Sting’s everchanging drummers

  • Thread starter johnthedrum
  • Start date
    • This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
J

johnthedrum

Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2013
Messages
14
Reaction score
49
Location
United Kingdom
Hi all.
So, it appears that everyone’s favourite professional Geordie is going out with yet another incarnation of his band: this time with a (to me), relatively unknown drummer in the hot seat.
I had the good fortune to see Sting live last summer at an open air concert in Yorkshire with his drummer for that tour, – Zach Jones, who impressed me with the solidity of his playing and his groove.
In common with many of you I suspect, for me, the ultimate lineup of Sting’s touring bands, was that with which he toured from 1991 to around 99: Dominic Miller, either David Sancious or Kenny Kirkland( RIP), and Vinnie Colauita. I saw the lineup three times in the mid 90s,& each time I came away with my mind well and truly blown by what I just witnessed from the man behind the Gretsch kit.
My question( not really a question, more of the idle wondering of my brain) is this…. Why do we think he feels the need to change drummers so often?
I recall reading an interview with Vinnie in around 2010 where he said that he was Sting’s reliable go-to for album promos etc, but that he( Vinnie) didn’t really want to tour as much at that point.
That’s all really… I’m looking forward to any and all opinions
 
I don't think Vinnie was available to travel during the various lockdown restrictions a few years ago,
so Josh Freese was on the tour?

Mick
 
There are always various reasons. A drummer agrees to an alternative gig, then the Sting tour comes up. A drummer decides it's time for a new challenge. Sting decides it's time to freshen up the line-up.
Personally I really like Zach Jones. Economical and super musical.
 
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
They’re naming this new tour as “Sting 3.0” with only 3 musicians total. Any chance he’s doing all Police stuff?
 
I
Jml said:
They’re naming this new tour as “Sting 3.0” with only 3 musicians total. Any chance he’s doing all Police stuff?
Click to expand...
I really doubt it considering he did that already with The Police.
 
I wouldn't call six? drummers over the course of 40 years, and one of them (Vinnie) having the job on and off for 25 years changing drummers often. At least when you compare it to Frank Zappa, or Carlos Santana (prior to Cindy becoming his drummer). Sting strikes me as someone who knows what he wants. Sometimes that means different musical collaborators.

I'm not trying to be argumentative. I just don't think of Sting changing drummers often, relatively speaking.
 
Imagine being Sting and having access to a who's who list of drummers. That is more of an observation than saying "then why doesn't he use them."
 
robhooper said:
Anybody know anything about the drummer on this new tour? I truly love all of the drummers associated with Sting, but Omar was the one who just pulverized me the most when I saw that tour as a little punk high school kid..
Click to expand...
I was gonna say, for me it will always be the original Blue Turtles band with Omar Hakim and those beautiful blue Yamahas.
 
There could be any number of reasons. People skills, reliability, flirting with the wife, spacing on some tunes - I think what matters is this: do they serve the music as he hears it, or not? Or maybe he wants to hear something a bit new to him. Bottom line - if you buy a ticket to one of his gigs, it'll be of a certain level.
 
RIDDIM said:
People skills, reliability, flirting with the wife, spacing on some tunes -
Click to expand...
Just in case anyone is confused - not at this level. Nine times out of ten it's because the drummer wants to move on to something new, or the artists wants to freshen up the line-up. Freelancers playing at this level are not 'spacing' on some tunes or flirting with the artist's wife.
 
b/o 402 said:
I was gonna say, for me it will always be the original Blue Turtles band with Omar Hakim and those beautiful blue Yamahas.
Click to expand...
I saw Sting on the Brand New Day tour and I THINK it was Omar on the drums for that one...not 100% sure. I only knew I was hoping to see Vinnie and didn't get to.
 
rsmittee said:
I had never heard of Zach before seeing the video below. Something about his playing (feel/groove/timing?) is just incredible. Nothing super flashy, but it just seems so precise.

As for explaining the rotating drummers, maybe Sting is a huge Spinal Tap fan?

Click to expand...

WOW! I've never heard of him either but his feel is TREMENDOUS! He sounds great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top