Sting's A&E Concert Steel Guitarist: Who and Why?

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 25 Nov 2001 11:57 pm

I don't think B.J. cares a whole lot what a bunch of steel players think about his playing, he's too busy making music. I know I'm not going to defend Sting's music to this audience......

I know if I had the opportunity to record or play with the guy, I would jump at it, as have some of the best musicians in the world today. Just the opportunity to play with players like Christian McBride would be an amazing experience.

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www.tyacktunes.com

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 26 Nov 2001 5:21 am

I sure hope A&E will air it again, since I missed it

Sting is such a great musician and he surrounds himself with the best

Theresa

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 26 Nov 2001 8:23 am

I agree Sting is a great musician,A great entertainer and singer. He may well take the steel guitar into the future.

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CJC

[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 26 November 2001 at 01:06 PM.]

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 26 Nov 2001 8:55 am

It's NOT the instrument that fit's in a kind of music, it's the musician that plays it,with his view, background and "open" mind (here we go again).
And it's to the listener if he or she likes it, or not, matter of taste

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STEELDAYS 2002
my web-site
my bands CODand TSC

Steve England · Post by **Steve England** » 26 Nov 2001 8:56 am

"from his facial moves, he certainly enjoyed the music."

Yep that sounds like BJ to me

Sorry I missed it now. Can't stand Sting, but would have loved to have watched BJ.
[This message was edited by Steve England on 26 November 2001 at 08:57 AM.]

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 26 Nov 2001 10:08 am

Johan,
You said it!

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 26 Nov 2001 11:50 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>It's NOT the instrument that fit's in a kind of music, it's the musician that plays it,with his view, background and "open"
mind<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I couldn't agree more!!

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 26 Nov 2001 3:15 pm

Hey Steve E. "Can't stand Sting?" What can't you stand about him. He's an excellent musician on both acoustic & upright bass as well as a topnotch vocalist. I don't have any of his recordings and probably never will but I appreciate what he does and enjoyed that concert on TV.
As far as BJ goes, it's great to hear the steel like that. The steel guitar has been an important part of a lot of good rock/pop hit records for many years. Remember Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" or James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James" and a bunch of others. It's always the sweet E9 stuff though. You never hear any C6th things in other styles of music. Even Sneaky Pete who plays a version of B6th sounds like he's playing E9th on most of his recorded offerings.

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Have a good 'un! JH U-12

Chris Heinrich · Post by **Chris Heinrich** » 28 Nov 2001 9:24 pm

If Mr Cole happens to read this, Id like to apologize for being out of tune during the Jim White concert at Dingwalls earlier this year, I am a novice , yea, but I sound alot better on my new guitar(I hope). CH

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 29 Nov 2001 7:43 am

Last year I saw B.J. play in Austin at a late night Jam, he was fabulous. He had just gotten his new Williams U12 0r 14.

I have a good digital photo of him playing, but have no capabilities to post it. If anyone can do it, I will e-mail it to them so people can see it.

Thanks Craig

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 29 Nov 2001 8:02 am

I usually don't comment on subjects like this, but I have been a big fan of The Police and Stings solo music. His music is different than a lot of music that you hear these days. I applaude him for using a steel guitar in his compositions, and on national prime time television.

If we continue with the same old way of thinking, the steel will be a dead issue in a few years. Let's face it, a lot of cuts on Country radio don't have steel tracks on them now and thats where the steel is expected to be heard. What will the future bring for the steel guitar? Nothing, unless we change the way that people view the steel. It doesn't have to be heard in Country music anymore. Let's all help people realize that it is probably one of the last instruments that cannot be duplicated by a keyboard or other synthesized instrument. It's unique and CAN be used tastefully in other types of music. I hope that most of us feel the same way.

Chuck Norris · Post by **Chuck Norris** » 29 Nov 2001 8:53 am

Who said steel guitar was strickly a country instrument.You forgot to tell Paul Franklin,Maurice Anderson,Gary Hogue,UH,UH,UH Buddy Emmons.Oh and Led Zepilin,Rick Derringer,The Gratefull Dead,Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees, Paul McCartney,the Diar Straights The Allman Brothers, The Doobie Brothers, and Sting.The steel guitar is nothing short of an orchastra on a slab,and its potintial has not even been touched.
And by the way Theresa Gilbraith I have been
watching your comments on the Forum. YOU GO GIRL!!!

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 29 Nov 2001 9:03 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>And by the way Theresa Gilbraith I have been
watching your comments on the Forum. YOU GO GIRL!!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Where should she go?

(I would love to follow her

)
JJ

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STEELDAYS 2002
my web-site
my bands CODand TSC

Steve England · Post by **Steve England** » 29 Nov 2001 9:22 am

Hey Craig, where did you see BJ jamming in Austin, just wondering if I was there, saw BJ quite a lot on his last visit.

Jerry Hayes, in answer to your question. I'm sorry but I just don't like Sting, or (especially) the Police, never have, never will. I just find his music kind of annoying. It's still a free country I'm afraid

Also, he used to frequent a lot of the same places as myself in London in the mid-late seventies. He's just one of those people I took an instant dislike to. My comment about not being able to stand Sting was directed at the man and his music, NOT at steel being played in a non country setting. [This message was edited by Steve England on 29 November 2001 at 09:24 AM.]

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 29 Nov 2001 9:43 am

Way to go Mike Brown.Good thinking! -----bb

Al Gershen · Post by **Al Gershen** » 29 Nov 2001 1:12 pm

Hi SGF:

Here's Craig Stock's photo of B.J. Cole performing with the Sting band.

Regards,
Al Gershen
Grants Pass, OR

ps: Sting will be performing on the NBC Today Show with his band (maybe including B.J. Cole) on Friday, December 7th.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 29 Nov 2001 1:23 pm

Al, The Photo is actually from a Jam Session with the Shakin' Apostles in Austin Texas last March. The Acordion Player is Ponty Bone, the rest I don't know. Herb Steiner or B.J. Himself can probably fill us in(He's a Forum Member.

Sorry for the confusion. Craig

Buck Dilly · Post by **Buck Dilly** » 30 Nov 2001 5:21 am

Sting is a part of world music. He is intentionally bringing in instruments of diffrent cultural origins. He can afford to have a steeler around for the brief moments which he finds thi timbre essential. Any one of us would be honored to play in such a diverse band.

Al Gershen · Post by **Al Gershen** » 30 Nov 2001 1:21 pm

Hi SGF:

Here's a photo I received from Craig Stock which I believe is of him with B.J. Cole.

Regards,
Al Gershen

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 30 Nov 2001 4:11 pm

Yes, It is me and if you notice on B.J.s right shoulder is a leaning-over Herb Steiner.

That Texacali gig was sure fun. B.J. had been down to Luchenbach the day before and I bought him a Shiner Bock in a brown Bag, New York City style. I think there's some Texan in all of us.

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Regards, Craig