On a balmy moonlit night, in the courtyard of a Tuscan villa, 200 friends of rock star Sting gathered in silence to listen to the eagerly anticipated performance and live recording of the new CD All This Time. The concert was supposed to have been a celebration, and was to have included a live webcast to fans around the world.

Earlier in the day friends had phoned from New York to wish the singer well. From the top of the World Trade Center, to be precise. The date was September 11. And nothing would ever be the same again.

“Because of the events of today, this simply can’t be a joyous occasion,” said the heartbroken 50-year-old. Sting announced that he was only going to sing one song and then shut down the webcast transmission. A minute’s silence followed the song, Fragile, then Sting asked those gathered if the live performance should go on. The decision was unanimous – and the show went on.

"As the songs progressed, the mood changed and this sense of defiance came over all of us. It was just like, hey, we have a right to do this,” recalls the Grammy award-winning singer.

For the full interview with Sting along with stunning photos of the singer at the Tuscan estate where he recorded his new album, see this week’s HELLO! magazine, on sale now.