It’s been twenty-five years since the release of Sting’s first highly acclaimed solo album The Dream Of The Blue Turtles in June of 1985 (UK), and Sting is eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. He’s technically been eligible since 2007, twenty-five years after the release of his first solo single “Spread A Little Happiness” from the soundtrack album for the movie Brimstone & Treacle in 1982. Since The Police were inducted their very first year of eligibility (2003), it would be nice for Sting to share this honor as well on the silver anniversary of The Dream of the Blue Turtles.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination and induction process does not allow the general public or fans to have any say in the deliberations, and record and ticket sales aren’t the most important consideration either. Nominees are originally determined by a group of 30 to 35 music industry executives, who whittle the list of nominees to nine each year and then send out to another 500 to 600 people in the music business for a popular vote. The top five choices are the performers chosen for induction each year. You can find more detailed information on the nomination and induction process at Future Rock Legends here: http://www.futurerocklegends.com/Nominating_Process.php , including the list of executives comprising the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. According to the same website, Sting currently has a 53% chance of being voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame based on 792 total votes.
I’d like to start a fan-based petition to let the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame know how many fans support Sting’s consideration for this honor. It certainly couldn’t hurt to show how many fans are passionate about Sting’s music and support his induction. If you would like to help, please add your name and location as a comment to this post. You are welcome to additionally state why you think Sting should be inducted, but it is not necessary to be a participant in this petition. I will forward all the names to the President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation at a later date . Nominees will be announced sometime in September 2010, and I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that Sting is on that list!
Here is “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” from The Dream of the Blue Turtles in 1985.
I will start this petition off, Kathy Wheeler from Illinois in support!
Sting’s prolific work with The Police and as a solo artist is well known and documented; he has secured his place as a rock legend by selling over one hundred million records and garnering a multitude of awards over the years. But even more impressive is the time and energy Sting devotes to numerous charities in aid of the environment and our people worldwide. He has steadfastly remained dedicated to Amnesty International and The Rainforest Foundation for the better part of the last three decades and continues to give tirelessly to the most relevant and pressing social issues of our time.
Sting is well respected by his peers and highly regarded internationally. He is a musical force that has remained a positive influence over the last thirty years and shows no signs of slowing. My admiration for Sting continues to grow as the years pass. He will remain a bright star in our future, both as a musician and social activist. For these reasons I feel Sting is worthy of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Sting is well respected by his peers and highly regarded internationally. He is a musical force that has remained a positive influence over the last thirty years and shows no signs of slowing. He constantly tries new musical styles even if hampered by writer’s block!
The Rock Hall has to see that this is a smart move.
i think it’s time for sting to be inducted too, hes a legend!
sting is a legend!
There is no doubt that Sting is a master craftsman, both as a musician and certainly as a lyricist. He has written some of the best, most memorable, pertinent and timeless music of the 20th AND 21st century. Not one to sit on his laurels, he continues to challenge himself, trying new genres of music and challenging his fans’ to look beyond the predictable. It is time he was recognized for his incredible solo work in addition to his work with The Police.
Sting deserves to be inducted in the RaR HoF as a solo artist. He was inducted as an author, now he must be recognized as solo performer. He in one of the very few artist that, getting out an incredible successful band had the same glory on his own. He deserves to be inducted.
well 25 years of hard touring!! great music!!! sting is god!!!!!!!!!!
Stings music is known around the world. It has touched many lives in many ways & will be around for centuries to come! There is true passion in his words, & his works. He is most definetly the most creative artist I know.
Yes, he should be in!
It is time to have this wonderful artist inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame
Long overdue – Sting should be in already!
Yo, count my vote.
I agree
Sting has had a solo career a lot longer than he was with The Police. The songs he has written for his solo career are standards now. Fragile, Set Them Free,Be Still My Beating Heart,etc. He deserves a place in the Rock and Roll Hallk of Fame.
Icon -should be in no doubt about it. Amazing musician especially as a solo artist. It’s time!!!!
Sting’s music is unique, creative and driven. It has been used as a catalyst for change and promotes improvements in the world around us on a grand scale on the fund raising level (ex. Live Aid and Sting’s own Rainforest Foundation concerts). It also emits the ripple effect in which people’s lives have been positively illuminated by Sting’s influence through listening. It is rare that an artist has reached people to such an extent emotionally on so many levels and has so generously given of himself additionally. As a humanitarian and an environmentalist, Sting has donated millions of dollars out of pocket personally. Not only that but through concert fundraising efforts, personal appearances, auctions, mercandise sale proceeds, etc., the amount of money he has contributed to charity over the past 30 years reinforces the principles he continues to sing and write about as a solo artist. It seems only fitting to celebrate this achievement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at last. Kathy, thank you for this petition. Perhaps he will at last be knighted now as well!
Go For It! Good Luck!!!
Yes indeed – Count my Vote Please
yes Sting should be inducted! Sting rocks& when he doesn’t rock he has beautiful music and is quit the multi-talented musician. Its past time he should have already been inducted!
Induction of Sting as a solo artist to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is long overdue! National recognition of Sting’s work will serve as a historical imprint of impressionable music and lyrics that is unsurpassed. Current and future generations will admire and be inspired. Certainly, Sting’s exhibit would have to be periodically updated as he continuously produces unprecedented, beautifully hybridized music that parallels none.
Add Sting to the 2011 Inductee list. All this time, it’s about time!
Sting clearly qualifies as a candidate to be an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
He took an incredible risk of reinventing his pop songs from The Police into jazz and playing maller venues after having the biggest world tour in history at that time.
Sting is a pioneer and his performance of Roxanne at Live Aid on July 13, 1985 should be enough credit for him to be elected into the R & R Hall of Fame.
It was when I watched the TTTV documentary “Sting – An Unlikely Lad” and he said:
“Newcastle gave me far more than great teachers and mentors. I left to seek whatever was going to be my destiny almost three decades ago. I left with a guitar case and a bag of songs and not much else. But I also carried a secret weapon with me. I had this FIERCE REGIONAL PRIDE….something that as Geordies we all share … an ethic for hard work … certainly… for honesty … for dogged determination … for INDIVIDUALITY and mental toughness … I’m deeply proud of this community that nurtured me … and the idea that that community might be equally proud of me … well THAT creates a profound and overwhelming emotion in me. I’ve never forgotten who I am … I’ve never forgotten where I come from … I’m a Geordie … I’m proud to be a Geordie … and I’m happy and proud to be back home … Thanks, all of you.”
…that I knew he was THE MAN for the Honorary Doctorate of Music and his subsequent personal contributions to the cultural renaissance of North East England ie. Police reunion world tour, NCR, Durham Cathedral concert, Great North Run, Kathryn Tickell’s Surprise Party, postponed “Waters of Tyne” concert etc etc.
I first met Lucy Bird (Sage Marketing Director) on Valentine’s Day 2003 when The Sage was being built. I pointed at it from St. Mary’s Visitors centre and said “Those ARE The Soul Cages! You should get Sting to play the whole album in there”.
Lucy: “GREAT IDEA!”
…from NewcastleGateshead of course!
STING FOR PRIME MINISTER!!
Sting would be a very worthy ,deserving,and very humble inductee,the man’s a genius,Rock on Sting.
Willie is right Sting is a Genius.
16 Grammy’s, of which just 6 were with The Police – man this award is long overdue.
Also a knighthood wouldn’t go amiss!
He has brought us joy through his music for 25 years, this is a no brainer.
Sting is simply the best !
It’s high time
It high time
Agreed. A creative musical force of substance and longevity. Sting claims he’s here to learn and as he does he continues to grow and hone his craft with perfection. He’s a compassionate human being and yogi as well. Oh and let’s not forget, easy on the eyes.
Sting is an amazingly talented artist. Yes, Hall of Fame!
He an amazing artist his music is soo soothing he deserves to be in the hall of fame.
Sting definitely deserves this honor. He’s got my vote…:-)…Always has…Always will!
He absolutely should be in the R&R Hall of Fame. He’s a legend.
Any guy who changes his name from Gordon to Sting and gets away with it has my vote.
Absolutely Sting should be in the Hall of Fame.
From rock to reggae and from Synchronicity to Symphonicities, Sting’s music has remained relevant decade after decade. The ultimate storyteller, his masterful lyrics are unmatched. There’s no question he should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In fact, isn’t it time he was knighted, too?
Sting is definitely worthy of induction.
Leaving a truly talented musician/performer/singer/songwriter out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would be a true injustice!!
I can’t believe he’s not already in as a solo artist! This is a no brainer.
This is no question that he should be inducted. He is BRILLIANT!
How can there be a question of this he’s the best
That Sting is award winning, rock band renowned (The Police), socially and politically aware, generous and influential, goes without saying, and for our purposes here, beside the point. Sting’s remarkable solo career has produced some of the greatest music of the last 25 years. He is truly a master musician who has not relied on commercially acceptable or catchy tunes to garner success. He is a lyricist beyond compare. His musical intelligence and skill are undeniable. He possesses an amazing voice that has not faltered even after decades in the music business, instead, it remains haunting, rocking, soaring, melodic, beautiful, soulful and chill inducing. If that’s not enough, simply put, his music ROCKS! I love it. It actually makes me happy. He has created history with his fans based on genuinely good, well crafted songs and exceptional musicianship. He is the total musical package. Forget his insane confidence to leave the greatest band of its time at the peak of success. Forget his ability and curiosity with various musical genres. His solo career just rocks. The Dream of the Blue Turtles alone is proof enough, but there is so much more. You can induct him or not. As far as I am concerned he was inducted from day one! Make the right choice. Thanks!
Hi, I’m Dave from Chicago. I totally and enthusiastically support any effort to get Sting in the R&R Hall of Fame. He’s created more albums, done more live performances and brought joy to more people as a solo artist than during his Police days.
I just enjoyed his “Symphonicity” concert at Ravnia last night, and to see this capacity crowd, from little kids up to the elderly symphony set, all grooving and rocking to his tunes … most of them post-Police … was truly a joy to behold.
Lets make this happen!
Absolutely! I just saw him with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra here in Cincinnati and it was an amazing experience. I spent more than I usually do for a show to get very good seats and it was worth every penny.
Zeeeter adds his voice to the cause. It’s gotta be only a matter of time?!
Thanks to everyone for your comments. I’ve forwarded this petition and the responses on, so now we can cross our fingers and wait for the announcement of this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees, should be announced soon!
Better luck to Sting next year, he didn’t make the list of nominations for 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But you can find out who did here:
http://stingfield.com/blog/2010/09/29/sting-not-on-2011-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-nominations-list/
I think Sting’s music with And without his group, The Police, has always been incredible.
He belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without a doubt. His music has been a part of my life since I was a child; and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t listen to his music!
Thanks for your comments, Stephanie. I agree with you completely! We have a lot in common too, I consider Sting’s music the soundtrack to my life as I’ve been a fan since I was fourteen years old.
Without a doubt Sting belongs in the R&R HOF – for sure. What’s even more interesting though is that from Spread to Dream to Symph, he has made a concerted effort to simply produce “MUSIC” – not necessarily rock, or jazz, or adult contemporary or punk or classical or whatever. So in effect, if there was such a thing as a “Music” HOF, he would have to be the first one voted in. He has, with few exceptions, been able to write, sing and release so many widely-acclaimed, successful, thought-provoking, risky and fun songs for just about every musical genre or combination therof. All personal bias aside, I honestly cannot think of another musician who’s taken on so many different paths, especially as a solo artist after leaving an enormously popular band while in its heydey. McCartney comes to mind but he never wrote country songs or tried to play a lute that I can recall
I’m Italian (Sicilian), I’m 43, and I’m a Sting fan since I was 12…… I love him so much….and I wish he’s in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame soon. Ciao Kathy sei una grande….you’re great!
I’m Gabriela, 39 years old, from Argentina. Of course he should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame.
He definately belongs in Rock & Roll HOF!
Sting is not only the frontman of a significant band (The Police) which is already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but his solo work has continued for 26 years and counting. This is almost 8 times the run of The Police if my math is correct.
In addition to being a relevant artist that is still making music, performing, and drawing new fans, his philanthropic work is known worldwide.
Sting is deserving of induction due to the immense catalog of his solo body of work and his standing in the world community, both of which have rarely been rivaled.
I forgot to mention that during sting’s solo career, he has continued to chart hit singles, and as such has been a viable artist in the public’s eyes. The music -listening members of the world have continued to appreciate Sting’s work, follow him, support his tours, and value his name as a brand unto itself. He hasn’t simply been working for 26 years in obscurity since The Police. He has been at the top.
In a word, Sting is an “Icon!” His talent is recognized around the world by fans and fellow artists who value the beautiful music he creates. Whether that music be from the lyrical notes of the lute to that of rocking out on his bass, Sting has definitely accomplished the right to be honored in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame…:-)
Sting deserves the right to be included in the Rock & Roll Hall o Fame!!! What he has done for the music is increadible!!!