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22.07.2006 -
Hello boys and
girls, another chapter is coming to an end. This has been a memorable
tour on many levels. I think the main achievement with this one has
been the common feeling we all share that we have collectively
reinvented Sting's sound. I feel this short tour has acted like a
springboard to what might happen next. Without this experience I don't
think we could just go blindly in the studio and come up with the next
phase. We have created or generated a new bond and we all know it even
though we haven't really talked about it. Sometimes you just know.
There are no concrete plans to reconvene but I suspect something will
come out of this. I am reminded of the Soul Cages tour because after
that one I felt the same way. We then went in the studio and recorded
Ten Summoner's Tales. I don't think we could have come up with that
record without the bond we created on that long tour of '91/'92. The
band then was Vinnie Colaiuta, David Sancious, Sting and myself. The
band we have now is every bit as powerful and musical if not more.
This morning I woke up in Sweden. We then flew to Finland and did a
show in Pori. We are now flying to St Petersburg, Russia. Three
countries in one day. This may seem gruelling but when you are flying
in a G4 the world becomes a much smaller place. There's something very
satisfying or decadent about eating pizza at midnight after a rock &
roll show on a private jet served by a German stewardess (who's not
too shabby on the eye). Pepperoni pizza at 40,000 feet! Perhaps the
highest and fastest pizzas ever. Have I got anything to complain
about? I don't think so. My only complaint is I miss my family. There
is no substitute for that. Sometimes it's painful and I just have to
switch off and forget about it (said in a Jersey pizza holding
accent). If you look at other tours we have done this one is just an
outing. Two months on the road is not very long but I still feel
exhausted. I think that's partly because of the diversity in cultures
we are exposed to. I just want to take it all in but can't. It's
amazing how different neighbouring countries can be. France and Italy,
Russia and Finland, Norway and Sweden, Greece and Macedonia. Even
Belgium and Holland. The area we are covering on this tour is about
the size of USA yet all the countries are so different in so many
ways. This is the tiring part. Touring in US is easier because there
is only one language and no immigration checks. My passport has taken
a beating on this leg. But I am in good spirits and feeling strong. I
have been doing full on yoga almost every day which really helps.
Although I confess I do still smoke I feel fit. I am kind of like the
Keith Richards of yoga.
I am still practicing Bach like crazy every day and have made
progress. I know I'll never get there but it sure is worth a try.
Sometimes it seems pointless though because I don't know what I am
going to do with it. But my sound is improving all the time. Slowly
but surely. My new obsession is in the articulation of notes. How pure
can you play a note or a phrase? When we speak or make a speech how
often do we "um" or "ah" or "you know" or the new classic "like" every
other word? ("I am like" is the new "I said"). Music is the same. One
thing I find frustrating is how many guitarists come up to me after a
show and comment on how much they love the sound of my guitar. "What
kind of guitar is that?", or "what strings are you using?", "where can
I get one?" etc. Instead of feeling complimented I am annoyed because
I know the guitar isn't making the sound. I am. I am working very hard
at this. Someone suggested a good response to these questions might
be: "Thank you. Now put the guitar and the floor and tell me... dear
boy... how does it sound now?" I have had some people ask me what my
exact set-up is on stage down to the last pedal, amp module, guitar
etc and then write to me complaining how it doesn't sound the same.
Would I go up to Roger Federer after winning Wimbledon and say "wow
that was brilliant! What kind of racket are you using?". He might tell
me to **** off. Would I go up to a painter and ask what kind of paint
they are using or might I use the short time to ask how they arrived
at the decision to make these contrasting colours work together. I
think I have made my point. To any budding guitarist, painter, writer,
chef, nurse or anyone for that matter my advice would be this: Don't
stop learning and accept you will never be perfect. Just do it slowly
and do it purely. And if anyone asks what kind of equipment you are
using just be nice and don't get pissed off like I do.
As you can see I need a break. I will be vacationing in France again
for the month of August with some of my family. This will be the third
year running. What might be hard to understand though is that being on
vacation with the family is actually more tiring than being on tour.
Being with the kids is a 24 hour gig. Being with Sting is a two hour
gig. The rest of the time I can contemplate on my place in the
universe (yawn) and ponder and then plot what my next incredible move
will be (more yawn). When you are with the kids you don't have the
luxury of doing anything for yourself. But is it worth it? I think so.
What I love about touring is that although we are together and like a
family, there is solitude to enjoy in the comfort of our hotel rooms.
Solitude is essential. Just me and CNN (I feel I know all the
correspondents really well. Actually I am a big fan of Richard Quest.
Check him out). I really think it's important to be on your own every
day if at all possible. Everyone deserves it. To you hubbies out
there, I say this: Give her some time on her own and she might like
you more or be nicer to you. I used to love it when my parents went
away. Being the youngest meant it was just me and them when I was in
high school. OK, I did trash the place and had some wild parties and
drank all the wine (one party lasted three days. People just kept
coming and going. Some I had never met) but it was great. To me
solitude now has a different meaning. I use this time to think,
practice, compose, read, whatever. But if you want to be a black belt
in solitude try sitting in a room and do nothing. That's hard but
extremely rewarding if you can pull it off. I think it's called
meditation. I am too highly strung to do that. It's on my list of
disciplines to try out. I heard about a custom practiced by native
Americans. Apparently, before they get married they sit in a room
together for a long time and look into each others' eyes without
saying a word. By doing this surely they have no choice but to say
everything, ask everything and answer everything. How many people
could you honestly say you would be comfortable doing this with? I
think it's worth a try. You might find out the truth that way. Or
better still, tell it. Maybe this is a "don't try this at home" kind
of thing. I don't know. Come to think of it, I don't have a clue what
this has to do with any of the above. I am rambling again.
So that's all I got for now. I hope you are all having a great summer.
I also hope you find the time to be alone whenever you can and just
relax. You deserve it. I am really looking forward to seeing some of
you in September for my little German outing. I miss you. Until
then...
Love always,
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