Sting reveals his real-life experience with prostitution that inspired Roxanne

18 May 2023 , 11:40

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Sting opened up on the inspiration behind his hit songs (Image: Getty Images)

Sting is known worldwide for being the singer-songwriter of some iconic tunes, including Roxanne and Every Breath You Take.

And now, the Geordie native, 71, has opened up on the true meaning behind a number of his classics as he gets ready to be recognised as a fellow of The Ivors Academy.

The British musician, who was the frontman and bass player for the Police, was discussing which song from his extensive catalogue was his favourite.

He joked it wasn't possible to choose just one, claiming "that's like asking me which of my kids I prefer".

Instead, he opened up on how each song marked a certain moment in his colourful life that he will alway remember.

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Speaking to People, the rocker - whose real name is Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner - described how his band's breakthrough tune was created after an unlikely pairing of inspirations of prostitutes and the 1897 Edmond Rostand play Cyrano de Bergera.

Sting has had a number of huge hits (AFP via Getty Images)

While playing in "half empty" halls on a European tour, the band stayed in a railway station in Paris. Sting explained the reason their accommodation was so cheap was because they had to "share it with ladies of the night".

"I'd had a pretty sheltered life up until that point," he confessed. "And I was kind of fascinated by the commerce. It was intriguing to me."

At the same time, he made a note of the wall advertising for the play which featured a woman by the name of Roxanne.

It was then he came up with the idea for their hit tune which went on to feature on their debut studio album.

He described how he came up with hit tune Roxanne (AFP via Getty Images)

"Those two conflicting ideas — of this beautiful name and this very, very elegant, courtly romance, and what was going on in the hotel — just lit a torch under me. I went to my room, picked up the guitar and imagined this woman into life."

He admits he still feels "very grateful" for the imaginary character and added songwriting remains his "self-therapy".

Explaining further meaning behind a number of his hits, the star told how 1983's Every Breath You Take was penned during a stay in a Jamaican property once owned by the author of the James Bond series, Ian Fleming.

He confessed he might have been more inspired by James Bond than he initially thought when creating the tune, adding: "Maybe the ghost of James Bond is in that song, you know?"

Jamie Roberts