STEWART COPELAND

Yes, it's true. While in Vancouver Sting was inspired to work on new songs, comparing notes with Stewart and Andy. Whatever may eventually come of this new music, if anything, is anybody's guess, but perhaps that's not the point here (although I permit myself the fantasy of a new album).

The point is to allow the experience to flow through and let it take you/them on a journey. It's a rare opportunity for an artist, any artist, to seriously revisit work from the past, dig deep into it, and resurface with a new vision. Sting does this to some degree quite often and now he's got his mates back so the inspiration has started to flow again - welcome back to rock Sting!

Hence the new variations we all love to criticize. I realize now that my disappointment with some the of the songs was short-sighted. I think I'm not the only one who has this fixed expectation, this need, this hunger to hear the songs exactly as I've heard them in the past. Having never seen the band live before now, I'm stuck in the past - "I want my MTV". Maybe it's a fear of the new, strange Police landscape - I don't know...but inevitably all 3 musicians have evolved since 1984 and they want to breathe new life into the old songs. In fact, I think they're holding back - imagine how far they really could take their music into new territory - wow, I would love to hear that! But, of course, they have to appease the masses and play the middle ground. However restricted this may be, just playing the music again seems to be opening some doors to the muse.

I'm going to adopt a new approach now that the band is finding its legs again... evolving... I want to join the celebration and go with the flow, be inspired, deepen my love for all things Police and acknowledge what a privilege it is to witness this evolution. By the end of the tour a whole new band identity may have emerged. Who knows?! It's all good!

Open the gates and let it all pour out, that's the true essence of music.

Although some of the "experiments" may be less successful than others, I think the fact that Sting has been so involved in trying to rework things does show that he's really into it, and is using the re-arranging as way of testing the water for new songs. I think "Walking in Your Footsteps" is a very strong effort in that regard, and some of the parts Andy has come up with are very cool and different.

Have said this before, sure I'll repeat it: I'll be amazed if they *don't* come up with new stuff. And I think it'll be dynamite.

[quote="Divemistress of the Dark"]Have said this before, sure I'll repeat it: I'll be amazed if they *don't* come up with new stuff. And I think it'll be dynamite.[/quote]

Me too.

BTW, where did this news leak from, Mercury Rising? Just curious for the source...

Everything about the "re arrangements" I've heard so far I like, except one single thing : The rockabilly guitar riff that Andy has added into Walking : It just sounds out of place to me, almost like the guys were delving into Country music.....

No news leak here, this nugget of information came from an observer - to whom I personally spoke.