Summer: 2013

Sting thrills Mainz audience at the "Back to Bass" concert... 

During the first song, 'If I Ever Lose My Faith,' both audience and listener inevitably had the impression that a deaf person was at the mixing desk. The sound was completely off, more like a mush. The backing singer could be heard, but Sting could hardly be heard. Already during the second song, 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,' it was clear that the technical staff was working hard on the sound.

From 'Englishman In New York,' onward, the sound was just right, and the 61-year-old offered the Mainz audience a fantastic and impressive concert – the only one in Germany. The weather also cooperated: it was warm, sunny, and there was a light breeze on the north pier in the Zollhafen harbor.

Sting, whose real name is Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, took the stage in a simple outfit: black trousers and a white T-shirt, his hair very short. He mainly played a rather old and worn-looking but melodious bass guitar - the English teacher began his musical career as a bassist in various jazz bands.

His stage name also dates back to these early days. Once, when he was performing in a yellow and black striped sweater, one of his bandmates exclaimed, "Gordon's got a sting!" Sting is the English word for sting or wasp sting, and the yellow and black striped sweater was probably not unlike a wasp.

Sting was accompanied by guitarist Dominic Miller, who has been playing with him for a long time and has performed on stage. Vinnie Colaiuta was on drums, and David Sancious was on keyboards. Violinist Peter Tickell and vocalist Jo Lawry rounded out the band. At earlier concerts, Sting also enjoyed performing with entire orchestral ensembles or at least a larger band, but the "Back to Bass Tour" was intended to shift the focus back to Sting's musical roots, which worked very well.

Sting and the five musicians offered a perfect mix of old and new songs from both Sting and The Police, the band with which Sting first achieved his breakthrough. Sting and the instrumentalists often embellished the songs on stage with solos and variations, delighting the audience. One solo duel between Sting, keyboardist Sancious, and then violinist Tickell lasted almost 10 minutes.

The 61-year-old Briton clearly enjoyed playing and demonstrated the diverse and enchanting qualities of his baritone voice. His best-known pieces, such as 'Desert Rose,' the Police hit 'Every Breath You Take,' and 'Fields of Gold,' created magical moments. He bid farewell to his Mainz audience shortly after 10 p.m. during the third encore, performing the song 'Fragile' all alone on stage with his guitar, a very sensitive performance.

(c) Wir-in-Rheinhessen by Andreas Lerg