Police Reunion Buzz

Max · #1 01-05-2007, 10:22 AM

From pollstar.com

"Police Reunion Buzz Builds
Updated 01:36 PST Fri, Jan 05 2007
The rumor mill is cranked up to full volume on the subject of a long awaited Police reunion for 2007. According to the British tabloid press, the band is planning to reunite for a U.S. and U.K. tour to commemorate their 30th anniversary.
Of course, the tabloids also allege that rehearsal dates have been planned, tour dates are being finalized for May and June, and a formal announcement is looming.
Calls by Pollstar to various sources resulted in no new information or even confirmation of the rumors. However, the following nebulous message attributed to a spokesperson at Interscope Geffen A&M Records, the band's label, was posted January 3 on Sting's web site:
"As the 30th anniversary of the first Police single approaches, discussions have been underway as to how this will be commemorated. While we can confirm that there will indeed be something special done to mark the occasion, the depth of the band's involvement still remains undetermined."

I can be cynical in terms of reunions, but I think a Police reunion would be awesome. I don't begrudge them the enormous amount of money they would make either on a tour. These guys have such enormous musical talent, anything they did together, even if it was a greatest hits tour, would be great.

Christopher · #2 01-05-2007, 11:08 AM

"According to the British tabloid press..." doesn't hold much credibility, unfortunately.

Max · #3 01-05-2007, 11:20 AM

At least the quote from the Sting website is accurate.

This was a yahoo news article on the 3rd that has some credibility:

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Rumors are swirling that the Police will reunite for 2007 dates in England and the United States, which would be the rock trio's first since disbanding in 1986.

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Sources told Billboard.com the reports -- in the British press -- were legitimate, but they would not publicly comment until final details are nearer to completion.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of "Roxanne," the single that broke the Police in the United States. In a statement issued last month, A&M Records said, "It is our intention to mark the anniversary by doing something special with the band's catalog of songs. Needless to say, everyone is hopeful the band will support our plans and while early discussions have taken place, nothing has been decided."

Sources say in addition to DVD releases, A&M is planning another multi-disc collection in the vein of 1993's "Message in a Box," which featured the band's complete studio recordings and a handful of rarities.

A Police reunion has been the concert industry's dream for two decades, as it is believed the band could play stadiums internationally should it choose to reunite. But besides an impromptu set at Sting's 1992 wedding to Trudie Styler, the Police's only other post-breakup performance was in celebration of its 2003 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And while Sting has repeatedly expressed reluctance at reuniting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers have kept the flame alive. This summer, Summers told Billboard he was certain the group could have continued past its 1983 commercial peak with "Synchronicity."

"The more rational approach would have been, 'OK, Sting, go make a solo record, and let's get back together in two or three years,"' he said. "I'm certain we could have done that. Of course we could have. We were definitely not in a creative dry space. We could have easily carried on, and we could probably still be there. That wasn't to be our fate. It went in another way. I regret we never paid it off with a last tour."

Reuters/Billboard

I've also always speculated if Sting's career cooled somewhat he would do a reunion.

**baba** · #4 01-05-2007, 11:22 AM

It is a fact. A week or two ago someone responsible for booking an American venue gave me the heads up. It's on.

**smperry** · #5 01-05-2007, 12:50 PM

If it's on, I'm there without a doubt.

There's another TB thread here:
The Police - Comeback?

Marshall

Spector_Ray · #6 01-05-2007, 01:09 PM

I would love to see The Police since I didn't get to see them before. As long as Sting doesn't try to redo the classics like the hideous Don't Stand So Close to Me '86, it'll be awesome.

**smperry** · #7 01-07-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spector_Ray

I would love to see The Police since I didn't get to see them before. As long as Sting doesn't try to redo the classics like the hideous Don't Stand So Close to Me '86, it'll be awesome.

I agree with that...although I do like his versions of Shadows in the Rain and I Burn For You.

M

Peter Squire · #8 01-07-2007, 10:49 PM

Not surprising since Sting's career seems to have stalled.
Same thing with Phil Collins - as soon as the solo career bombs, it's back to the reunion tours...

But as for the Andy Summer quote above, it was my understanding that there was quite a bit of bad blood between Sting and Copeland toward the end. Correct me if I'm wrong.

MakiSupaStar · #9 01-08-2007, 01:36 AM

I recently re-discovered the Police after writing them off when I was in the sixth grade. This was after seeing Stewart Copeland play with Les Claypool and Trey in Oysterhead. That dude is a monster drummer. IMHO I think Sting's stuff is WAY more interesting with the Police than solo.

sunbeast · #10 01-08-2007, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

I recently re-discovered the Police after writing them off when I was in the sixth grade. This was after seeing Stewart Copeland play with Les Claypool and Trey in Oysterhead. That dude is a monster drummer. IMHO I think Sting's stuff is WAY more interesting with the Police than solo.

Yeah, Stewart Copeland definitely brought alot of interesting layers to rock drumming- he really was the perfect drummer for the minimalistic basslines that Sting usually played as well.....Altogether, I think they were a fantastic and important peice of the whole rock and roll timeline! I would definitely love to see them play...

Karl

keb · #11 01-08-2007, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

IMHO I think Sting's stuff is WAY more interesting with the Police than solo.

Yeah, Andy Summers, in his book, describes this as giving Sting's compositions the "Police treatment." Heck, for "Every Breath You Take", Sting told Andy to "make the song his own" when it came time for him to do the guitar part (and so made add9 chord history.)

Don't get me wrong, I love Sting's solo stuff as well (especially the Soul Cages album), but for giggles I sometimes like to imagine how those songs might have sounded after going through the Police filter.

Bass Viking · #12 01-08-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keb

Don't get me wrong, I love Sting's solo stuff as well (especially the Soul Cages album), but for giggles I sometimes like to imagine how those songs might have sounded after going through the Police filter.

I'd like to hear that too. That said, I like the way Sting did some of the Police material on his solo tours. For example, Driven to Tears on the Blue Turtles tour, and When the World is Running down from the Blue Turtles and Soul Cages tours.

Christopher · #13 01-08-2007, 04:10 PM

Andy and Stewart are definitely more adventerous musicians than Sting. At heart, Sting's an excellent pop musician, but I consider his post-Police work to be blander than his Police-era output, despite the bells and whistles and Branford Marsalises and singing in Spanish and lutes and crap. The music itself is fundamentally less interesting.

I know Sting gets props for all the "jazz" and "world" elements that he popularized through his solo career, but I'm not sure those innovations would have happened without Andy and Stewart's influence.

marcray · #14 01-08-2007, 04:17 PM

man, how long into the set of the 1st show is Sting gonna regret this!!

I saw an interview with Sting that even at his wedding jam with those guys, he started to get mad at Stewart because he was speeding up the songs and Andy was forgetting the chords...hahaha... as irritating as it is to hear "Message In A Bottle" at 180bpms, dude relax, it's your wedding day... and you are "The Police"... one of the greatest and fondly remembered pop groups of all time... love it!

Spector_Ray · #15 01-08-2007, 05:18 PM

I'm not a big fan of Sting jazzing up the older Police songs. I really can't remember which ones off the top of my head, but it seems Stewart and Andy really loosened sting from his jazz beginnings. There's just something about those early raw energy songs and performances. Stewart's high-hat technique is really hard to beat and Andy's playing although minimalistic in general really held things together.

SBassman · #16 01-08-2007, 06:28 PM

Well, I'm all over this if it's true.

If you're an admirer, you might want to check out Stewart Copelands very interesting DVD:
Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out
a documentary based on Super 8 film shot during the band's time together.

Spector_Ray · #17 01-08-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

Well, I'm all over this if it's true.

If you're an admirer, you might want to check out Stewart Copelands very interesting DVD:
Every Stares - The Police Inside Out
a documentary based on Super 8 film shot during the band's time together.

Just watched it tonight. It wasn't as in-depth as I would've hoped. The early footage was good though. They really turned it on for Next to You. Stewart's an amazing drummer.

SBassman · #18 01-09-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

My music career should be so stalled.

SBassman · #19 01-09-2007, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spector_Ray

It wasn't as in-depth as I would've hoped.

I have to agree. While I still found it very entertaining, I don't think it told us as much as we would have liked to hear.

On the plus side, it don't poke anyone in the eye too much, thus keeping the door open for this rumor we're munching on.

P. Aaron · #20 01-10-2007, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keb

Yeah, Andy Summers, in his book, describes this as giving Sting's compositions the "Police treatment." Heck, for "Every Breath You Take", Sting told Andy to "make the song his own" when it came time for him to do the guitar part (and so made add9 chord history.)

Don't get me wrong, I love Sting's solo stuff as well (especially the Soul Cages album), but for giggles I sometimes like to imagine how those songs might have sounded after going through the Police filter.

I read the Summer's book too. I dug it.