Sting says today's rock is a bore, but life is a dream

BERLIN, Oct 19 (Reuters) British rock star Sting said contemporary rock music is so stagnant that he prefers to sing 16th century English ballads.

The former teacher who shot to fame as lead singer, bassist and composer in the 1970s and 80s for "The Police" told German newspaper Die Zeit that he prefers singing songs of Elizabethan lutenist and composer John Dowland to the rock music of today.

''Rock music has come to a standstill, it's not going forward anymore, it only bores me,'' Die Zeit quoted Sting as saying.

The 55-year-old singer, whose birth name is Gordon Sumner, had a string of hits with "The Police" with songs like ''Roxeanne'' and ''Don't Stand So Close To Me''. He has since also had a lucrative solo career with songs like ''Englishman in New York''.

''Forty years ago it was my dream to break out of Newcastle and never be poor again,'' he told the magazine.

''I'm very privileged. I'm a successful musician, live in a beautiful house, and have a wonderful family.'' REUTERS PR BD1753