by Philip on 14 Dec 2006 21:49
I agree with that.
But if you think, Sting wouldn't have done it without Stewart and Andy, ok probably not as good, he would have managed it anyway. I am convinced.
For me all his so called ‘solo’ material, with in did isn’t more or less solo than during the police (the only difference in the working process of making music, is that the musicians working for him are paid for sessions, like employees). Of course Dominic Miller, Manu Katché, Cheb Mami, K Kirkland and lot of others had a major influence on how the songs finally became.
From the time on, at age 25 or something, he left home with wife and baby to start a new career, putting all they possessed into a car, wanting to be a musician in London, he was starting to build up. Today, everybody laughs about Henry Padovani, but, it seems that at that time, this man coming from the fare Corsican Island had more connections than the provincial looking and probably speaking with a northern accent Sting.
From the beginning, it was exactly like you say. It’s “him, him, him” who did the whole thing. There is continuity in all he did. There is not ‘last exit’ then ‘police’ then ‘sting ex-police’ then ‘sting (no need to precise ex-police)’ and finally ‘major pop star, multi-billionaire Mr Sting plays lute’. There is no difference, all through. Sting is a musician who composes songs and music, who evolved in professionalism, talent and technique, during a carer all dedicated to music. It has always been him in the middle point. He has a big ego, and is very straight, hard working. Very hard working. So he is absolutely right to face the things like they are. He can decide on life or death of the police. In a way he still is the police. In a way, it was him.
The big reproach I make to Sting, is not to consider at it’s right measure what Mr Andy Summers, an incredible player and Mr Stewart Copeland, one of the best drummers of all time, with an extraordinary capacity of sounds and an incredible imaginative sense of the beat, brought to the music Sting did during the police.
Artistically, there are always 2 parts in something you create:
1) it is an idea of song, something abstract you put down on paper, you arrange, you change, you create… to the point you say : ok this is my piece of art. It has sens.
2) Bud at the same time, it is something you have to give form to. It can’t be just an idea. You have to bring it to others, to interpret it. You have to play the sound you imagine.
The problem is that Andy and Stew brought a huge lot to the music of Sting. For me all the songs on Dream Of Blue Turtle, Nothing Like The Sun, etc… to the last album (forgot the name) and Brocken Music tour could comfortably have had Stewart and Andy on it. They would have made the songs better, if proposed to do so. I’m sure.
All things are going forward. For me, the reason why Sting will never accept a reunion of “The” Police is because it would be retrograde, it would be looking backward. He is not nostalgic of the past. He is looking to the future. He explores new horizons, new things, new sounds… and always will.
So, the point is that his music is better when Andy and Stewart bring something to it. Even if the police was a kind of opportunistic deal between them to handle with the hard reality of the music system… every one knows (Ska man: “everyone” includes Sting himself), there is something between the 3 of them ! there is “chemistry”. They have found each other, and even if Sting is a richer and more talented, intelligent and what ever… than Stewart and Andy… He must face that evidence: there is something between the 3 of them.
Each of them is very straight, has developed his own universe, his own world. If Sting is pretty (Ska man: for your posters), and an incredible author/composer, Andy is no less than 1 of the best accomplished Guitar player ever ! and Stewart one of the biggest drummer of all time !
Sting, you must play with Andy and Stewart because:
1) If the chance wasn’t given to you to play with this guys in the late 70’s, now, as each evolves in another universe, you would never meet. You have the chance to be 3 friends and that for, you are able to build anything together. Use the chance of having the privilege of being the friend of the incredible Andy Summers and the talented Stewart Copeland.
2) Newer forget at the beginning, Andy had the most experience… even through he accepted to contain his facilities. To contain his important knowledge of music. To let 2 younger musicians tell him what to do, as he brought some comfort to the possibilities and high capacities of playing you used at that period. It has been frustrating to have to contain his solos in only a few bares. To work, very hard, to your satisfaction, to get the minimum sounds, but perfect.
Every Breath you take would have been a nice track any way. But that guitar of Andy, if just a piece of music history for all time !
3) Never forget it was Stewart, helped from his brothers, who created the police. It was Stewart, and Stewart’s songs who gave you the possibility to start. Stewart gave you the will, energy and strategy to go to success. But, that incredible drummer accepted to let you get the leadership of the band. Even if it was insouciant, if he wouldn’t have face it at that time, but it’s clear, he stayed back, he offered all his creativity to bring to your songs something you would never have been able to bring yourself.
4) Regarding to points 1), 2) and 3, you must do it for music, because if you don’t do it, it will be lost for ever ! You must do it for Andy ! You must do it for Stewart !