Sting and Joe Sumner recently teamed up for a performance at the Hollywood Bowl, promoting Sumner’s debut solo album, ‘Sunshine In The Night.’ Before that event, they joined an interview with Variety to talk about their careers, as Sting compared band work and solo work as follows:
“I think it’s a misnomer, really. If you make a solo record, you’re still working with musicians and bands. But it’s just as Joe said: it’s your baby, and you make all the decisions. I’m sure we both invite comment. We invite advice and collaboration. But at the end of the day, the solo artist makes the executive decision.”
Then, referring to the leadership in The Police and other bands, he added:
“I think bands have this strange semblance of democracy. But it’s not really a democracy. [They both laugh.] It’s the guy who writes the songs and sings who’s the band leader. Even though the other guys in the band might object to that, that’s the truth.”
To support his father’s point, Sumner mentioned the recent record, noting his decisions about the flute parts by saying he found a guy to do them the way he wanted. In response, the bassist said:
“[Mocks] Well, maybe I should play the flute; maybe the drummer should play the flute… [As a solo artist], you’re directing. You’re not playing all the parts, but you’re directing.”
The chat also touched on the 46-year-old singer’s early career. Sting recalled having his son’s band, Fiction Plane, as the opening act for The Police’s reunion tour in 2007 and commented:
“There’s no way I would let him do it if I didn’t think he was any good. I would have fired his arse immediately. But he is good, and it feels natural. If you were a carpenter a hundred years ago, your dad was a carpenter, and his dad was a carpenter. So I’m a musician… I’ve never given Joe any advice on his work. The only thing I’ve given him is he sees me practice every day; he sees how hard I work to get better as a musician get better as a band leader. I’ve shown him by example, but I’ve never given him any advice. He wouldn’t take it anyway.”
Sumner will open for Sting again during a few more shows in the upcoming weeks. The two will next take the stage at the Toyota Music Factory in Dallas on October 14.
