Sting returns to his roots for a pint in the pub

Apr 9 2010 The Journal

EVERY little thing he does is magic and his latest project is aiming to be another success.

Wallsend-born Sting returned to Tyneside this week with a playwright pal gathering information about his Geordie heartland.

And the pair dropped into a traditional Tyneside pub for a few pints to meet up with a group of folk music friends to get a real taste of Tyneside.

It is believed the writer is creating a play about the North East and its folk scene and Sting is showing him the Geordie hospitality.

The writer asked Sting to help him out and, on Tuesday, the son of a milkman dropped into The Central pub in Gateshead with a bunch of pals to give the playwright a night to remember.

Tony Brookes, managing director of Head of Steam, which owns The Central, said: “It was fantastic, Sting sang with renowned Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell and her brother Peter.

“The song was from his If On A Winter’s Night album and it was brilliant.

“Sting drank Guinness and enjoyed himself with friends and family.

“It was quite a night.”

Sting was born Gordon Sumner, in Wallsend, North Tyneside, in 1951. He was a teacher, football coach and ditch digger before he turned to music.

Since then he has been an enduring chart star, writing a string of best-selling hits.

He recently reformed The Police for a sell-out world tour, which raked in millions of pounds.

The private venue was organised by Miss Tickell, who is a friend of Sting.

She joined forces with the former Police frontman alongside 35 classical and traditional musicians at Durham Cathedral in October.

The world-class musician staged two concerts at the stunning building to launch his latest album.

It was the first time his new album of folk and traditional music had been played live.

But this week Sting returned back to the Tyne to show his playwright pal a piece of authentic Tyneside by staging an impromptu folk night in a “real” Geordie boozer.

Tony added: “Kathryn Tickell organised the night. There were about 40 people there, ranging from folk musicians to Tom Pickard, the famous North East poet, to a local historians and other folk people.

“Sting sang a song, and it was beautiful.

“I don’t know who the playwright was, but he was called Brian.

“He did say that the play was about the North East and was destined for Broadway.”