Sting, the 'sexiest pensioner on Earth', wows at Plymouth Summer Sessions show

Sting and his guitarist and drummer provided a mighty big sound on Plymouth Hoe
-Credit: (Image: Cuffe & Taylor)


We all laughed a few years ago when Sting got a bit TMI and revealed that he and wife Trudie Styler engaged in seven-hour tantric sex sessions. Well, who's laughing now? The man alternatively known as Gordon Sumner looked and sounded incredible when he rounded off the fourth and last TK Maxx presents Plymouth Summer Sessions on Sunday night.

He's 72 but you you could take a good 15 years off him. Where do you learn about tantric sex? I'm asking for a friend...

It was Father's Day so no better way to celebrate than with a bit of 'dad rock' with my eldest daughter. Leaving Cornwall a bit grey and overcast, it pains me to say it as a proud Cornishman but the sun was shining over the border and Plymouth Hoe was glorious in the late afternoon sunshine when Australian sisters Germein kicked things off in pleasant enough fashion with some Corrs-esque country pop.

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Then it was the turn of punk / new wave legends Blondie. Well, two of the original Blondie (singer Debbie Harry and drummer Clem Burke) and some very good support musicians, including Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock. It was singalong fun from the off - One Way Or Another, Hanging On The Telephone, Call Me, Atomic, Rapture, The Tide Is High, Maria, Heart of Glass ... perfect pop songs all.

Noting the location, Debbie asked us if we were all hoes ... well, we were in Plymouth (apologies, my Devonshire brethren). At 78, she still looks stunning. There have been some critical comments lately about Ms Harry's voice, but she sounded just fine especially when allowed to croon on the less frantic numbers. This wasn't just a legacy hits thing - Long Time, co-written with Blood Orange's Dev Hynes from 2017, sounded just as alluring as the classics, while a reboot of Debbie's solo song Dog Star Girl from 1993 was one for the hardcore fans.

She left women of a certain age in the crowd drooling by revealing that Sting was looking "very tanned". A break to explore the site, which was very well run, and has a good mix of bars and food pop-ups, and there he was. As Sting revealed, this was the first time he'd played in Plymouth since a gig by The Police at the long-gone Woods club in 1978. So there was a real sense of excitement in the crowd about this headline slot.

Sting - the sexiest 72-year-old on Earth - on stage at the Plymouth Summer Sessions
Sting - the sexiest 72-year-old on Earth - on stage at the Plymouth Summer Sessions -Credit:Cuffe & Taylor

Just a buff Sting on bass, guitarist Dominic Miller looking suitably rock'n'roll in a Jaggery way and drummer Chris Maas, the trio produced a hefty sound in a streamlined set of Police and solo songs - almost a 'best of'. I've got to admit I've always been a bit lukewarm about Sting, a bit worthy and middle of the road at times, but this show really won me over.

The Police's Voices In My Head kicked into Message In A Bottle and we were off. Synchronicity II - always a favourite with Police fans - followed, the grown-up pop of If I Ever Lose My Faith In You and the first real sing-along of the night, a wonderful Englishman In New York.

The voice is still strong and it's easy to forget what a good bassist Sting is - jazzy, funky, soulful and punky when he needs to be. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic next - and the line "And I ask if she'll marry me". "I will," shouted a woman next to me. He has that effect ... and he knows it. There were quite a few little winks and come-hither looks to members of the crowd. The sexiest pensioner on Earth? The Plymouth crowd thought so.

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We were treated to Fields of Gold, Driven To Tears, Walking On The Moon, Can't Stand Losing You, The Shape of My Heart, So Lonely, a truly great Desert Rose which got everyone dancing, King of Pain and the obligatory Every Breath You Take as a set closer.

Then he was back for the inevitable and mighty Roxanne before discarding his bass for flamenco guitar and a beautiful Fragile to send us happy into the night.

Those of us who live in Cornwall are spoiled for big name events now - Boardmasters, Live at The Wyldes, Eden Sessions, The Great Estate, Rock Oyster festival and Tunes In The Dunes to name just a few, but Devon has often missed out. So it's great to see the Summer Sessions bringing the likes of Tom Jones, Madness, Bryan Adams and Sting to the Hoe. Hopefully, next year there will be a few contemporary acts to attract a younger demographic.