AFTER sitting in the audience two nights running (at Live Theatre), Sting said he was glad he had a gig last night.

It would be back to doing one of the things he has always done best – performing in front of people.

Before going on stage he had said that working on his musical, The Last Ship, had “got me out of a paralysis”, meaning he could write things for other people to perform for a change.

“It frees me up,” he had elaborated.

On the other hand, he said, it had been difficult to sit in the dark at Live Theatre and watch others perform his work, including three or four established hits and some rousing new material.

I can vouch for that. He was sitting behind me on Friday and I could hear his fingers clicking throughout.

Last night, as his Back to Bass tour began its European tour, Sting was the centre of attention and in control again.

The American leg of the tour finished just before Christmas. A Sunday afternoon rehearsal got them in the groove again

Sting was introduced, in his fellow Geordie’s inimitable style, by Jimmy Nail – who, I learned earlier, calls Sting Gordon to wind him up. He then strode on purposefully in pale T-shirt and jeans.

With 25 years’ worth of solo material to dip in to, Sting needs a long set and this one was scheduled for two hours and 30 minutes with no interval.

After the weekend’s other diversions, this gig would be “cathartic”, he’d told me.

With not an ounce of fat on his body, this was a breeze. Everyone else might have welcomed an interval and a drink – but, hey, there was a lot to get through.

The 60-year-old lad from Wallsend explained how he’s inclined to write the music first and take it for a walk, whereupon the lyrics fall into place.

Last night’s perambulation spanned the genres, with the beautiful ballad Fields of Gold followed by the sinuous Sacred Love and Ghost Story, a “song about my daddy”.

Jazz and the blues have clearly been a major influence but there was a strong Country element last night which brought to the fore the dynamic young Peter Tickell on fiddle.

Peter got a standing ovation after one show-stopping moment and could well be another North East musician destined (deservedly) for the big time.

Song followed song, the rockier, better known ones bringing people at the front of the hall to their feet.

There were brief anecdotes and explanations in between – references to Wallsend and Elswick and the Newcastle Quayside Sunday market where he walked once with his dad and yesterday with his youngest daughter.

There was something for everyone – except those who like an interval!