The Meldrum Tapes- Molly Meldrum Interviews Sting- 1986

A segment from the Australian music interview TV series The Meldrum Tapes, of which 24 episodes aired on the ABC in 1986. The Meldrum Tapes featured full length interviews that Countdown Talent Co-Ordinator, Ian 'Molly' Meldrum, conducted over his many overseas trips during the Countdown years, which aired on the ABC from 1974-1987. Where Countdown would feature a small part of the interview (constrained due to time), The Meldrum Tapes aired the interviews in full. This clip features an interview of British singer Sting, conducted by Countdown Talent Co-Ordinator Molly Meldrum. The interview begins with a discussion about criticism Sting has received about his music having tainted the purity of "Black music", which Sting responds by expressing his belief that differing music forms should be combined, otherwise the individual forms die. Sting also discusses the challenge in writing a song about various political and social issues. Sting also discusses using the concert audience in his music. He also discusses some of his most memorable concerts. Molly and Sting then discuss how his moviemaking affects his music. They also discuss the past year he has had, and what he will be doing in the future, and whether he is likely to do another concert tour with The Police. Vaxfacts: Sting (real name Gordon Sumner) got his stage name from a bandleader he played jazz with in the late 1970s, when Sting once wore a sweater with hooped black and yellow stripes. The bandleader, Gordon Solomon, thought he looked like a bee, and thus the name Sting stuck.