Stewart Copeland Slags Police Concert...

**Blackbird** · #1 06-01-2007, 01:50 PM

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?...47412520070601

SuperDuck · #2 06-01-2007, 01:59 PM

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.

PaulMacCnj · #3 06-01-2007, 02:04 PM

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.

Lazylion · #4 06-01-2007, 02:09 PM

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

That makes them the Coast Guard!

Badump, bump.

OK, that was bad...

davetakis · #5 06-01-2007, 02:59 PM

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

Juneau · #6 06-01-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davetakis

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

Me too

....well Wednesday's anyhow.

tZer · #7 06-01-2007, 03:12 PM

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.

davetakis · #8 06-01-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

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......

karter2000 · #9 06-01-2007, 04:07 PM

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

Lonnybass · #10 06-01-2007, 04:08 PM

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

**smperry** · #11 06-01-2007, 04:12 PM

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

VroomVroom · #12 06-01-2007, 05:01 PM

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.

Sneckumhaw · #13 06-02-2007, 03:26 PM

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

Oh, boy. Wish me luck.

Stinsok · #14 06-02-2007, 03:31 PM

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

Eublet · #15 06-02-2007, 03:32 PM

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.

PocketGroove82 · #16 06-02-2007, 03:52 PM

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.

Baryonyx · #17 06-02-2007, 05:02 PM

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

dangnewt · #18 06-02-2007, 09:04 PM

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.

Joey3313 · #19 06-03-2007, 12:40 AM

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.

Auriaprottu · #20 06-03-2007, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2112

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.