Sting hit it as big without The Police as he did with them. Anyone paying attention to radio, broadcast television or cable during the 1990's could not escape him. The Soul Cages, Ten Summoner's Tales, Bring On The Night and other albums brought the S man lots of attention, accolades and money. Few performers create the kind of musical presence that Sting does and that sells well. It seemed that Sting traded one pressure cooker for another, but now he was in the driver’s seat. There were no coequal band mates to give him any hassles. That may have been good and bad. Without anyone to apply the brakes except himself, S man could do whatever he wanted and as much as he wanted. However, on top of his paid gigs, everyone was after Sting to do charity events and say a few words on behalf of this cause or that. It must have been completely exhausting.
I think the defining moment of his fame as a solo performer during the 1980s and 1990s came at one of his concerts. I happened to see a video filmed for some project about the S-man. After finishing the concert, Sting came back stage. It appeared that he had turned in a long performance and already done one or two encores. He looked thin, almost frail, couldn't catch his breath, was bathed in sweat, had tight fitting clothes on and all but collapsed against a backstage wall. He was wearing at least four or five Cause Ribbons on his lapel and yet couldn't get anyone to bring him a bottle of cold water. Sting had become a tool used by the entertainment industry as much as a Craftsman of it. Perhaps that is what brought him back to the band that started it all.
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