India welcomes Sting

Sting is one solo artist obsessed with expanding the boundaries of pop music. Sting incorporated heavy elements of jazz, classical, and world beat into his music, writing lyrics that were literate and self-consciously meaningful.

The Police established Sting, the band’s remarkably charismatic bassist and singer, was on the fast track to stardom as a world-renowned songwriter and singer with Outlandos D’Amour, Reggatta De Blanc, Zenyatta Mondatta, Ghost in the Machine etc. Later on the strength of Sting-penned hits like “Roxanne” and “Every Breath You Take,” the Police proved to be a band with both massive critical and commercial appeal

Sting’s solo career began in 1982, two years before the break-up of the Police. In that year he starred in the film Brimstone and Treacle. Since then he has never looked back and never taken any chances.

And now Sting has come to India to promote his album, sacred Love and collect funds for Tsunami relief. Sting will perform two concerts in India for that noble purpose.

The concerts in India are to be staged in Bangalore on February 4 and New Delhi on February 6 (Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi). Though these will not be his first performances here, this will be the first time the singer has full-fledged solo concerts in a country that has fascinated him for decades.

On the occasion of his concert, a special Limited tour Edition of his latest album Sacred Love, which contains his rare singles, is being put together.

The single, Sacred Love also has an Indian touch since it features Anoushka Shankar on the sitar.

Rumors speculate he makes anonymous trips to India - Jaipur, Rajasthan - almost every year. They also say he loves kebabs and all things spicy. Sting has long expressed a desire to interact with India on a more personal level. The news brings a smile not just to the faces of music fans, but the noted environmentalist best known to champion the cause of preserving rainforests wants to do his bit for the tragically hit areas.

The rocker is also supposed to headline a concert in Australia on February 10 for the same purpose. Venkat Vardhan of DNA Networks, managing the event, makes it clear the funds generated from the India concerts will help affected areas in India only.