Yahoo News Plymouth Summer Sessions: Sunday's line-up and what songs Sting and Blondie could play
Plymouth Summer Sessions concludes tonight with ex-Police frontman Sting headlining and support from New York new wavers Blondie. The fourth night of the TK Maxx-sponsored event is once again expected to draw a large crowd to the Hoe for more than four hours of musical fun.
Sting has recently been providing a few surprises with his new “power trio” line-up and Blondie will feature three original members plus Glen Matlock, an original Sex Pistol. Further support is provided by Germein. So here are some facts about each of the acts and what fans might expect from their setlists tonight:
Sting
Born Gordon Sumner 72 years ago in Wallsend, Sting became famous as a member of the Police which emerged from the punk explosion of 1977 to become one of the biggest bands in the world. A former teacher, Sting played jazz early on before teaming up with Stewart Copeland and Henry Padovani to form the Police in London.
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With Andy Summers replacing Padovani on guitar, and with Sting on bass and vocals, the band took a couple of years to make a mark but when their reggae-influenced sound broke through they had hit after hit. Moving more towards pop, they enjoyed their biggest hit, Every Breath You Take, in 1983.
The band broke up the following year and Sting embarked on a solo career which, combined with his Police sales, has seen the dad-of-six shift 100million records. Currently in the middle of his 3.0 tour, his new “power trio” line up features long-time guitarists Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas. His recent setlists have included a fair few Police numbers.
At his gig at Delamere Forest Park on Friday he performed 10 Police songs, starting the set with Voices Inside my Head and Message in a Bottle, with Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, Driven to Tears, Can’t Stand Losing You, Walking on the Moon, and So Lonely all featuring. He closed the set with King of Pain, Every Breath You Take and an encore of Roxanne and, one of his solo numbers Fragile. Other songs from his solo catalogue included If I Ever Lose My Faith in You, Englishman in New York, Fields of Gold, Never Coming Home, Mad About You, Why Should I Cry for You, Shape of My Heart and Desert Rose.
Blondie
Fronted by Debbie Harry, Blondie was formed in New York in 1974 and also made it big after getting a foot-up from punk and new wave. By 1978 they were genuine hit-makers and saw their sound encompass power pop, disco, reggae and even became one of the first white acts to employ rap.
The group, centred around Harry and her guitarist partner at the time Chris Stein, split up in 1982 after a flop album, with Harry going on to some solo success. Blondie reformed in 1997 and stormed back into the number one spot with Maria two years later - and 20 years after hitting the top with Heart of Glass.
The current line-up includes three original members with Harry and Stein joined by drummer Clem Burke with the touring band featuring Andee Blacksugar on guitar, Matt Katz-Bohen on keyboards and former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock on bass. Blondie will arrive in Plymouth after playing in Spain on Thursday.
That gig began with One Way or Another, followed by Hanging on the Telephone, Sunday Girl, Call Me, Living in the Real World, Will Anything Happen?, Atomic, X Offender, In the Flesh, Rapture, The Tide is High, Long Time, Maria, Heart of Glass, a Harry solo effort Dog Star Girl, and closed with Dreaming.
Germein
This pop group from Australia features three sisters: Georgia, Ella and Clara Germein. The band has supported Little Mix and released two albums: Because you Breathe, in 2013, and Germein, six years later. They have won awards in their native land. Songs include Good for a Girl, Talking, Suitcase and Knocking at my Door.
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