Luxembourg drummer Chris Maas embarks on tour with Sting

Expressing his gratitude and excitement, Maas took to Instagram on 11 March to announce his upcoming tour with the renowned English artist Sting.

Called 'Sting 3.0', Maas sheds light on the artist's decision to revamp his performance format: the previous 'Sting Live', with a seven-piece band, has evolved into a new format with Sting opting for a trio reminiscent of his roots with The Police.

Sting's iconic track 'Every Breath You Take' from 1983 marked the beginning of his illustrious career spanning over five decades. However, for Maas, it's 'Roxanne' that resonates the most. Reflecting on his connection to the song, Maas shares, "It's simply a song that I feel everybody knows when we play it… Although it's the song that [Sting] likes to play the least, because it's probably the one he played the most. But yeah, for me, Roxanne is simply the ultimate classic."

The collaboration between Sting and Maas, who has lived in London since 2005, first came about during the pandemic when Sting embarked on a promotional tour for his album, collaborating with local artists. Maas seized the opportunity, joining Sting for concerts in England and later stepping in as drummer for a performance in Miami.

Recalling the moment he was officially invited to join the '3.0' project, Maas shares, "I didn't have to hesitate for long to say that I would be very, very happy to be involved."

The tour, slated to kick off at the end of May in Dresden, will take Maas and Sting across Europe before crossing the Atlantic for shows in the USA in September.

A 'tough and difficult' career start

In his career as a professional drummer, Luxembourg native Chris Maas has shared the stage with notable acts such as The Pierces (who made the soundtrack for the series "Pretty Little Liars"), Sting, and Mumford & Sons. However, Maas's path to success was fraught with challenges.

Reflecting on his early years, Maas recalls the arduous journey: "It took a relatively long time. I moved away from Luxembourg in 2005, relocating to London where I pursued higher education for two years before landing my first tour opportunity." Despite its modest scale, lasting for only about two and a half weeks, this initial tour marked a pivotal moment for Maas, fulfilling a lifelong dream of touring. "That was why I had moved to London in the first place," he says.

Subsequent tours followed, gradually building Maas's reputation within the industry. From collaborations with Mumford & Sons to performances alongside Matt Corby, Example, and The Pierces, Maas has had the privilege of working with a diverse array of renowned musicians.

Among his cherished memories is a performance in Verona's ancient colosseum: "I think that was in 2016, and that was the first concert I brought my parents to Italy to see. That was a very special moment for me, to be able to show my parents what I do after all this time away from home. Playing that concert in front of them in a packed colosseum was a really special moment."

Although he is a constant collaborator for many of these artists, Maas has always shied away from committing to a single band: "I can work with 50 different artists in a year, record, tour, and do the same with producers, with other musicians etc… Especially as a musician, you can always benefit from that musical diversity.

"There are artists like Example, whom I toured with for a long time, which is basically hip-hop mixed with house. And then you have something like Mumford & Sons, which is more rocky and folky. Last year I was on tour with Maggie Rodgers in America for a whole year, which was more pop again. It's this musical variety that I really enjoy."