It was in 1988 that Sting smashed the music world with his album Brand New Day.

With harmonica accompaniment from Stevie Wonder in the title track, he couldn't go wrong.

The album was hailed as a triumphant return for Sting, and now it seems he is primed for yet another triumphant return with new rock album 57th & 9th.

With so much musical talent disappearing, Sting felt it only appropriate to pay tribute to late music icon Prince in his song 50,000.

He penned the track the week of Prince's death. In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, he said "It’s a comment on how shocked we all are when one of our cultural icons dies. Prince, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Lemmy: they’re our gods, in a way."

Sting continued "when they die, we have to question our immortality. Even I, as a rock star, have to question my own."

The album is still a working progress but will feature songs about climate change and the immigrant crisis.

Never one to follow convention, Sting's production routine on this album has been unusual. Working with a small troop of musicians including his touring drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, guitarist Dominic Miller, Jerry Fuentes and Diego Navaira of the Last Bandoleros, Sting arrives daily with no prepared material, preferring to write on the spot.

A creative choice Sting told Rolling Stone he prefers as "It raises the tension, because everything costs money."

The world of Rock has changed significantly since Sting won two Grammy Awards for his 1988 album, so it will be interesting to see how it is received.

Either way, fans will no doubt be delighted to see his return to rock.