Recently on holiday I read Sting's autobiography BROKEN MUSIC in a day and a half. I was intrigued as I kinda figured him a private person but I guess he wanted to write the definitive version rather than some hack.
It covers his life up till Police was formed. As you can imagine he writes really well.
The title comes from the story that he was playing [very badly] the piano in his grandmother's house and making a terrible racket. His grandmother shouted 'stop playing that broken music'.
I was truly amazed at his musical upbringing and grafting, something you just don't think about when you are presented with the Police image. He worked in a jazz band first and foremost at universities, social clubs etc., and evn played on P & O liners.
When I first heard Roxanne, I absolutely hated it and his wailing tenor voice .. I am now a huge fan and have practically everything he has recorded. I can listen to him endlessly but don't particularly like watching him perform and I am not too sure why as he is good to look at. The book tells how he came to write Roxanne.
The one song which finalised me as a lifelong fan was the timeless FRAGILE.
I hope he goes on to tell the rest of his story in a second book but I don't think somehow that he will, still this was well worth the time spent on it in a 2 day sunless spot in Portugal.
It was a test as I would like to read more musical and musicans biographies but was never sure if they were worth it or not.

Sting and my glasses!