STEWART COPELAND

I was jolted out of bed this morning by the sound of a loud GONG! Like a shot I sat straight up and saw 5:14 a.m. on the bedside clock...damn, it's a dream! Down the stairs I go, to my first cup of coffee, with an undeniable pang in the pit of my stomache that could only mean one thing...Post-Police Withdrawal Syndrome (PPWS) has now begun! (Shit, I had hoped I could ride the high for at least 48 hours!)

Well, the high is still there...and the fact that I am finally sitting still for the first time in a while gives me a chance to reflect on an incredible week that had me spanning the tri-state area to see The Police four times in six days! It was some trip!! Closing out the week at Giants Stadium...knowing it was not only the end of my personal summer marathon, but also the last North American show for a few months...I am on emotional overload. Mostly, I feel so grateful! This tour was something I had long stopped believing would ever happen. The fact that it not only IS happening, but that it's actually living up to some pretty high expectations...well, seriously, how often does that happen? Can't even count all the times I've been slightly disappointed by the reality of something that I've built up in my mind to epic proportions...but here it is!! The Police have actually been on tour all summer (they have, right? I've been having some wild dreams lately...but this is really happening, isn't it?)...and I've been fortunate enough to see them A LOT...and it makes me happy in a way I haven't experienced for ages. It sort of makes me believe in things the way you do when you're too young to understand the concept of "obstacles." (Wanna be an astronaut AND a ballerina? No problem!) I'm not exactly sure why this reunion touches a place of such pure, unadulterated happiness in me...but it does. How can "thank you" possibly be enough for that? It's not...but it's a start. Thank you, Stewart! Thank you, Andy! Thank you, Sting!

It's also a little frightening to feel so passionately about something that you know won't last forever...but so much less frightening than the alternative. It's so easy to become jaded and blase...to build that little protective shell that over time makes it harder and harder for things to really "wow" us...maybe because we learn to avoid the things that might bring us joy but could also bring us pain. ("Love can mend your life, but love can break your heart!" Indeed!)
Do you remember being about 15-years-old and away from home...maybe on a family vacation, maybe at camp...and you meet that kid down the road who you really like? And you know you shouldn't get attached, 'cause you're like 1000 miles from home (or 50 miles away without a driver's license!) and sooner or later you're gonna have to say good-bye? And all your friends try to warn you...but you don't listen. And the summer comes to an end and it damn-near breaks your heart! But what if you never let yourself be touched that way...wouldn't that suck more??

So, I was going to write something about Giants Stadium...it was quite a day for so many reasons. Great weather. Awesome people. My favorite band playing the only music that has ever imprinted on me in quite this way. Stewart. The flag. It was all amazing, and I wanted it to last forever!! When the show reached the mid-way point, I swear I would've bargained with the devil to make time stand still...it moved waaaay too fast!

I don't mean this to be a downer. It's not over by a long shot, and I can't wait to hear every detail from every one of you about the shows you've waited for so patiently! And I'll buy more tickets for as many more shows as I can. But it's time for a return to "ordinary" life for awhile...and I'm a little edgy. How does one pretend to care about buying school supplies, trips to amusement parks and other end of summer activities? (Are there computers at Six Flags??)

We'll all get through this together, won't we?? First things first...just breathe!

You are a beautiful and courageous woman, and I am proud to call you my friend, nancyrose.

The honor is mine, Kel. Kisses to you!

nancyrose -- I know exactly what you mean. Today was definitely "back to earth" day for me with a lot of things hitting me from all directions and making me realize that the summer is, more or less, over for me at this point and I need to bust my ass to catch up on everything else for the next few months.

*sigh*

There are moments when I still can't comprehend everything that's happened, everything I've had the chance to experience this year, starting since February and then just barreling on from there. It's the music, it's the dreams of decades of wishing fulfilled more than I ever dared hope for, it's the friends I've made here and elsewhere who understand and can share these feelings and experiences like no one else understands.

I've mentioned before, I've been involved in many different "fandoms" for a great deal of my life, from other band fandoms to science fiction to what-have-you, and I can honestly say I've never had the pleasure to meet and spend time with as wonderful a group of fans as I have this year (and mostly through sc.net). More than anything I hope those friendships will last long after this tour is over and we'll find new reasons to meet together and celebrate our shared passions.

And crap, I'd better stop before *I* get all mushy and emotional right now....

In the Stranger Than Fiction department . . .

Woken up this morning by a huge BLAMMO that rattled the windows. Sound so loud that I bolted right up out of bed. Big flashes of lightning follow -- the kind that make you wish you didn't sleep on the window-side of the bed -- but what is the very first thought that runs through my mind?

[quote="nancyrose"]I was jolted out of bed this morning by the sound of a loud GONG! Like a shot I sat straight up and saw 5:14 a.m. on the bedside clock.[/quote]

So I look at the clock.

5:16.

Damn! The perfect parallel story, and my clock is off by two minutes!

Holy Shit...that's pretty freaky! Dare I say "synchronicity?"

[quote="nancyrose"]It's also a little frightening to feel so passionately about something that you know won't last forever...but so much less frightening than the alternative. It's so easy to become jaded and blase...to build that little protective shell that over time makes it harder and harder for things to really "wow" us...maybe because we learn to avoid the things that might bring us joy but could also bring us pain.[/quote]

I think this is a profound observation, Nancy. In some ways I think I have been a bit jaded and blasé for a big chunk of time, and that one of the things we've probably all gone through as we've gotten older is that some of our friends, family, and colleagues could be very judgmental and think things like "you're not serious enough" or "it's just music, so it's not that meaningful or important". Problem is, I have spent about 15 years listening to that message more than I should have, and trying to be someone that I'm not in some ways.

My version of what you're expressing is the courage and self-confidence to be the person you really are and want to be, and the interesting thing to me is how this music and this musician and this tour are reminding me what joy really feels like, and giving me more courage to just be myself and own it.

And it's not just about the music, right? It's the combination of talent, wit, intelligence, personality, and sincerity of spirit, and the confidence to be who you are. In addition to loving the music, I see those things in Stewart, and seeing that gives me courage to be more honest with myself and others. In my profession I'm a bit of a maverick, and it has led to a lot of self-doubt, which has naturally led to suppressing aspects of my personality that aren't as "serious". But this summer has had a couple of things happen, including this whole experience, to enable me to find that courage and harness it, both for personal and professional benefit.

So thank you, to you and DM and others here for contributing to that. And to Stewart, of course, for sharing his gift.

This is my first post to S.C.net.
[quote="nancyrose"]
So, I was going to write something about Giants Stadium...it was quite a day for so many reasons. Great weather. Awesome people. My favorite band playing the only music that has ever imprinted on me in quite this way. Stewart. The flag. It was all amazing, and I wanted it to last forever!! When the show reached the mid-way point, I swear I would've bargained with the devil to make time stand still...it moved waaaay too fast! [/quote]

totally agree with you!!
During the ancore "Next to You", I jumped the barricade to rush into the front row, because I felt that at that moment my USA staying,summer and the North American Police tour was finishing so I had to say something to Sting, Andy and yes, Stewart!!
After the concert, I found you nancyrose, DM, sockii, vespapod around me. That was so funny but so nice. I was so happy that I could share great moment with you wondeful guys.!!
takeshi

Welcome takeshi! One word to you, "CHA!"

takeshi!!!!!!

You're here!!!!



Welcome!

(Sorry for the rampant exclamation point abuse.)

Well this is sort of on the same lines....

Being a drummer since age seven, and never seeing my drum hero play live it took it to a whole new level for me. I actually wept and a floodgate of emotion hit me hard when I saw Stewart on that stage hitting those drums with such passion. It's a hard thing to describe, but I went full circle I felt complete. Finally after all these years not only do I see my mentor, but "The Greatest Band In The World" reform.

Not only did the music deliver, but it exceeded all my expectations. They are truly the best together. It was like living in a dream the shows that I saw. I mean I was way too young to catch them the first time around. So I felt like I rehearsed this all my life. The cd's/books/posters/shirts/bootlegs/dvd's/vhs/bottons/wallets/records/etc...filled the void, until I actually saw them my heart stopped yearning, after those magical moments and all this other stuff is just trappings now. I do not need any of it. I feel very satisfied.

And who would have thought as a child I would ever get to see them.
I was learning "Bring On The Night" at the tender age of 8. And just had a "Copeland Explosion" and to this day the reason why I get to play professionally is because of his drumming.

Meaning to say this, forever will I be the student and I went to see The Master Rhythmatist this summer and I truly am complete...that is what these concerts meant to me.

Sorry Sting and Andy, you did not get much of my attention when I was there.

After watching Stewart live, I am more crazy about drumming than ever before.


My drum setup had always been uncomfortable. I am about as tall as Stewart and am built like Stewart. After watching him play I stole some ideas from his setup. So, after reconfiguring my drum set I can say I am playing much faster and straighter and have gone back to "Military" grip and everything is working much better than it ever did before.


Thanks Stewart, your student Dontboxmein!!!!!!!!!

Please excuse the further exclamation abuse to say,

TAKESHI!!!!! WELCOME!!!!! And thank you so much for the photos!!!


Great stories and insights, folks. Thank you for sharing them.


Yo, Europe! Best get your writing caps on because there's a whole continent over here that's starting to shake with the DTs.


Thanks for letting us tag along with part of the rocketship ride, Stewart. You evil pusher you.

Takeshi!! I miss you!!!

I think it is wonderful that you were so moved in the moment that you had to do something perhaps more extreme than what your "adult" demeanor would normally allow for. How refreshing it has been this summer to revisit some of the enthusiasm and passion of youth...all that really great stuff that society tries to beat out of us, in a way.

I think it's healthy to let our "inner children" out to play!

TAKESHI!

wooooohooooo.

your molly ringwald here. so glad you have come on over to say hi. hang out a while- you are MOST welcome here.

[quote="Lynne"]My version of what you're expressing is the courage and self-confidence to be the person you really are and want to be, and the interesting thing to me is how this music and this musician and this tour are reminding me what joy really feels like, and giving me more courage to just be myself and own it.

So thank you, to you and DM and others here for contributing to that. And to Stewart, of course, for sharing his gift.[/quote]

You're welcome, Lynne. The irony is that I suspect we contribute a lot more to the world when we unharness those parts of our personality that we feel the need to supress. I can imagine that doing so, particularly in academia, must take a huge leap of faith...but the payoff in living authentically has got to be fantastic.