Thanks for directing our attention to this!!! I think that this is speaking to three main things that have been picked up/fabricated/distorted in the press in the last few days...
a. The New York Daily News claiming that the Police were shopping their new already-formed demos for a contract...many people called BS on this story, but an official statement dismissing it as untrue is nice to see...
b. The numerous stories that took Andy's statement about perhaps, after the tour, new music even possibly an album is possible...well that turned into various stories claiming that an album was in the works, etc. leading to the previously mentioned story about their "demos" being rejected, etc...I mean given the timeline since the rehearsals, making new material for an album before the tour really seems kinda preposterous!
c. the rumors that Sting brought a series of songs, even a whole album into the deal completed (and the further rumors that those songs were rejected as Sting solo) for the Police to do either on the tour, or mix and match with the above rumors...
Its great to have an official dismissal of those three lines...they were causing all sorts of unnecessary gossip that cannot really be conducive to preparing for a world tour...either for them or for the fans, who should be preparing to rock their asses off!!!!!
According to the Police, they have been jamming, which I think is great...and some new songs are not *necessarily* excluded but I have to say that carefully with the official statement (perhaps they were just jamming to get back their rapport, or just seeing where it goes...and only want to go with what will be right at the right time...and don't necessarily need the pressure of the whole world wondering what the music will be like...I mean they are seasoned pros, but anyone must have their limits regarding negativity and doubt...maybe its not the time and so the kibosh has been put on the wild speculation...
Maybe new songs were initially part of the plan, who knows, but it comes down to time...it's possible that perhaps they decided to focus on their back catalog and make it really tight, update the arrangements, work out some things that they may have not been able to work out in the past because of their relationships with one another, etc. and leave the whole other ball of wax...the potential future possibility of new music...to a later date, when they have less pressing things on their plate besides A TOUR THAT BEGINS IN 47 DAYS!!!!! They have always made decisions like that carefully...they always have been rather judicious...
As I said I think its more to the other stories that take a few scraps or quotes and turn them into "news" that really isn't the case...Andy gave us some hope that new music is *possible* in the future, maybe, that is enough to be ecstatic about... I mean on top of seeing them live <wheeeeeeeeeee>...maybe he said something that he shouldn't have said, the repercussions being all this crazy speculation/fabrication...even if its true maybe its just getting out of hand...
In the rehearsal at the Whisky, Sting said that they will play songs they haven't played before...that could mean back catalog that they never have played live (DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS MAY INCLUDE?) or "new" material...at least this makes-clear anything they play will be "Police"...so maybe that will put a stop to the "Sting with the Police as special guests" cwap people keep worrying about...<grin>
The TPT News ended with the following, rather good advice: "We urge you not to believe media speculation such as these recent reports. When there is any official news about the band you will be able to read it here at
www.thepolicetour.com! As far as this forum is concerned, I see people here have been relying moreso on reports from the horseys' mouths, interviews, statements, and posts (from Stewart)...