BANGALORE: British rock star Sting enthralled more than 10,000 Indian fans in the southern city of Bangalore on February 4 in a concert to raise money for tsunami relief.

Fans in Sting-autographed T-shirts packed into the grounds of Bangalore Palace to hear the 54-year-old musician belt out hits including “Message in a Bottle,” “Roxanne” and “Desert Rose”.

Copies of Sting’s autobiography “Broken Music” and other memorabilia were almost sold out at the concert, a spokeswoman for organisers DNA Networks said. “The T-shirts and memorabilia including posters were lapped up. ‘Broken Music’ received an overwhelming response. It was almost sold out,” spokeswoman Sandhya Mendonca said.

Sting is also to perform in New Delhi on Sunday. DNA Networks says part of the funds raised from the concerts will go to assist tsunami victims in India where more than 16,000 people died in the December 26 tragedy.

The performer has a legion of fans here. “He has the ability to make one laugh and cry,” said K Karthik, 26, a software professional with an IT services firm. “He is a favourite for all seasons.” Another fan, K Neeraj, 38, said he has been influenced by Sting for the past 20 years.

“I have been listening to him for long and this is the first opportunity where I see the man perform live,” said Neeraj, a research and development manager. “As he gets older his music is getting more and more spiritual and interesting to me,” he said. — AFP