BOOK: "Don't Stand So Close" by Jeffrey Lee Campbell

[jerseyfan]

I just finished reading "Don't Stand So Close" by Jeffrey Lee Campbell.

Most Sting/Police fans will recall he was the lead guitarist during the massive Nothing Like the Sun tour and Amnesty International tour.

You can see him in concert here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6Yuq-uzT2o

And on Saturday Night Live just days into his Sting tenure: https://vimeo.com/139444784

It's a very detailed and honest bio and road diary about music, the music business, money, lack of professionalism, people, personalities, hubris, perspective, clashes, treachery, debauchery, drug and alcohol excesses... the career consequences of destructive behavior, not recognizing a golden opportunity and capitalizing on it.

I highly recommend the book to all Sting and Police fans.

I don't want to ruin the book so I won't go into details expect for this one:

Campbell was invited to Sting's apartment and soon they were playing guitar together. Sting starts showing Campbell the harmony part of Message in a Bottle. At one point Campbell compliments Andy Summers.

As we continued to strum, I confessed to Sting that Police guitarist Andy Summers had been a major influence on my playing. Sting Look up and sniffed, "Those guitar parts were mine. I taught them to Andy." Meow. I'd obviously touched a nerve. But I had no reason to doubt Sting's claim. He may have achieved worldwide fame a bassist, but he also plays a mean guitar."

It never fails to shock me what little credit Sting gives to Andy and Stewart. Andy mentioned this in his documentary. Sting is very stingy in the sharing credit department. How can an artist so rich, famous and successful be such a jerk to the two men who helped pull him from obscurity? It's unbelievable how consistently disrespectful Sting is to Andy and Stewart.

All police fans know that most of the hit songs sounded nothing like the final product. As Andy said in his bio, "One Train Later," Sting's demos were in critical need of being "Policified." Roxanne, for example, was a bossa nova until Andy and Stewart worked with Sting to create the classic. Sting NEVER credits and acknowledges Andy's famous guitar riff on Every Breath You Take.

Anyway, read the book. It's good.

[jerseyfan]

Here's Campbell talking about the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnMzge9s2ao

[jerseyfan]

BTW, I had no idea that Delmar Brown passed away. Very sad news. Campbell mentioned it in his book.

According to this article (with comments from Sting), Brown died from cancer in April 2017.

https://www.pantagraph.com/blogs/craft- ... 96c33.html

Here's a video with Campbell and Brown posted on YouTube in 2016. Brown's hair had turned white and was obviously not in the best of health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl7xlIH9KkE

Here's Brown with Sting on a great version of Bring on the Night. https://youtu.be/UVV-J-xlXtc?t=54m35s

RIP, Mr. Brown.

[Pezish]

Thanks for sharing all of this! It's nice to take time to remember Delmar Brown.

[ltwoman]

Yes, thanks for the review, jerseyfan. It sounds like the kind of book I'd enjoy.

[Pezish]

I went to buy this on my Kindle and it's available to borrow at no cost (probably that I have Amazon Prime).