Here Today... Gone To Hell!

wow no threads on these guys.

Anyone like them? i recently got into them after hearing Stings cool basslines on message in a bottle. so ive been grooving to em all night.

anyone else like these? thoughts?

i like them, the songs i've heard i've liked i should get into them more. i love message in a bottle.

Never really gave them the time of day but a while back i picked up a Machinehead album with their cover of 'message in a bottle' - truly outstanding song.

Picked up some stuff by the Police as a result, a geat band - but Machinehead's 'message in a bottle' is better :D

i heard they put there shouty vocal style over it, would do my head in if they do, hate that vocal style.

do they actually metal it up or do it the same?

it sounds like early Pantera, comes highly recommended. No stupid metalcore vocals here

And now it looks as if a reunion tour is in the works, to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary:

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/01/03/participate-in-the-swirling-of-police-reunion-rumors/

Police reunion rumours heating up
By JAM! Music
         
Rumours are continuing to circulate that The Police will reunite this year for concerts in England and the United States, according to Billboard.com.

Billboard.com says it has been told by sources that reports of a reunion are legitimate but an announcement won't be made made public until details are ironed out.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of their classic single "Roxanne."

A posting on Sting's website hints that the band is in negotiations.

The news item -- attributed to an A&M spokesperson -- states: "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."

The Police broke up in 1986 and have only played together twice in the last 20 years. They reunited for an impromptu set at Sting's wedding to Trudie Styler in 1992, and at the band's 2003 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Police to rehearse in Vancouver

The Police are set to rehearse in Vancouver before they kick off their reunion tour.

According to the city's classic rock station, CFMI, the band will hold their sessions at Lions Gate Studios.
It also rumoured that the Police will be a part of the opening performance at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 11.

Details of the band's summer tour are expected next month.
Before the reunion, Sting has a three-week tour in Europe for his lute album "Songs from the Labyrinth."


Wow this is actually happening

thats pretty cool. i also like "Every Breath You Take" the ultimate stalker anthem!! fuck yeah!!!  :nervous:

The Police to Reunite for Grammy Awards

- - - - - - - - - - - -


January 30,2007 | NEW YORK -- The Police will reunite to perform at this year's Grammys ceremony, the Recording Academy announced Tuesday.


 
The award-winning group, which won five Grammys and turned out hits such as "Roxanne" and "Every Breath You Take," will open the event -- 23 years after breaking up.

The band -- singer Sting, guitarist Stewart Copeland and drummer Andy Summers -- fused reggae with pop and rock, and last performed together in 2003 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

CBS will air the 49th annual Grammy Awards live from Los Angeles on Feb. 11.

Now *that* will make the Grammy's worth watching.  I'm far from a die hard Police fan, but they were/are an amazing band, and made quite a mark with their material.  Great, great stuff.

Either that, or I'm just that old...sigh.

Police sightings in Vancouver
By DARREN PARKMAN -- 24 Hours

 One of the hottest rock bands of the '80s is continuing to stir things up right here in little old Vancouver.

Members of the original supergroup The Police, including famous front man Sting, have reportedly been spotted several times around town since Rock 101 broke the news they were rehearsing at Lion's Gate Studios in North Vancouver for a reunion tour.

Now that it's been announced they will indeed perform together at next month's Grammys, the hype and anticipation of diehard fans is growing.

Sting was reportedly spied strolling through Whistler Village a few days back, while bandmates Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers were seen walking downtown, and on the lot at Lion's Gate.

The band split up more than 20 years ago, after a string of mammoth hits.

Rumour has it a reunion tour, to mark the 30th anniversary of their breakout hit "Roxanne" could be announced shortly.

Cool reunite for the grammys, I hope they sing every little thing she does is magic  :D

Nah...it's gotta be "Message in a Bottle."  Either way, no matter what the song is, it'll be great to see them again.

Im guessing theyll do a medley

Oooo The Police!! One of the best bands EVER!

Stewart Copeland is my favorite drummer.

Secret Police on the move
Paparazzi

VANCOUVER -- Despite their efforts to stay incognito, members of the legendary 80s rock band The Police are getting noticed more and more around town.

Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland have even been "hotel hopping" around Vancouver in an apparent effort to avoid reporters and paparazzi.

Since showing up here to rehearse for a Grammys reunion and possible tour, band members have stayed at the Sutton Place Hotel, moved to the Four Seasons, and then transferred to the Wedgewood Hotel downtown on Friday.

One photographer who managed to snap some pictures, says security around the band is so tight he was quickly interrogated by Sting's handler who "thinks he's a private investigator".

Despite their trying to keep a low profile, all three members of the group were spotted dining together at Cin Cin restaurant on Robson Saturday night, with a representative of Brightlight Pictures.

The Police have been rehearsing at Lion's Gate Studios in North Vancouver for more than a week, and will perform together at Sunday's Grammys.

I hate sting.....they suck..:peace:

While a reunion performance by The Police at the Grammy Awards in L.A. February 11 is big news, Pollstar has learned that the really big story will come the next day.
The band will hold a morning press conference February 12 at L.A.'s famed Whisky a Go Go, where they will announce what is being called "really big news" and will also perform a few songs.
Although the exclusive event is for industry and media only, L.A. radio station 93.1 Jack FM is holding a contest that will grant a few listeners a chance to attend.
The blogs have been buzzing for weeks about possible dates for a summer tour by The Police, and fans have been awaiting an official announcement. While Pollstar's sources have been extremely tight-lipped about exactly what really big news the band will announce at the Whiskey, it's a safe bet fans won't be waiting after Monday.

Anybody a website member?

***

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The Police, who are reuniting to perform at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, will celebrate their 30th anniversary at the Whisky A Go Go the following day.

To enter the drawing for a spot at "The Police Rehearsals," fans must be "legacy members" of Sting's official Web site, Sting.com, the 55-year-old singer announced in a posting Wednesday. Twenty lucky winners will be notified Friday.

"After the event, we would like the winners to each submit to us 250 words that describes their experience of the day -- we can say with some certainty that none of you will be lost for words!" the announcement said.

Sting fanned speculation of a Police reunion and tour when he told the Television Critics Association last month that he and former bandmates Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers were "talking about" doing something to commemorate their anniversary.

The Police, whose hits include "Roxanne" and "Every Breath You Take," will open the Grammys, which will air live on CBS-TV from the Staples Center on Sunday night.

The band broke up in 1984 amid internal conflict. They last performed together in 2003, when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

I'm really looking forward to tonight's performance.  What will they play, do you think?  Roxanne?  Message in a Bottle?  A medley?

Really, though, who cares?  I'm just glad to see them together again...

theyre getting back together?

sting and stewert must be running out of money!

I don't think it's a money issue...at least not for Sting.  More like the 30th anniversary of "Roxanne," or something like that.  More to mark the occasion rather than grab some cash.  And if it does both, then even better, right?    :hihi:

i'll definitely check this out.

it'll be during the beginning  of the grammies right? thats good cuz then i can turn it off cuz the rest of the show will make me want to puke or impale myself or both.

From the little I know, they're supposed to open the show.  And I agree - after that, the channel gets changed...

well they played roxanne. i thought it was a good performance.

I was hoping for "Message in a Bottle," but I'm not complaining - it was good to see them together again.

LOS ANGELES -- The Police 30th Anniversary reunion world tour will kick off May 28 at Vancouver's GM Place and travel through North America until early August, Sun Media has exclusively learned.

The official tour announcement will be made this morning at legendary Sunset Strip club Whiskey A Go Go by singer-bassist Sting, 55, drummer Stewart Copeland, 54, and guitarist Andy Summers, 64.

Other Canadian dates are Edmonton on June 2 (venue TBA), Toronto's Air Canada Centre on July 22 and Montreal's Bell Centre on July 25.

Ticket prices are expected to be in three ranges -- approximately $225, $90 and $50 -- with Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal on sale Saturday (Feb. 17) and Edmonton's on-sale date still TBA.

'REHEARSALS'

There is also a chance there will be multiple shows in some markets that sell out fast.

http://www.mtv.com/#/news/articles/1552151/20070212/police.jhtml

With Sting's simple "Ladies and gentlemen, we are the Police," one of the most iconic bands of the last 30 years ended a long absence from live performing to launch the 49th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

Blasting off with the unmistakable, reggae-fied "Roxanne" riff from guitarist Andy Summers and the hard jazz drumming of Stewart Copeland, the Police lived up to their top billing on the show, providing a spirited kickoff to one of the most anticipated reunions in a year full of get-backs.

With a buff-if-balding Sting in fine form and voice, the trio's homage to a woman of the night sounded as hypnotic as it did all those years ago, but in keeping with the bandmembers' jazzbo backgrounds, it also felt fresh (see "Timberlake Rocks; Blige Weeps; Chicks, Chilis Clean Up At Grammys").

The group lived up to its reputation for experimentation, dropping into a dubby, echo-laden live remix of the song during the second verse; Sting did a bit of scatting and mashed up the song's loping tempo, as if to suggest that this reunion won't be a rote sleepwalk through a 90-minute greatest-hits set.

In fact, it sounded like the group has hardly missed a beat during its two-decade timeout, and the performance was as good a start as any to the world tour the Police announced on Monday (February 12) in Los Angeles (see "The Reunion Epidemic: From Police To Rage, Why Are So Many Bands Re-Forming?").

Preliminary dates for the trek, which kicks off May 28 and wraps August 3, include a headlining performance at Bonnaroo, plus performances at Boston's historic Fenway Park and New York's Madison Square Garden (see below for the initial itinerary).

They may have started out tagged as punks, but there was never much particularly punky about the Police. The trio always sounded more pop than punk, and like the Clash, they injected a large dose of reggae into their sound. In fact, a major part of their legacy ? in addition to five great albums and several classic singles ? was their ability to bring reggae and other world-music strains into a rock/pop format, and thus introduce then-exotic sounds to mainstream audiences.

And although their career only spanned about eight years, the Police's looming reputation as one of rock's major acts remains, even if they've been gone almost three times as long as they were together. Thanks to their videos, a staple of the early days of MTV, and such signature hits as "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "Roxanne" and "Every Breath You Take" (the latter of which was co-opted, of course, by Diddy in 1997 for "I'll Be Missing You"), the group's reputation has continued to this day.

The Police were an unlikely marriage from the start. Copeland, the Lebanon-raised son of a CIA agent, joined after a stint in the progressive-rock band Curved Air. Sting (a.k.a. Gordon Sumner, who reportedly got his nickname because of a bee-like sweater he once wore to a gig by his jazz band the Phoenix Jazzmen) was a schoolteacher for a brief period in the mid-1970s before joining a series of jazzy rock groups with names like Last Exit.

Copeland and Sting met at a London jazz club and formed the Police with guitarist Henry Padovani ? although he left soon after the release of the band's first single, the spiky "Fall Out." He was replaced by Summers, who had played with everyone from Eric Burdon's Animals to crooner Neil Sedaka over the preceding decade. Together the trio fashioned one of the most unique groups in rock history, propelled by the combination of Sting's literary lyrics and keening vocals; Copeland's crackling, snare-smacking rhythms; and Summers' snaky, tastefully restrained licks.

The group's 1978 debut, Outlandos d'Amour, was an explosive set of fairly straight-ahead rock tunes like "Truth Hits Everybody," although the reggae influence is prominent in songs like the slow-rolling "Hole in My Life" and the indelible "Roxanne." The next year's Reggatta de Blanc (which translates into "White Reggae") was the Police's big break, betraying more of their jazz roots while cranking up the pop hooks on such hits as "Message in a Bottle" and "Bring on the Night."

Oddly, although their next album, 1980's Zenyatta Mondatta, is arguably their weakest, it made them worldwide superstars. With new-wave anthems like "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" rocking alongside songs like "Driven to Tears," which hinted at the political activism in Sting's future, the album reveals a band that was much deeper musically than its pop-leaning hits and pinup singer might have suggested.

The group's 1981 LP, Ghost in the Machine, found the intellect ramped up both musically and lyrically, with prominent keyboards and songs that address topics ranging from philosophy to the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland. Singles such as "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" and "Spirits in the Material World" set the stage for the band's commercial apex with 1983's Synchronicity, its final studio effort. The record ? which spent 17 weeks at #1 in the U.S. ? contained such hits as "Every Breath You Take" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger."

The long accompanying tour, which finally wrapped early in 1984, further cemented the band's popularity and was a box-office smash, but it also was the last straw for the bandmembers' interpersonal relations. They got together again briefly in 1986 for a tour in support of Amnesty International and tried to record a few new songs for a greatest-hits collection, but only managed a remake of "Don't Stand So Close to Me." They reunited to perform at Sting's 1992 wedding to Trudie Styler and again for their 2003 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, but many figured that the momentum of Sting's solo career and the lingering animosities were too much to bear.

And apparently they were, until now (see "Reunited Police To Kick Off Grammy Awards"). Representatives for the group have said that the financial windfall the summer tour is likely to reap is just part of the reason for the reunion. Sting, of course, has enjoyed a two-decade solo career that has spawned seven multiplatinum albums, sold-out world tours and world celebrity status (although his most recent solo album, Songs From the Labyrinth, is a collection of 16th-century lute tunes).

While the others have kept a lower profile, they have remained active with low-key solo projects and film scores. Copeland also directed a well-received rockumentary about the Police titled "Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out." It included home-movie footage the band shot while on tour in the early '80s that revealed some of the tensions that eventually drove the trio apart.

Quite how the reunion tour, technically in observation of the 30th anniversary of the release of the Police's first single, will play out is anyone's guess ? and that's just one reason why it's interesting. When the group reunited to perform at Sting's wedding, the singer reported becoming vein-poppingly infuriated with Copeland within the first five seconds of the first song, because the latter was playing too fast. How long before those veins bulge again?

But to their credit, for a group that split up at its chart-dominating peak ? before releasing any embarrassing late-period albums that might have marred its legacy (see the Clash, Jane's Addiction, Velvet Underground) ? the Police are that rare rock animal: a band that went out on top and kept it that way.

And, judging from its tight sound at the Grammys, that's as sure a method as any of making sure you can pick up where you left off.

Preliminary Police reunion tour dates, according to the tour's Web site:

? 5/28 - Vancouver, BC @ GM Place
? 6/6 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
? 6/9 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
? 6/15 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden
? 6/16 - Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
? 6/18 - Phoenix, AZ @ U.S. Airways Center
? 6/26 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
? 6/30 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
? 7/2 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
? 7/22 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
? 7/25 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
? 7/28 - Boston, MA @ Fenway Park
? 8/1 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
? 8/3 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

Fiction Plane, a pop-rock outfit featuring frontman ? and son of Sting ? Joe Sumner, have been tapped to open on all the dates, with additional supporting acts to be announced in the coming weeks. A portion of the ticket proceeds from the tour will benefit WaterAid, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation.

This story was originally published on 02.12.07 at 02:18 00 ET.


The show's over but there's plenty of Grammy hotness here on MTVNews.com. Check out photos of the hottest red-carpet and onstage action; join our reporters as they hit all the Grammy week parties; and let us know what you think about the performers, winners and losers. Plus see videos of all the nominees on MTV.com and check out exclusive video footage from the big night right here.

Click here to find out who won what at the Grammys.

i'll be pissed if they dont come by ohio

I think Ill more than likely try my hardest to attend the Toronto show!! : ok:

Wow...Los Angeles gets shut out.... :-[

i'm sure they will add more. it does say PRELIMINARY tour dates.

Just relax Sir...you'll see The Police soon enough : ok:

I hope so.  There are some significant USA markets that have been overlooked...

I gotta say ticket prices for this are absolutely absurd....$225 is the average ticket for anywhere on the floor and platinum and golds at the ACC....The most I ever payed was $100 bucks in the platinums was to see the Eagles...The Police arent even that big of a band...$225 bucks is a joke and is a ripoff to the fans

I hadn't seen the prices yet.  That *is* absurd.  So much for my plans to see them on tour...

Mine too.. :-\

I might better just save the cash for extra Gn'R shows this Summer.. :D

I would think they'll add more between St. Louis and Toronto. There is quite a gap in those two dates.

Something amusing I heard about at the time but forgot about until I read this weeks PopBitch:

        >> Don't Stand So Close To Me <<
       Stewart Copeland's poetic drum kit

   Now Sting's temporarily hung up his lute
   and reunited the Police it amuses us to
   remember that on their last tour tensions
   ran so high that Stewart Copeland every night
   went on stage with tom-tom drums featuring the
   hand-written slogan "Sting. Is. A. Cunt."

Well I found it amusing at any rate.

It looks like The Police reunion tour is a big hit with fans: All eight markets that have gone on sale so far have sold out, according to organizers.

The August 1 and 3 gigs at New York City's Madison Square Garden sold out this morning (2/20) in 14 minutes. Back-to-back shows July 28-29 at Boston's Fenway Park also sold out when they went on sale today. Last weekend saw immediate sellouts in Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; and Vancouver, British Columbia, prompting organizers to add second shows in those cities, according to a press release issued by promoter Live Nation.

Another New York-area gig has also been added--August 5 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ--as have June shows in Los Angeles and Oakland, CA. An updated North American itinerary is listed below.

In the coming weeks, more shows are expected to be added in Chicago; Columbus, OH; Detroit; Edmonton, Alberta; Hartford, CT; Houston; Miami; Philadelphia; Tampa, FL; the Minneapolis/St. Paul region; and the Washington/Baltimore area.

May 2007
28, 30 - Vancouver, British Columbia - GM Place

June 2007
6 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
9 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
13 - Oakland, CA - McAfee Coliseum
15 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
16 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Festival
18 - Phoenix, AZ - US Airways Arena
23 - Los Angeles, CA - Dodger Stadium
26 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
30 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena

July 2007
2 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
22-23 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
25-26 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
28-29 - Boston, MA - Fenway Park

August 2007
1, 3 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
5 - East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium

Considering the ticket prices, I'm truly surprised to hear all shows have sold out.  Good for them, and I'm glad they're back, but it's way out of my price range.

i like em, i play 3 of the polices songs on my bass

The Police's  reunion tour is quickly shaping up to be the year's hottest seller. Tickets for all 16 of the group's shows that have gone on sale to date have sold out, including stadium gigs in Los Angeles; East Rutherford, NJ; Oakland, CA; and Boston.

On Monday morning (2/16) alone, more than 54,000 tickets were sold for the tour's planned stops at East Rutherford's Giants Stadium, Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium, and Oakland's McAfee Stadium, according to Live Nation, which reported that 415,000 tickets have been sold for the tour to date.

Over the weekend, sellouts were logged in Seattle (where a second date has since been announced), Denver and Phoenix. The trio's popularity held North of the border as well: second performances in Vancouver and Montreal sold out. Meanwhile, a third Toronto performance has also been announced for November after two arena gigs there quickly sold out.

Stoking the excitement further, tour organizers have announced that additional shows will take place in Cleveland, OH; Detroit; Philadelphia; Hershey, PA; Edmonton, Alberta; Dallas; Miami; Hartford, CT; and St. Paul, MN. Dates, venues and ticket on-sales will be announced Tuesday (2/27), according to Live Nation. More cities and venues are expected to roll out over the next few weeks; the currently confirmed itinerary is below.

nothing against the Police..but when did they become the Rolling Stones?? how are they selling all of these places out so quickly? 

The Police add more dates, including Euro leg

The Police continue to flesh out their world tour with a newly announced leg of European stadium gigs and more shows added in the US.

The sales streak for the band's North American outing continued last weekend with additional sell-outs in Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, St. Paul, MN, and Dallas, where a second show was added.

Following the sell-out of Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium, another show in that city was confirmed for June 20 at the Staples Center. Additional dates have also been added in Houston, Las Vegas, New Orleans, St. Louis, MO, and Tampa, FL.

The North American leg launches May 28 with two gigs in Vancouver, British Columbia. There are also multiple dates in Denver, Seattle, Toronto, Montreal, Boston and New York City. Details are below.

Fiction Plane (the rock band fronted by Sting's son, Joe Sumner) will open North American shows. The Foo Fighters will serve as special guest at the June 23 Los Angeles gig and Maroon 5 will appear at the July 10 performance in Miami.

The Police will kick off Euro shows August 29 in Stockholm and play dates in the UK, Germany, France, Holland, Austria, Spain, Italy, Belgium Denmark and Switzerland. The rock trio's first date in Birmingham, England, Sept. 4, will be its first live performance in the UK since New Years Eve 1983, according to a statement.

The European itinerary, which is expected to expand further, can be found at the group's website.

"The anticipation and excitement to see The Police is overwhelming," Arthur Fogel of tour promoter Live Nation said in a statement. "We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing the band to fans new and old."

May 2007
28, 30 - Vancouver, British Columbia - GM Place

June 2007
2 - Edmonton, Alberta - Commonwealth Stadium
6-7 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
9-10 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
13 - Oakland, CA - McAfee Coliseum
15 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
16 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Festival
18 - Phoenix, AZ - US Airways Arena
20 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
23 - Los Angeles, CA - Dodger Stadium
26-27 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
30 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena

July 2007
2 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
3 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
10 - Miami, FL - Dolphin Stadium
11 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
16 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
17 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
19 - Philadelphia, PA - Citizen's Bank Park
20 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
22-23 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
25-26 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
28-29 - Boston, MA - Fenway Park
31 - Hartford, CT - Rentschler Field

August 2007
1, 3 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
5 - East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium

November 2007
8 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre

jesus, looks like im gonna be heading back to the quicken loans arena for another show.

its such a shitty drive to cleveland from dayton though  :(

From The Police website comes details of the songs the band has been working on at rehearsals for the 2007 tour. They are: When The World Is Running Down . Message in a Bottle . Driven To Tears . Walking On The Moon . Synchronicity II . Don't Stand So Close To Me . Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic . Walking In Your Footsteps . Tea In The Sahara . Deathwish . Demolition Man . De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da . Murder By Numbers . Spirits In The Material World . Wrapped Around Your Finger . Invisible Sun . The Bed's Too Big Without You . One World . Bring On The Night . King Of Pain . Shadows In The Rain . Roxanne . So Lonely . Next To You . Can't Stand Losing You . Rehumanize Yourself.

The Police Return To The Stage With Vancouver Warm-Up

The Police played their first concert in more than 20 years last night (May 27) in front of a 4,000-strong, fan club-only audience at Vancouver's GM Place, rocking through a 21-song, 125-minute set that went heavy on hits from the band's early 1980s heyday. The show opened with "Message in a Bottle" and closed with the spirited early hit "Next to You."

The group officially begins its mammoth reunion tour tonight at the same arena, with support from Fiction Plane. The trek is expected to last through the end of the year and will likely finish as the top ticket seller of 2007.

The reunion already has taken in $102 million on sales of 900,000 ticket in North America and another $66 million from sales of 650,000 tickets overseas, according to estimates by Billboard.

Among the oddities that appeared in the warm-up show set list were "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," which was rarely played live during the band's first incarnation, and a medley of "Voices Inside My Head" and "When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around," which was first tested out during a February press conference in Los Angeles.

Here is the Police's May 27, 2007, set list:

"Message in a Bottle"
"Synchronicity II"
"Don't Stand So Close to Me"
"Voices Inside My Head"/"When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around"
"Spirits in the Material World"
"Driven to Tears"
"Walking on the Moon"
"Truth Hits Everybody"
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"
"Wrapped Around Your Finger"
"The Bed's Too Big Without You"
"Murder by Numbers"
"De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"
"Invisible Sun"
"Walking in Your Footsteps"
"Can't Stand Losing You"
"Roxanne"
"King of Pain"
"So Lonely"
"Every Breath You Take"
"Next to You"

The Police may have launched their highly anticipated 30th anniversary reunion tour on Monday night at GM Place in Vancouver -- with a hits-heavy, stripped-down production -- but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

For example, tomorrow night in Edmonton -- where they will play their first outdoor gig at Commonwealth Stadium with some tickets still available and Canadian pop-rock band Sloan also part of the bill -- they will have a different stage.

"The stadium set is different from the arena set," drummer Stewart Copeland told Sun Media on the line from Vancouver as the band prepared to go back into rehearsal before its second GM Place show, on Wednesday night.

"We have this really stark stage, it's a living, breathing piece of technology, and we've got our crew underneath there. When we take it outdoors, the stadium version of it, it's surrounded by all this other gargantuan, enormous stuff just to sort of take the message to the 50,000th person, way in the back there. And that's going to be an interesting contrast to a nice, little intimate arena with a mere 20,000 people. The kinetic ritual is more when you've got that bigger audience."

Copeland said that he, singer-bassist Sting and guitarist Andy Summers -- who sold 50 million albums worldwide in the late 1970s and early '80s -- really did want to keep the production simple for their reunion road trip, which has become the biggest concert tour of the summer.

"It's a form of arrogance -- let's be frank," he said. "And it derives from the fact that we did really conquer the world with just three guys on stage and when we did so, I guess there wasn't an expectation.
   

"When I went to see U2, I really enjoyed their show, but I found all of the staging to be distracting. You really don't need it, because they're a great band. And The Police was moderately popular with just the three guys, we seemed to be able to pull it off and so in our hubris, we've made the same assumption this time around."

Copeland, who had been exchanging e-mails with Sting earlier in the day on set-list revisions, said the show and set list will remain fluid.

The band still has a few songs that they've rehearsed but didn't play on Monday night.

"You see, one of the things that we're both blessed and cursed by in this group is the 800-pound gorilla with a surfeit of creative energy," said Copeland, referring to Sting. "It's like a torrent of creative energy that the mortals in the band -- that's to say Andy and I -- just have to deal with."

Some first-night reviews, including Sun Media's, were critical of major rearrangements of such Police hits as Don't Stand So Close To Me and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.

"Sting is the main driver of that," said Copeland. "The thing is he comes up with some new chords and we're torn because we think, 'Wait a minute. I really like the song the way he wrote it the first time he wrote it. That's sort of what people are expecting when they come to a Police show, is to hear the song.' And yet, these new chords that he's playing to us are kind of intriguing, kind of interesting. 'That's f---ing great, We should try that!' So we do, and then we get all comfortable, all excited about this new arrangement, and it's all going swimmingly, and we think, 'Great, this is really cool.' The next day at rehearsal, Sting says, 'I've got this idea,' and our hearts sink a little. Sting's creative mind never sleeps. He will be driving us nuts for the next year."

Seriously, Copeland said the famously fractious trio continues to argue, but it's strictly about the music and isn't personal.

"We still fight cats and dogs in rehearsals," he said. "We have a kind of cycle where we play nicely for two or three days, and then we have a shouting, slap down, screaming match that ends in hugs and kisses. And then we come back to playing again, we're like 20 times better than we were. Normally, we walk off stage at rehearsal and we completely bury the hatchet because we realize we value each other really highly. We appreciate what we've brought into each other's lives. And we actually kind of like each other."

For The Police, impatience turns to open excitement

Police drummer Stewart Copeland sums up the band's tour opener in Vancouver thusly: "We survived it!"

More seriously, he said, "The emotions going in were, 'Let's get this thing on the (road).' Not so much anxiety or nervousness as much as impatience. We've been rehearsing for four months. A lot of The Police thing is a response to the audience and we hadn't had that ingredient."

As Copeland let go with a series of yells as the band was taking its final bows on stage, how was he feeling then?

"I was thinking of (excitable former U.S. presidential hopeful) Howard Dean, actually," joked Copeland. "One of the great things about rock 'n' roll, about concert performances in general, is unless you totally, totally suck, you know if people have been waiting in line and such, you win the game."

Celebrations then, were definitely in order Monday night.

"We did celebrate," said Copeland. "Which is one of the reasons for our inertia the following day. At 25, we could celebrate like that, and then the next day brightly play another show. In our advanced years, we now need a day off after such celebrations."

Looking forward to the Australian leg of the tour!

I've decided to boycott going to the Police "Reunion" concert. Shame because, I have a few Police records. The seating is a joke.

In Adelaide, the concert will be held in a football stadium. The stage is at one end of the oval. There are say about 5 sections of elitist seating directly infront of the stage. $260+ (Aussie Dollars)

Behind this section and in the seats around the oval is the B class section $160. These seats are mainly side on a side view.

Now behind this seating section is the C class seats, more affordable around $100. However, you can only stand in a crowded area at the back of the oval behind A class and B class seats or you sit on seats at the far end of the oval.

Too much of a class system going on there........

What did you think it was going to be?

That's the case with all stadium shows, get over it.

The Police reunion tour will make one more trip through North America this summer before the band calls it quits again. As opposed to last year, the group will stick to amphitheaters and arenas without any any stadium or festival stops during the thirty-odd date trek in May and July (with a fifteen date run in Europe sandwiched into June). The band also promises to play U.S. cities that were skipped over when the band first reunited last May. According to sources close to the Police, Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers plan to hang up the handcuffs forever after their run concludes in July. The Police reunion tour is estimated to be one of the top five highest-grossing tours of all-time, with the net profit somewhere in the range of $340 million when all is said and done.

The Police to end career on charitable note

The Police have launched into the final round of dates on their 30th anniversary reunion tour, but they won't put a lid on it until they give something back.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have pledged $1 million to New York City's MillionTreesNYC, which will plant 10,000 trees to create new urban forests, according to a press release. The trio has also committed to making their final concert a benefit for NYC public television arts programming.

"We kicked off our very first American tour at CBGB's in 1978 and this summer, thirty years later, our journey will come full circle as we play our final show here in New York City," The Police said in a joint statement. "We are honored to partner with public television and have a deep respect for their commitment to arts and culture."

Details about the fund-raiser will be released at a later date.

Last week, The Police kicked off another round of North American shows, and they've got a dozen more dates across the US through the end of the month, including a two-night stand in Hollywood, CA. In early June, they'll jet to Europe for a month and then return stateside for their fond farewell, which comprises another 17 shows stretching from coast to coast.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters will fill the opening slot on the US outing, which is listed below. Overseas gigs can be found at The Police's website.

May 2008
10 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
11 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
13 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
14 - Omaha, NE - Qwest Center
16 - Orlando, FL - Amway Center
17 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre
20 - Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
21 - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center
23 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
24 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Wireless Pavilion
26 - Chula Vista, CA - Coors Amphitheatre
27-28 - Hollywood, CA - The Hollywood Bowl

July 2008
11 - Ridgefield, WA - Clark County Amphitheatre
12 - George, WA - The Gorge
14 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
16 - Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion
17 - Wheatland, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
19 - West Valley City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
21-22 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
25 - Milwaukee, WI - Marcus Amphitheater
26 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Center
28 - Burgettstown, PA - Post Gazette Pavilion
29 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
31 - Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center

August 2008
1 - Saratoga, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
3 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
4-5 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

The Police end comeback tour

NEW YORK - The Police ended one of rock 'n' roll's most successful reunions in Madison Square Garden on Thursday with a tribute to other famous trios, an assist from some real cops and a not-particularly close shave.

The 150th and final show of a comeback tour that stretched past 14 months was a benefit for two New York public television stations. Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland added some end-of-the-road silliness to their set list, walking off to Porky Pig's signature line, "That's all, folks."

Four songs in, Sting thanked his band mates for "your musicianship, your companionship, your friendship and your understanding."

"The real triumph of this tour is that we haven't strangled each other," he said. "Not to say it hasn't crossed my mind - or Andy's or Stewart's."

Sting and Copeland are both volatile personalities who nearly drove each other crazy before the band broke up while at the top of the rock world in 1984. The mellowing agent of time - and the tour's phenomenal business - kept the band adding concert dates well beyond their original intention.

The comeback leaves the Police standing with the Eagles as the two most successful reformations in rock history. The Eagles are an active touring and recording unit again; the Police say they're done.

The band opened with Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" and later played the Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Purple Haze," the covers a nod to two other famous rock trios.

Unlike bands that augment their sound with backing musicians, The Police came back as a true trio: A roadie who took one swing at a gong and the New York City Police band were the only other music-makers allowed onstage Thursday, and their appearances were brief.

With Copeland sitting atop a mountain of percussion, the band members seemed like their own countries onstage. Twice they used three separate staircases to exit. Their skillfulness, and determined need to show it, sometimes left songs meandering past the breaking point. Yes, The Police can add jazz fusion to their punky reggae sound, but it sure spoiled this night's version of "Roxanne."

And they're hardly a party-hearty bunch. One stretch included consecutive songs about suicide, a hooker, the "King of Pain," loneliness and a creepy obsessive relationship - the latter ("Every Breath You Take") their biggest hit.

Yet the Police brought a drive to Sting's songs that his more mannered solo work often misses. The man, at nearly 57, can still rock on material like the unexpectedly strong "Demolition Man," and the years haven't worn down his voice. Early material "Can't Stand Losing You," "So Lonely" and "Next to You" were the purest distillation of the band's original sound, and those lesser-known songs stood their ground with later hits.

After the Cream cover, the band brought out about two dozen uniformed members of the police band for a thunderous version of "Message in a Bottle" that drew one of the night's loudest ovations. Sting wore one of New York's Finest's caps as he sang.

The New York tour finale was intentional; the band wanted to call it quits in the same city of their first U.S. gig 30 years ago, in the far smaller - though no less famous - CBGB's nightclub, now closed.

The date raised money for New York stations WLIW-21 and Thirteen/WNET. It was an unexpected gift for the stations: a spokeswoman said the offer came as a surprise and had done so well that seats behind the stage were being sold for $50 a few days before the show.

During a break before the encore, a camera followed Sting backstage where he sat, shirtless, as he had the scraggly beard he'd been wearing shaved off by some exceptionally attractive female stylists. The laughing audience watched the spectacle on video screens, as Copeland came over to kiss his clean-shaven singer.

Sting still had leftover shaving cream in the corner of his mouth as he came out to sing "Roxanne."

There were other lighthearted moments. Three of Sting's daughters crept onstage to dance beside him during "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic." At the show's end, a roadie dressed outrageously as a fat opera singer lip-synched an aria.

The intentions behind that cliche were hard to miss. Things really were over.