STEWART COPELAND

Dateline: Vancouver, May 26 2007.

It took me years to switch from "Obsessed Police Fan" to "Huge Police Fan". What's the difference? An obsessed Police fan buys every release, however marginally related, by the Police, Sting, Stewart, and Andy. A huge Police fan stops buying soundtracks that have only one mediocre Sting song. An obsessed Police fan buys three different formats of the "All For One" single by Sting, Brian Adams, and Rod Stewart. A huge Police fan only buys one (and regrets it). Obsessed Police fan posts to the Police mailing list at least once a week. Huge Police Fan lurks, but rarely posts.

Occasionaly, "Huge Police Fan" feels the urge to send a Stewart Copeland/Adam Ant video to Giovanni for Stewart's Web Site. He gathers Andy interviews from the web into one central location and posts a link on the "big three" (That's Gio's site, Ian's site, and the mailing list). But as soon as Huge Police Fan feels himself getting too obsessed, he slows it down a notch, and listens to Bowie instead. Bowie still rocks!

When Andy Summers did his book tour last year, I realized that I had made the switch to "Huge Police Fan" when I no longer had to make sure that I was the first person in line so I could get the best seat. 10th or 20th in line would be OK.

--

Today I found myself all the way accross the continent, inside the Canucks store (within GM Place) pretending to be interested in the merchandise. I walked around looking at shirts, caps, and hockey pucks. The manager kept coming over to check me out, but I didn't care.

Why? Because I could faintly hear the Police practicing "Walking in your Footsteps" in another part of the building. After just about getting chased out of the store, I found myself walking around the building, placing my ear on the windows, trying to find the best location to hear Stewart's drumming through the sound of traffic driving around the building.

I guess Obsessed Police Fan is back, at least for a little while. I'll have to apologize to my wife and daughter when I get home. But I still refuse to buy any more mediocre Sting songs.

bab

I'm SO jealous of you all who get to be there this weekend--even though, of course, I'm completely thrilled for you as well and can't wait to see & hear the reports.

I've been working a show all weekend and wearing a different Police shirt every day to celebrate from afar. Had a couple interesting conversations as a result of it!

Heh. Anyone got the link to the photo of sockii and I with our ears up against the side of the wall at the Whisky? I'm starting to think Listening For Stewart's Drumkit is an integral part of the experience...

Have a wonderful time, VC. We're all so with you in spirit. And damn chuffed for you, to quote the lovely Hannah...

Just checking to let you kids know that a few more of us are safe and sound in B.C.

GinaSuperCat, SamburuSunset, Conroy, and I each made our ways across the world, each with their own little travel hell.

GSC, SS, MercuryRising, Nikki-sorry-I-can't-remember-your-user-name, Nikki's husband, Gert, Gert's cameraman James (plus a couple of Nikki's husband's friends) had a very lovely dinner together, then met up with Conroy at Fiction Plane. I believe Copelandos d'Amour was also there.

FP's sound sucked, by the way -- really mushy. They were working hard, but I had to head to the lobby just for clarity and sanity. (And there were a few scary notes.) They did have some crazy audience members, from Tigger-bouncing 20-somethings to into-it 60-year-old ladies. Sting and Trudie were also there -- Sting was perched on the balcony over-looking the scene like an Emperor Nero.

SS, GSC, and I have each headed to our hotels to get some rest. Last I saw, Conroy was sticking around for the DJ set; Nikki and hubby were going elsewhere for music, and Mercury was still trying to break into Stingo's lair. Everyone light a candle for Mercury's success.

Kisses to Copelandia!

The "Tigger-bouncing 20-something" with the hat was Sting's son, Jake.

bab

Heh. Nah, bab -- I was thinking of a couple of girls in the audience. But Jake, too.

Ah, yes. There were definately some 20-something bouncing women.

bab