left high school.

[Kim]

Well, I never meant for this to be a mud slinging contest!

To each their own, I suppose.

Music evokes passion in us, that's for sure.

My husband asks me what the heck we talk about here, since the Police are long gone. Maybe we should all lighten up and get outside for some fresh air a bit?

Oh, and if Sting has written songs for the musical...???? He's writing! So what the heck is he talking about? Maybe he's just not happy with the other mainstream stuff he has done in the last few years, in which case I think it's good that he hasn't shared it with us.

[sockii]

I for one have no real interest to see Sting reunite with The Police for new material. In fact I think it would probably be a horrible idea for all parties involved. So please don't paint all sc.net people with the broad brush that all we want from Sting is another Police album - there might be some people who feel that way but it's far from the overwhelming majority opinion from the many personal conversations I've had with people I know in person on this board.

I just don't care for the direction of his solo career. I don't care to hear Police songs re-hashed and re-interpreted yet again by an artist who does, yes to my eyes, appear to simply keep milking past glories and material for $'s instead of trying to create anything original again.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Admittedly, I scrolled past a goodly portion of that Sting-walks-on-water screed, but can't resist adding my two cents as well...

Seems like many people would love us to lionize Sting the way they do, and clutch their pearls gasping when it turns out many of us not only think Sting is not as talented as Stewart (oh my stars!) or that there would be no Sting without Stewart (and Miles & Ian.)

Think whatever you want, but to call us all bullies for not sharing your opinion is frankly ridiculous, IMO. I'd say more, but I'm not the moderator here, and don't want to disrespect Gio/Eugenio/Lady P by stirring up this stuff (again - isn't this about the 9,999,999th time this topic has come up?)

p.s. I'm an artist as well (visual, like Sockii) and I agree Sting is coasting and doesn't want to take any risks. I was mad at him when he copped out in 1985 - by breaking up the band, instead of finding a way to keep it going - and I'm mad at him now, for taking the easy way out. **Frankly, look at Bono to see how it's done after you're megafamous. I greatly regret not having seen U2 for many years due to my assumption that they wouldn't be any good any more - boy, was I wrong, which I found out after having seen them a couple times this year. Just cast my vote over at U2.com for the songs on the new comp and "Vertigo" and "Elevation" are right up there for me, along with stuff off "Joshua Tree," which will always be one of my favorite albums of all time.

** = posting this for comparison purposes, not to start up a bunch of U2 talk - this is just my personal opinion. I know some people here love 'em and some hate 'em, and I don't think they're "bullies" for that.