57th & 9th: World Tour

Mantova, the Sting phenomenon: a tribute to Bowie in Piazza Sordello - The former Police frontman's eagerly awaited concert is Friday night...

What's $56 million to a rock star who wrote "Roxanne" and "Every Breathe You Take"? Yet Sting still chose to sell his beautiful New York home overlooking Central Park to purchase one just 300 meters away that's equally prestigious but has slightly lower condo fees ($10,000 a month must be a significant expense for him, too) given the frenetic live schedule that continues to keep him away from Manhattan for much of the year. Tonight, he's depositing it in Mantua, in the elegant Piazza Sordello, to round out a string of major events graced by Elton John and Alvaro Soler. This is one of the last dates on the "57th & 9th Tour" before his vacation in the Tuscan retreat of Palagio and the resumption of activity with a new North American leg of this extensive concert tour, launched on February 15th in Vancouver. A total of 115 shows will keep him on the road until October, averaging four shows a week, which at 65 years of age represents a remarkable run, even for a tantric spirit like his. On stage are himself and (often) his son Joe Sumner, guitarist Dominic Miller, and his son Rufus, on second guitar. The Last Bandoleros provide backing vocals, while Josh Freese, well known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and Guns n' Roses, sits on drums.

"Speaking of children, my parents have all moved to America," he says. "They're all pretty independent. I caused quite a stir when I declared three years ago that I hadn't left them any money, but they weren't surprised because they know exactly how I feel; everyone has to make their own way. Even though I tried to give them all the best education possible to face life, my parents had nothing to offer me, and I'm proud to have made my fortune by giving people joy. I want my children to one day be able to be as grateful for life as I am."

The repertoire of the show in Piazza Sordello is designed to please all tastes; there are about ten Police songs, from the opening "Synchronicity II" to "Walking on the Moon" and "Next to You," but even the solo tracks are chosen with a "greatest hits" approach. And there's even a tribute to Bowie in "Ashes to Ashes." When the cultural icons of a generation begin to disappear, we are devastated because our childish side believes in immortality, and the life of a rock star, in particular, fuels this illusion. Then, at a certain point, it all ends because among the many privileges granted to those who have reached the top, there's not even the ability to change the cards of fate. On my last album, I wrote a song, '50,000.'I perform it every night along with the tribute to Bowie, even though I think that certain characters never really die, but fade into the distance."

(c) Il Giorno by Andrea Spinelli