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As Sting celebrates his 75th birthday, take a look back at his life and hugely successful career with the Police and as a solo artist, through many BBC interviews and appearances.

As Sting celebrates his 75th birthday, he talks in depth about his youth, seeing Jimi Hendrix in his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne, inheriting his first guitar and lots of jobs as a musician in big bands, jazz groups, musicals, on cruise ships and as a teacher. That was before he started the band Last Exit and moved to London to accept an offer of help from Stewart Copeland and the Police were launched with hard work and determination.

Sting also comments on his life-changing hit songs from the Police and his solo career, how he writes, breaking up the biggest band in the world, recording with Dire Straits in Montserrat, going solo with heroes from the jazz world, his love of risk, the Police reunion, inspirations for songs like Fields Of Gold, They Dance Alone and Shape Of My Heart, and his acting career in films like Quadrophenia and Brimstone & Treacle.

Presenters featured include Jo Whiley, Dermot O'Leary, Paul Gambaccini, Jools Holland, Matt Everitt, Richard Skinner, Simon Bates, Tim Smith, Michael Parkinson, Roger Scott, Annie Nightingale, Johnnie Walker and Steve Wright.

28 days left to listen

58 minutes

Music Played

  • The Police

    Roxanne

    • Now That's What I Call An Era: Sound Of The Suburbs (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • The Police

    Walking On The Moon

    • The Very Best Of The Police.
    • A&M.
  • The Police

    Don't Stand So Close To Me

    • The Very Best Of Sting & The Police.
    • A&M.
  • The Police

    So Lonely

    • The Police - Message In A Box (Cd 1).
    • A&M.
  • The Police

    Message In A Bottle

    • The Very Best Of Sting & The Police.
    • A&M.
  • The Police

    Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

    • Ones On 1 (Radio 1 21st Birthday Albu.
    • BBC.
  • Sting

    Spread A Little Happiness

    • (Single).
    • A&M.
  • The Police

    Synchronicity II

    • The Final Countdown (Various).
    • Telstar.
  • The Police

    Every Breath You Take

    • The Ivor Novello Winners.
    • EMI.
  • Dire Straits

    Money For Nothing

    • Sultans Of Swing - Best Of Dire Straits.
    • Vertigo.
  • Sting

    If You Love Somebody Set Them Free

    • The Very Best Of Sting & The Police.
    • A&M.
  • Sting

    Russians

    • The Dream Of The Blue Turtles.
    • A&M.
    • 3.
  • Sting

    Bring On The Night / When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of What's

    • Bring On The Night (Live).
    • A&M.
    • 1.
  • Sting

    Fragile

    • Fields Of Gold - The Best Of Sting.
    • A&M.
  • Sting

    They Dance Alone (Gueca Solo)

    • The Best Of 25 Years (Deluxe Edition).
    • A&M.
    • 6.
  • Sting

    All This Time

    • The Best Of 25 Years.
    • A&M.
    • 4.
  • Sting

    Fields Of Gold

    • NOW That's What I Call Timeless - The Eternal Collection (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Sting

    Shape Of My Heart

    • Sting - Ten Summoner's Tales.
    • A&M.
  • Sting

    Brand New Day

    • (CD Single).
    • A&M.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday00:00