- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: STING'S "BRAND NEW DAY" WORLD TOUR REACHES JOHANNESBURG.
- Date: 23rd September 2000
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (SEPTEMBER 24, 2000) (REUTERS) STING PERFORMING, A THOUSAND YEARS FROM HIS LATEST BAND NEW DAY ALBUM
- Embargoed: 8th October 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA8H5XPHESWMGEBWII696Q699QU
- Story Text: Music sensation Sting, so-called after a black and yellow wasp-like jumper he used to wear, has been strutting his stuff in South Africa - on stage at Johannesburg's MTN Sundome.
Sting, former front man of the music group, The Police, has been in South Africa as part of his Brand New Day world tour.
In this, his second trip to South Africa, Sting told a packed press conference on his arrival how, among other things, he came to be known by that name.
"They call me Sting because I used to wear this black and yellow sweater - so I looked like a wasp. So the name stuck with me. They'd phone me up and ask my mother for Sting and she'd go 'what?' She ended up calling me Sting.
"Everybody calls me Sting. Its a silly name but you get used to it.
Another thing he's grown used in his long and colourful carer is fame and success.
His latest album, his seventh and first since 1996, is entitled Brand New Day and features several collaborations with artists such as Stevie Wonder, James Taylor and Brandford Marsalis.
He told reporters he was looking forward to performing for local audiences in his five shows spread across South Africa.
"I think an audience come to see you for many reasons. I think they like to hear some old songs. Songs that remind them of their youth or whatever. Some people will be coming because they just heard Desert Rose and have never heard anything else. So I like to play a whole range of material from the beginning, from 22 years ago up to the present day."
Born Gordon Sumner some 48 years ago, Sting trained to be a teacher but instead formed the pop group, The Police, in 1977.
After five albums, Sting launched a solo career in 1986.
Asked whether he ever imagined hed be where he is today Sting laughs then says.
"I somehow had an idea that it will work. I didn't know to what level it would work or that 20-years later I would still be doing this, facing people in a big press conference like this but every time a hurdle is put in front of me, I look at it, then the next one, it just feels natural.
"So I did have an idea that Id make a living out of this. I have to make a living."
He's also quick to admit success hasn't changed his outlook on life.
"My ambition is to be happy and to remain happ and that's it. Making music makes me happy but success is fun but I'd still be happy without it I think.
At a packed Johannesburg concert, Sting once again proved why he's one of the world's most popular music icons by keeping the audience literally on their feet for the better part of two hours.
Afterwards his legion of fans had nothing but niceties for their musical legend.
Sting's South Africa tour proved a major success with tickets sold out long before his first concert, proving he still has a legion of fans around the world who enjoy everything from his golden oldies to his latest hits. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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