STEWART COPELAND

This is becoming a bit of a habit. Almost 8 weeks ago I posted on this forum ‘the best 2 days of my life’ – Manchester 17th/18th June – it was my birthday (18th),I was the proud bearer of Stewarts Copelands flag and was 2nd row all on the same day.

Well I’ve a confession August 7th 2008 was INCREDIBLE /UNBELIEVABLE/ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC without doubt THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE EVER. No question. No doubt.FINITO.
When I meet the boss upstairs we’re gonna chat about this day......
Where to start...
Well Wednesday morning 7am Manchester Airport and my old boy drops me off with the totally underwhelming words ‘enjoy it son’. He and me have this ‘understanding’ you see, a silent bond, a secret.... he knows what this means to me.......he’s heard me play the countless records, seen me dye the hair Sting blonde at 13, laughed at me sting dancing (think ELTSDIM vid), tried to get me out of my green jump suit where this became my daily wear... and by daily I mean 24/7/365 until the damn thing..... well just ‘disintegrated’... they don’t make clothes like they used to......Well actually that’s note quite true the bottom half I still have.... you know for keepsake or something..... though I ‘m sure the hot wash did something to the waist...
I jump from the car ,take the denim jacket off gotta make sure everyone can see my Police tour t-shirt – and just for good measure stick my 43 year old chest out – look people I’m catching a plane to the States to see The BEST BAND IN THE WORLD - MANCHESTER CAN YOU HEAR ME ????? Unbelievably I’ve a PIT ticket. Thanks to Stewart /Giovanni and Eugennio at SC.Net. I won THE competition with my nutter friends.OMG.

I’m a lucky guy.

Well actually I’ve not strictly got it yet and I’m a wee bit nervous you see on receipt of my winning email I ,and I apologise unreservedly for this, kindly asked Cynthia by email sorry to trouble you ‘but was there any chance you could tell me where my ticket is?’......... 2 hours later and I’m out of my desk, pumping the air with my fist,’Yes ,Yes’,closely followed by ‘Get in , Get in’ – the open plan office .... well they just piss themselves their normally restrained FD has come over... well er crazy... they have just no idea......
I’m digressing but still I’m on a roll and want to share it with you. So straight away I shoot an email to Dietmar telling him (gotta let him know, he’ll understand and Dietmar comes back in his totally laid back fashion ‘me too’).
I write back to Cynthia thanking here profusely, telling here what this means..... duh and then ........she comes back again ....’don’t tell anyone’......ooops.......then The Equalizer sends me a congratulations email...... apparently the whole world now knows, cause my mate, Dietmar had told the world on SC.net. So you see that’s why I’m a wee bit worried... hope I haven’t upset Cynthia...
So my plan is to go from Newark straight to the MSG. Except wait for it and I swear to God this is true, my taxi driver has never heard of Madison Square Gardens and he even stops twice to ask another taxi driver. At one point he turns to me with his white gleaming teeth and points to a sign that says MSG right (just after the tunnel) so why ‘dum head’ are we in the left hand lane heading left......duhh.
I’ve convinced myself it’s a scam to get more $ but to be fair am charged $65 as he said at the outset- only the journey seems to have taken almost as long as the 8 hour flight.
So I arrive at MSG jump out of the taxi and run yes run into the building - why am I running?
I pick up my ticket - did I tell you Cynthia that I love you! (just incase you’re reading this).
‘Yes , Yes , Get in , Get in’.

I’m a lucky guy.

My plan was to go up to the Apollo and I flag 2 taxi’s down the first not knowing where the Apollo is(!). I sit in the back knowing I’ve no ticket but can be there in 5 mins – WRONG- its 20 mins minimum and the doors close at 345pm .. and its 340pm. Bollocks I get out still console myself I’ve a pit ticket and didn’t have a ticket anyway....
(unknown to me at this time Dave and Wendy had emailed me telling me they had a spare but to be there at 330pm no later – oouch!).Never mind hey you can’t have everything.
I call the missus yes arrived safely ‘I swear to god this is true but my taxi driver did’t know where MSG is’ waiting for her to laugh ... long silence.... 'what’s MSG'.... I give up.... it’s funny I’m when I’m buzzing on cloud 9 my missus has this completely non interested/underwhelming outlook/response ......almost like to aggravate me......FFS this is THE POLICE you know my life blah blah blah ,this is why I’ve spent every evening for the last 18 months on ‘that bloody internet’ as she calls it ...as in ‘will you get off that bloody internet and converse with the kids...’. I know when to stop she’s got the kids 5 days (oo er) and she’s going to our in-laws at the weekend which I’ll ,unfortunately, just miss out on....

How are the kids? Charlotte misses her Dad but will you bring her something back? Then Su ,my missus completely redeems herself by simply saying ‘Saviour It’ and I feel like a complete idiot for ever questioning her understanding..........

I’m a lucky guy.

Blimey this is running longer than I expected I... hope there is still someone reading out there.....I’ll finish tomorrow its 1.57am here in the UK....and I've jet lag...

I'm looking forward to Part 2!

S.S.

Steve,
It was great to see you again.
Just wondering... Maybe you should re-title this thread before the missus finds it. Maybe second best? Or... how many kids do you have?
Third best? 4th?

Brilliant so far. I tend to agree with renaming the thread, for your own personal safety of course. Keep it coming!!

HA!!! What Pluto said. I caught myself in the nick of time whilst on the phone with Mr. Dive last night

Wake up, Steve, I want to hear the rest!!!!!

Afternoon folks thanks for your kind comments – Plutonic mate I’m a brave bloke when the missus is away! (at the inlaws).We’ve 3 girls Charlotte 10, Gabby 6 (the child from hell) and Georgie almost 4.
Ok I’ll cut to the chase.
THURSDAY GIG DAY
I’m up early. I want to be on that front row no matter what. So at 825am I leave for MSG.20 minutes later and I’m there. Where is everyone? I mean come on. ....
This is, as Stewart would say, THE MIGHTY POLICE...
Wait for it.... I police the building (oooer) 2, 3 times still no one. The MSG is closed and then I spot general admission outside the building and wait and wait and wait. Actually I’m feeling like a bit of an idiot and there’s a mild panic that I’ve got the wrong place.
But then it happens I see Takeshi and shortly after at last Dietmar.......at last I can converse with people who know what this means cause up till now trying to explain... well it’s been like I’ve been speaking a different language – people just don’t understand what is wrong with them!!!
Dietmar is especially excited in his cool as f—k manner. He’s talking quicker and I can tell he’s excited. Me too. Did I tell you that?
Next Analia from Uruguay and her friend from Argentina arrive closely followed by Bongo Boy, Ska Man, Tommie and The Equalizer...now its happening. We swapstories, take photos and have a ball – its 1pm – 8hours to THE POLICE.OMG.
Then we get moved on by MSG staff we’ve been queuing in the wrong spot – lordy lordy can you believe it? so we move into MSG and wait.
Before too long there’s a steady stream of nutters arriving Animal,Conroy,Dirty Martini,Plutonic and Meg,Sockii great wig and boots btw, Samburusunset,Policerule,Vespapod,Divemistress of the Dark and the incredibly charismatic Pecos.
The time absolutely flies bye. I speak to Plutonic and Meg whose stories and opinions are great listening their enthusiasm is infectious.
I feel at home talking to people who understand what it means....to hear the opening chords of ‘Message in a Bottle’ or the loop into Regatta in ‘Can’t Stand losing you’or the joyous ‘Ever little Thing She Does is Magic’ it means something. Like a footballer kissing his shirt badge – The Police – WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF ME.
I’m proud that Tommie, Dietmar and Analia can honestly say we were first in line for the last ever Police gig – we experienced a bond something only nearly 10 hours of queuing together can generate. Each understanding what it meant to the other with the aim of making front row.
Before I know it we’re lining up to sprint into the arena. I’ve hidden my camera in my sock ...just in case... and am panicking big style if I’m number 1 in the Q and I’m searched the camera is ‘toast’.
My hearts exploding out of my chest I think I’m gonna die, can’t breathe, gotta get to the front....all this travelling, waiting, sitting, all the years loving the Police, the records, the photos, the haircuts, the clothes, it all flows through me in that split second, there’s something in my eye, hold yer breath big man, here we go....OMG.... and we’re off – gotta get to the front, gotta get to the front.............. I stumble from the blocks wrenching the camera from my sock – its gonna fall out!! – loose 10 places then after what seemed like a maze of corridors and wrong turns.......
AT LAST ....... MADE IT.

FRONT ROW at MSG OMG.

I’M A HAPPY MAN.
THANK YOU GOD. I mean it.

I’m a lucky guy.

Then for a split second the emotion of the moment grabs me God dam that thing in my eye,I’ve a spine tingling moment and a shiver rounds down my back.I’ve goose pimples.
My God I’m here front .... all the years...........
Then I can hear Su’s words... ‘Saviour it’ and that damn thing in my eyes starts welling up again.......
I take a look at MSG – holy shit – I’m here front row of the pit – pinch me, pinch me.I meet the lovely Apegio from Sting.com who like me is almost in denial that she is actually here – we share a ‘really moment’.
‘C’mon Dad wake up’ I keep expecting to hear cause this doesn’t happen to me, I’m just an ordinary bloke,things like this don’t happen to me.......... I gotta be dreaming.
I take a moment to look around - the pit is full of nutters all my friends and EVERYONE is beaming.yep beaming ..........everyone is smiling relieved they made it ......its fabulous and jeez the gig hasn’t started!
I spot my mate Carter – another Uk’er we share a blokes ‘respect moment’.
Before we know it the B52’s are on stage and before I know it I’m transported back to my student days Rock Lobster et al hey btw ‘Juliet of the Spirits’ sounds like a hit to me ( with a little The Edge influence?)
Well this is it. I’m so happy I’m almost delirious - its going to happen the best band in the world are coming on and I’m just feet away.

As a side my missus says when I’m REALLY happy that my face takes the shape of someone who ‘Gurns’....... actually between me and you I know what she means....... well I’m ‘gurning’ for England now!

The music stops and then........

we hear 'GET UP STAND UP'

we want more, we want more! Stevel: it's a great story and it was really nice to meet you!

Joyous times !


It's like reliving it again !


YeHaaa !

Cheers you Leeds Boy !!! yer a Great Bloke !!!!

BB.

Bongo Boy,
Mate great to hear from you hey and Leeds won away yesterday at the mighty Scunthorpe United 2-1!
Aint life great!

Stevel,

Great report, can just imagine you gurning, Hah.

And Leeds win at Sunny Scunny.

Can't wait for your next installment.

I'm getting goosebumps reading this, Steve. Great job!!!! You've definitely nailed the anticipation we were feeling that day. I need another fix!!!!!

Leeds has been affected by The Police positive vibes !


Good times these !

Remember to wear your new Police shirt to work and show them why you are such a Police Freak !

heh,heh.

It was a blast Buddy.

Cheers BB.

I LOVE reading your account of the day, stevel! Just so much pure and total joy...mixed in with a sense of disbelief on so many levels...that's what I remember, too!


(As an aside about your title: I've just been using the "safer" and more generic phrase "one of the best days of my life." Seems to provide a good cover!)

[quote="stevel"]
AT LAST ....... MADE IT.

FRONT ROW at MSG OMG.

I’M A HAPPY MAN.
THANK YOU GOD. I mean it.

I’m a lucky guy.

My God I’m here front .... all the years...........

and then........

we hear 'GET UP STAND UP'[/quote]

Don't stop now!

S.S.