You forgot his massive sense of self-importance.

I liked the version of this included on the CD - not least for a brilliantly minimalist solo by Larry Adler.

There is that too ?

And going back to The Police, you won't find many people who can sing and play bass (sometimes fretless) like Sting did. This is a nice guitar part

peterleroux wrote: And going back to The Police, you won't find many people who can sing and play bass (sometimes fretless) like Sting did. This is a nice guitar part

I used to think that singing and playing bass was an impressive feat - but people have been saying that since Paul McCartney at least and so maybe it's more common than we think. Jack Bruce, Nick Lowe, Rick Danko, Phil Lynott, Geddy Lee and James Dewar are a few more examples off the top of my head.

Not to take away from Sting, who laid down some great vocals, but for me the most interesting aspect of the Police was Stewart Copeland's drumming.

I'm not a huge fan of his solo stuff, which is mostly self-indulgent with aspirations to be taken seriously as a jazz artist, but Shape of my Heart and Fragile are both well worth learning. Both guitar parts by Dominic Miller, IINM.

X-rated Bob wrote: I used to think that singing and playing bass was an impressive feat - but people have been saying that since Paul McCartney at least and so maybe it's more common than we think. Jack Bruce, Nick Lowe, Rick Danko, Phil Lynott, Geddy Lee and James Dewar are a few more examples off the top of my head.

Geddy Lee in particular is pretty mind-blowing. His ability to play and sing two different rhythms always gets me. But most singing bassists chug away on eighth notes. Sting at least comes in behind the beats and usually on the two - but then he does the same thing vocally too. But that's typically ska.

Not to take away from Sting, who laid down some great vocals, but for me the most interesting aspect of the Police was Stewart Copeland's drumming.

For me too. Although Copeland couldn't have done what he did if Sting or Summers had been more traditional, busier players. A lot of their stuff is difficult to pull off on only one instrument and you end up combining bass and guitar parts and even then the arrangements can feel sparse without the drums.