Starsailor Get Help From a Rolling Stone, Hang With the Police

When Starsailor finished their set in Zurich, Switzerland recently, they received a very special nod of approval. "We played with the Police, and Sting was at the side of the stage when we came off," frontman James Walsh tells Spinner. "He said, 'I really enjoyed your set and I'm looking forward to seeing you at the Isle of Wight.'"

Having Sting standing in the corner watching might overwhelm some bands, but Walsh says Starsailor doesn't get nervous anymore. "It's still a bit of a thrill to have legends like that watching us. [But] we kind of got used to it," Walsh says. "The highlight for us was when we played with the Rolling Stones and a couple of members of that band were at the side of the stage. Mick Jagger told us that he bought our first record."

Also representing the Stones at the side of the stage that night was guitarist Ron Wood. As a result of that show, Wood lends slide guitar to 'All the Plans We've Made,' the potential title track of Starsailor's forthcoming CD. "It was really cool to have him down at the studio," Walsh says. "He was only in for an hour. He came in, did a couple of takes and that was it. But we made sure we got a couple of pictures."

Meanwhile when Starsailor return to America for a tour, there's yet another icon they'd like to rub elbows with. "When Bono decides to get the boys back together for a tour, we'll be throwing our hands up to do the leg," Walsh says. "I think the missing piece in the jigsaw is a tour like that in the States. That would be a dream come true."