Infuriating article in Chicago Sun-Times
Posted: 04 Jul 2007 04:42Link to the original article (thanks dayvo67 of TPT):
http://tinyurl.com/yqgntb
My response, copied from TPT:
[quote]Word on the street from my pals who also do show reviews for a living is that DeRogatis is such a curmudgeon that nothing short of payola would have got a good word about a Police reunion tour out of him.
This review is such a hit piece that it's almost like shooting fish in a barrel to deconstruct it. But just for fun, and because I have a few minutes, let's give it a go.
1.) Has this guy actually seen any Police shows? He seems to be basing his opinion on nothing but the opinion of others, and in print form, yet. Does he mention anywhere he actually called up Fil Manley after the Bonnaroo show? (I live in Nashville and can tell you that Chattanoogan.com is not known for its in-depth artistic critiques. This isn't intended as a slam, simply as a statement that there are folks in both the Memphis and Nashville markets that might have been more obvious choices for quotations on the Bonnaroo gig, for example.)
2.) [Quote] Mind you, that's only one of several dozen similar tales, and Summers was gleefully recounting all of them at the same time planning was under way for this tour. The only conclusion one can reach is that it wasn't a sudden burst of warm, fuzzy feelings that reconciled these guys, but $ome other $ignificant con$ideration. Let us not forget that only recently, Sting shilled for luxury sports cars and Copeland replaced John Densmore in the Doors of the 21st Century, then sued that group when it had the audacity to replace him. Which reminds me ...[/Quote]
This is untrue to the point of slander. Andy's book was scheduled for publication in the fall of last year, and most accounts I've read of the publishing biz seem to indicate that manuscripts are generally due well in advance of the date they actually see ink.
Stewart sued the Doors after they hired him, then violated the agreement by replacing him after he fell off a horse and was unavailable to perform as scheduled.
Man. Talk about lazy. Both these bits of information are easily available using the Google.
3.) This reviewer claims the band is using recorded background tracks because Stewart can't hit high notes? Boy, tell me another one! Wonder if it occurs to him that folks like Dave Grohl quit playing drums because many musicians will tell you it's hard as hell to sing and drum at the same time.
Lazy Assed Reviewer admits he hasn't seen Stewart play in 20+ years. Had he actually bothered to attend a show, he'd notice that Stewart has a few things going on up there besides vocals.
4.) The "best seats" are $200. Anybody think this guy is hacked off because he hasn't been handed a backstage Golden Ticket? You can get in the door at any Police gig on Earth for 50 bucks. In addition, general admission ticket holders were able to stand in the front row at Bonnaroo and will do the same at the Virgin Fest.
This guy's just bitter because Stewart and Andy didn't call him for his input before staging this whole thing, apparently. The only Police project spared his petulant-whining-disguised-as-cutting-edge-criticism is Stewart's movie, which he must not have seen. I suppose we'll be treated to part 2 of his blathering once someone tells him about it.
I've seen five Police shows in the last three weeks, four of them this week. Chicago fans will most definitely not be disappointed with this show.[/quote]
Take in more outrage from Police fans on TPT:
http://www.thepolice.com/members/commun ... pic=5853.0
http://tinyurl.com/yqgntb
My response, copied from TPT:
[quote]Word on the street from my pals who also do show reviews for a living is that DeRogatis is such a curmudgeon that nothing short of payola would have got a good word about a Police reunion tour out of him.
This review is such a hit piece that it's almost like shooting fish in a barrel to deconstruct it. But just for fun, and because I have a few minutes, let's give it a go.
1.) Has this guy actually seen any Police shows? He seems to be basing his opinion on nothing but the opinion of others, and in print form, yet. Does he mention anywhere he actually called up Fil Manley after the Bonnaroo show? (I live in Nashville and can tell you that Chattanoogan.com is not known for its in-depth artistic critiques. This isn't intended as a slam, simply as a statement that there are folks in both the Memphis and Nashville markets that might have been more obvious choices for quotations on the Bonnaroo gig, for example.)
2.) [Quote] Mind you, that's only one of several dozen similar tales, and Summers was gleefully recounting all of them at the same time planning was under way for this tour. The only conclusion one can reach is that it wasn't a sudden burst of warm, fuzzy feelings that reconciled these guys, but $ome other $ignificant con$ideration. Let us not forget that only recently, Sting shilled for luxury sports cars and Copeland replaced John Densmore in the Doors of the 21st Century, then sued that group when it had the audacity to replace him. Which reminds me ...[/Quote]
This is untrue to the point of slander. Andy's book was scheduled for publication in the fall of last year, and most accounts I've read of the publishing biz seem to indicate that manuscripts are generally due well in advance of the date they actually see ink.
Stewart sued the Doors after they hired him, then violated the agreement by replacing him after he fell off a horse and was unavailable to perform as scheduled.
Man. Talk about lazy. Both these bits of information are easily available using the Google.
3.) This reviewer claims the band is using recorded background tracks because Stewart can't hit high notes? Boy, tell me another one! Wonder if it occurs to him that folks like Dave Grohl quit playing drums because many musicians will tell you it's hard as hell to sing and drum at the same time.
Lazy Assed Reviewer admits he hasn't seen Stewart play in 20+ years. Had he actually bothered to attend a show, he'd notice that Stewart has a few things going on up there besides vocals.
4.) The "best seats" are $200. Anybody think this guy is hacked off because he hasn't been handed a backstage Golden Ticket? You can get in the door at any Police gig on Earth for 50 bucks. In addition, general admission ticket holders were able to stand in the front row at Bonnaroo and will do the same at the Virgin Fest.
This guy's just bitter because Stewart and Andy didn't call him for his input before staging this whole thing, apparently. The only Police project spared his petulant-whining-disguised-as-cutting-edge-criticism is Stewart's movie, which he must not have seen. I suppose we'll be treated to part 2 of his blathering once someone tells him about it.
I've seen five Police shows in the last three weeks, four of them this week. Chicago fans will most definitely not be disappointed with this show.[/quote]
Take in more outrage from Police fans on TPT:
http://www.thepolice.com/members/commun ... pic=5853.0
