LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The singer in the Police jumps like a "petulant pansy," the drummer is making a "complete hash," and who knows what the guitarist is doing?

Notes from a bitter critic? Actually, it's a disarmingly frank concert review from the aforementioned drummer of the newly reunited rock trio.

A philosophical Stewart Copeland unleashed his vitriol in a posting on his Web site on Thursday, a day after the band played its second show in Vancouver, the Canadian city where it began its first world tour in more than 20 years on Monday.

Full Article at http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN2247412520070601

Wow. I still wish I could go see them, though! I wish I had the funds...

Coincdentally enough, I was listening to a live version of "Message in a Bottle" on the radio this morning, and it sounded like Summers was having a hard time with the guitar riff. It's actually very hard to play, but he was making some noticeable stutters and stumbles! I don't know what year the recording was from, though.

I love this quote: "Screw it, it's only music. What are you gonna do?"

Yeah, it's only music. Nevermind the fact that they are charging a king's ransom for tickets. As soon as I heard in a Andy Summers interview that they are changing the drum patterns and keys on the songs, I was so glad that I didn't get sucked into buying tickets.

"We are the mighty Police and we are totally at sea."

That makes them the Coast Guard!


Badump, bump.



OK, that was bad...

i am going to the dallas texas shows on june 26-27. i cant wait

i am going to the dallas texas shows on june 26-27. i cant wait

Me too :)....well Wednesday's anyhow.

Phew! That is painful to read. I hope things go better for them.

Stewart seems given to making really bold and stark statements when interviewed - or when his words are known by him to be reaching the masses. I think he likes to stir the pot.

As a matter of fact, I would be interested if anyone can find an interview or article where Mr. Copeland does NOT say something that can be taken as harsh or otherwise offensive.

All that aside; from the angle of a musician who knows how terrible it feels when things go wrong on stage, I feel for the group as a whole for having to go through that.

As for his comment, "...it's only music..." - well, whatever gets you though the night, Stew, and had that comment stayed backstage as you, Sting and Andy helped each other get over the rotten show, it would be a perfectly fine way to think of what just happened. But in light of the fact that tickets to watch what your fans hoped would be a show WORTH THE INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY PAID TO SEE IT, well, the statement is a little wrong-headed. It should probably have been more like, "Man, that sucked and we really ripped off that crowd. Maybe we should consider making it up to them somehow. Another show - free - money back - something."

I will stick with my memories, thanks. Today's reality is just too disappointing.

Phew! That is painful to read. I hope things go better for them.

Stewart seems given to making really bold and stark statements when interviewed - or when his words are known by him to be reaching the masses. I think he likes to stir the pot.

As a matter of fact, I would be interested if anyone can find an interview or article where Mr. Copeland does NOT say something that can be taken as harsh or otherwise offensive.

All that aside; from the angle of a musician who knows how terrible it feels when things go wrong on stage, I feel for the group as a whole for having to go through that.

As for his comment, "...it's only music..." - well, whatever gets you though the night, Stew, and had that comment stayed backstage as you, Sting and Andy helped each other get over the rotten show, it would be a perfectly fine way to think of what just happened. But in light of the fact that tickets to watch what your fans hoped would be a show WORTH THE INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY PAID TO SEE IT, well, the statement is a little wrong-headed. It should probably have been more like, "Man, that sucked and we really ripped off that crowd. Maybe we should consider making it up to them somehow. Another show - free - money back - something."

I will stick with my memories, thanks. Today's reality is just too disappointing.

they didnt exactly do a bad show on purpose......

As someone who was actually at that show, I didn't think that they were too bad. In fact, my wife and I thought they were awesome.

I think someone's being a little hard on themselves.

Lyle

Never has there been a better case of "shut up and play." Every time I see one of the recent Police interviews, it has struck me how completely grating I find Stewart Copeland's personality to be. Absolutely fabulous drummer (one of my faves) yet a seemingly overbearing loudmouth.

Lonnybass

Ouch. Hold it together for a two weeks guys...I'm going to the Oakland show.

They can make some mistakes and I'll love the show. They're still The Police. I've been wanting this since middle school.

Marshall

Stewart...not unlike his brother....has never really been accused of being accessible, or even likeable. :) I still love him though.

Changing keys? Changing feels? I'm all for it! Great songs made even better by a fresh approach.

Without hearing it, I can't say...obviously...but I have a hard time believing Andy Summers messed up on 'Message...' Tried something new, maybe, but not messed up. He's a pretty solid musician.

These guys always remind me how important it is to just enjoy the music. The compositions undoubtedly stand the test of time, and are as great today as they were back in the old days. Even if I more-or-less just giggle at Gordon and Stewart as human beings, I'm grateful for the music.

"The band's next show is set for Saturday in Edmonton."

Oh, boy. Wish me luck.

I like the Police, but dislike Copeland. I have seen several live footage segments where he ruins the song by playing at Warp 9.

This is bound to happen. They haven't been on the road together in years. I'm sure the crowd noise is deafening, and then you add in sound problems and it's easy to screw up. Compared to some of the down-right awful performances I've seen from bands that are still together and have no excuse, such as the RHCP, these guys deserve a break.

wow. I guess when you take a bunch of guys who are over the hill and used to good life, settling back on their laurels at concerts in theirs mansions and half a million dollar studio sessions, and you ask them to unleash some unadulterated, unpolitical, raw sounds that they created some 30 years ago. Well, it's hard for them.

I Believe it. And I absolutely LOVE The Police.

Well, after Stewart Copeland played alongside Stanley Clarke in Animal Logic, settling for Sting could be hard...

Doesn't sound that dissimilar to the talk in a locker room when you are behind by a few touchdowns or baskets. I love The Police and I expect that they will tighten things up a bit.

Maybe I'm just not as...well versed as everyone in this thread, because I didn't take that as a rant of someone who played terrible and doesn't care, I see it as the rant of someone who made some amateur mistakes that they normally never would. Are tickets a s**t-ton? Yeah, but that doesn't mean that the shows won't be amazing, even with flubs.


Are we as musicians always harder on ourselves than anyone else? Don't we notice our mistakes before everyone else?

As for his comment, "...it's only music..." - well, whatever gets you though the night, Stew, and had that comment stayed backstage as you, Sting and Andy helped each other get over the rotten show, it would be a perfectly fine way to think of what just happened. But in light of the fact that tickets to watch what your fans hoped would be a show WORTH THE INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY PAID TO SEE IT, well, the statement is a little wrong-headed. It should probably have been more like, "Man, that sucked and we really ripped off that crowd. Maybe we should consider making it up to them somehow. Another show - free - money back - something."
That may be one of the dumbest things I've ever read of here. It's not like they Axl Rose'd the thing, and bailed after 10 minutes. They still played a show that I'm sure was worth every penny, even with some mistakes they were bound to make eventually. They owe no one a make up show.

And plus, he is right...it is only music. That means it doesn't have to be perfect.

Well, after Stewart Copeland played alongside Stanley Clarke in Animal Logic, settling for Sting could be hard...

That, and after Sting hires Vinny Coliauta (Sp?) and tells him to play "Seven Days" as if he were Stewart as a big F you to his old group... I'm as convinced of that as I am of my own existence- even Dominic sounds like Andy in parts of that tune. Could have been lifted from Zenyatta or Ghost.

... I was relieved to read this blog entry by stew... it showed no matter who you are and how big you get - bad gigs will happen and sometimes things just don't "sync".
It was refreshing to me and made me feel good ( especially coming off of an "off night" at a gig). Even punk/reggae gods like The Police have off nights. And you know their off nights are little things ...things that only the band members know... but not an audience pumped with adr and alc not really listening but absorbing. We've all been there from your first McCartney/Yes concert in the 70's:Motorhead/ Slayer concert in the 80's to Miller, Reid, etc .... in the audience you don't "hear" the mistakes the band makes.... but on the stage you def hear every wrong note and beat... and cringe. I was smiling reading stew's blog. Smiling because I knew it wasn't a bash (like the mass media wants it to be) at his bandmates but at his observations of being a musician in a band. Simple and said.

Well, they did a bloody good show in Edmonton tonight.

Compared to some of the down-right awful performances I've seen from bands that are still together and have no excuse, such as the RHCP, these guys deserve a break.

Makes me mad to pay 190€ (the cheapest ticket you can get in Barcelona -closest place to home-) to watch a sad version of The Police.

By the way (and sorry in advance, RHCP lovers) I've never seen a RHCP show that was worth of what I paid for it in whole-band performance terms. The closest to my linking was one in the "One hot minute" tour (with Dave Navarro). John Frusciante is definitely a studio musician (meaning he totally sucks live -mind their live DVD's, where cameras stay away from his guitar almost all the time in order not to evidence the almost entire audio overdubing they have to make-, not only screwing up each 3 measures, but he also sounds like sh*t). And Anthony (studio musician #2), what can I say? Semi-decent rapper, awful singer, can't sing in tune even if his life depended on it. OTOH, Chad and Flea are a charm to watch and listen to and they put power to an otherwise terrible live act.

No offense, but let's put things in perspective, when people pay what they pay for a major live act, it has to be unquestionable. Once you watch much more modest live acts that totally kick some major guys' butts (oldies: Rush, Toasters, Fishbone, Living Colour, Brian Seltzer, Depeche Mode, The Who; newer: Billy Talent, Lagwagon, Mad Caddies) you, as a consumer, start claiming to get what you pay for (a good show, both visually and sonically) and not just a huge brand name. Sorry to rant this much, it's just that I feel scammed too often (too expensive tickets for some really terrible shows).

ANDRUCA

Its cool to see someone like Stewart say they sucked...makes me making mistakes seam somehow OK. Les Claypool said in an interview when playing with Steward although he is a very talented drummer he is also a very hard drummer to play with...due to the fact he never plays a song the same way twice.I thought that was very odd for a drummer of his caliber.

I was at the Edmonton show on Saturday night and thought it was fantastic. Yes, there were still plenty of clams like the Vancouver shows. Seeing Sting on the jumbotron mouthing the words "well, I missed that" after he booted a vocal cue on Synchronicity 2 was pretty obvious..but still, it was a great show. Andy had another challenging night but he lit it up when he had to.

With some of the rearrangments that were done you could see that they were watching each other a lot to pick up some of the cues. I loved seeing that, that they were flying by the seat of their pants a bit. Who here can say they don't do that.

I appreciate Copeland's comments. You call 'em like you see 'em. Still, if they are going to be near you on this tour, go see them, it's a great show and I learned a whole new appreciation for Sting's bass playing seeing it live. Very tasteful.

In my experience, unless you mess up *really* bad, no one in the audience notices except for other musicians. I'm sure in this case he's just using what's known as a "self-deprecating sense of humour."

In my experience, unless you mess up *really* bad, no one in the audience notices except for other musicians. I'm sure in this case he's just using what's known as a "self-deprecating sense of humour."

The truth.

we could either hear nonsensical rhetoric from Copeland, or we could actually hear what is on his mind. This buisness, like politics, is too full of people trying to say the right thing. I for one appreciate a look into the real, rather than taking a page from EW weekly.

a friend of mine was at that vancouver show, and said they were phenomenal...

"We are the mighty Police and we are totally at sea."

That makes them the Coast Guard!


Badump, bump.



OK, that was bad...

What the hell was that? :eyebrow:

Come on, guys. Each member of the Police is a undeniable perfectionist. What may 'suck' to them would be considered phenomenal by just about anybody else.

Come on, guys. Each member of the Police is a undeniable perfectionist. What may 'suck' to them would be considered phenomenal by just about anybody else.

That's true, indeed. Also remember that some of Stewart's comments are pretty well made just to get a rise out of people. Who remembers "jazz is the last refuge of the talentless?"

Trust me, they are not sucking at all on this tour. At least not in Edmonton.

I'll be seeing them next month in St. Louis, and I'll be sure to give a full report after. :)

I'll be seeing them in Dallas in a couple weeks. Hope they've got the kinks ironed out of their show by then.

I absolutely LOVE how blunt Copeland is.

Its cool to see someone like Stewart say they sucked...makes me making mistakes seam somehow OK. Les Claypool said in an interview when playing with Steward although he is a very talented drummer he is also a very hard drummer to play with...due to the fact he never plays a song the same way twice.I thought that was very odd for a drummer of his caliber.

I've been there, man. You can't control the really good ones.

this is cool - now i won't feel so bad when i flub a measure or two on stage. i can just look at my band mates and say, "it's just music".

What the hell was that? :eyebrow:
An ocean-oriented guy like you didn't get the joke? :rollno: :D

Edit: That must mean you didn't read the article offered in the OP.

btw, as a resident of SoCal, when you see "OP", don't you think Ocean Pacific just for an instant?

if you think Copeland is blunt, read Andy Summer's book on the group. Interesting. Hard to believe they agreed to go on this tour given all that's been said. But MONEY TALKS and none of them are exactly setting the world on fire on their own any longer.