Few bands in history have influenced as many musicians as The Beatles. Their groundbreaking work in the 1960s inspired entire generations to pick up guitars, form bands, and explore songwriting. One of those musicians was Sting, the frontman and bassist of The Police, who openly admits that without The Beatles, his own career may never have happened.
A Shared Background with The Beatles
In a 2021 interview with YouTube music personality Rick Beato, Sting explained the profound connection he felt with The Beatles growing up in Newcastle.
“I’m glad you mentioned the Beatles because the reason I’m a musician is because of the Beatles,” Sting said.
He highlighted the cultural similarities between himself and the Fab Four:
- Both The Beatles and Sting came from northern English port towns (Liverpool and Newcastle).
- They were working-class kids who managed to pursue higher education through scholarships.
- They were proof that “smart working-class kids” could change the world through music.
For Sting, The Beatles weren’t just global superstars—they were role models who showed that people from his own background could succeed on the world stage.
The Beatles’ Influence on a Generation
Sting also noted that The Beatles’ success gave younger musicians permission to believe they could follow in their footsteps.
“They conquered the world with their own songs, and therefore gave permission to a younger generation… to try the same thing. [We thought] ‘Oh we’ll try that, I know those four chords – I could do that, probably.’ And we all tried. We owe a lot to the Beatles, they really were an amazing influence on all of our lives.”
The Beatles’ mix of innovation and accessibility set a blueprint for aspiring musicians. For Sting, their example was the catalyst that set him on the path toward becoming one of the most iconic figures in rock.
Sting’s Favourite Beatles Songs
During the same interview, Sting and his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller were asked to choose their favourite Beatles tracks.
- Sting selected “Blackbird” and “Penny Lane,” both written by Paul McCartney.
- Miller chose “A Day in the Life,” the groundbreaking Lennon-McCartney collaboration that closed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
These choices highlight Sting’s admiration for McCartney’s melodic brilliance and storytelling, qualities that clearly influenced his own songwriting.
McCartney’s Admiration for Sting
Interestingly, the admiration has gone both ways. In 2018, during an interview at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Paul McCartney was asked if there were songs he wished he had written himself. His answer?
“I liked Sting’s Fields of Gold, and I thought: ‘Y’know what, I should have written that.’ I told him: ‘You stole my song.’”
For McCartney to single out one of Sting’s most beloved ballads was a powerful moment of mutual respect between two generations of British songwriting legends.
Sting responded with heartfelt gratitude on Twitter:
“Paul McCartney says he wishes he would have written Fields of Gold. There are more than a few of Paul’s that I wish I would have written. To hear this from someone I owe my life to is very special. Thank you, Paul.”
From The Beatles to The Police
Sting’s acknowledgment of The Beatles’ influence is a reminder of how deeply their legacy runs through modern music. While The Police developed a distinct sound that blended rock, reggae, and punk influences, the inspiration Sting drew from The Beatles’ confidence in songwriting and experimentation is undeniable.
Just as The Beatles inspired him to start, Sting and The Police went on to inspire another wave of musicians in the late 1970s and 1980s with hits like “Roxanne,” “Every Breath You Take,” and “Message in a Bottle.”
Conclusion
For Sting, The Beatles were more than just a successful band—they were the reason he chose to become a musician. Their working-class roots, fearless songwriting, and global impact gave him and countless others the courage to follow their own musical paths.
In turn, Sting’s career—both with The Police and as a solo artist—has added another chapter to the story of how The Beatles’ influence continues to shape music across generations.
As Sting himself put it: “We owe a lot to the Beatles, they really were an amazing influence on all of our lives.”
