After This tour has concluded...

[DirtyMartini]

I am going to restrain myself from making a "masturbating with the Police" joke because I want to make sure that I don't come off as insincere.

Philip, I haven't participated in this conversation (purposely), so I'm going to assume that you're not directing your remarks at me specifically. I just asked about the rumor thing because it sounded odd to call it a "rumor" with direct verification, especially with the negative connotations associated with the word "rumor." But if I somehow gave offense, please accept my apology.

[Philip]

DM, I hope I gave a proper answer to your question and of course I don’t feel hurt at all.

[Wait and See]

I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy, but I hope they stick together permanently after the tour, at least as an occasional entity that they all return to after doing whatever they want on the side. And I think I speak for the overwhelming majority of fans when I say that a new album from the Police would be far and away more reason for excitement than any kind of solo efforts they might pursue otherwise.

A lot of the other stuff being said here, whether it be from critics or from fans who oddly seem to want them to call it quits after the tour, seems kinda nutty to me.

[Three over Four]

I would admit that I probably come off as a Police apologist, or masturbator, or whatever you want to call it for one simple reason. I only want these 3 people we call the Police to be happy....simple as that. The band I'm in for years chased after the wrong dream, namely to make money. We played many gigs that we wouldn't have done otherwise if we were just doing it for the enjoyment of making music together.

Over the last several years, we've changed gears and made some movies together. We're able to do that because we are really good friends first and foremost, and we have lots in common. The talk has come up recently about going back and doing some more music together, but doing it for the right reasons this time. I'd rather play 3 or 4 shows a year that I really enjoy doing than slug it out in some shithole just for the cash.

I have a different perspective on music now than I ever had in the past, so for me, I really don't care if they don't mix up the setlist on this tour, or if Sting doesn't play with a pick. I want them to truly be happy making music together, and if that includes a new album then fantastic. If they go their own ways after this tour, then that is great too.

[DirtyMartini]

[quote="Philip"]DM, I hope I gave a proper answer to your question and of course I don’t feel hurt at all.[/quote]

Thanks, Philip. Just wanted to make sure.


[quote="Three over Four"]I want them to truly be happy making music together, and if that includes a new album then fantastic. If they go their own ways after this tour, then that is great too.[/quote]

Hallelujia and amen. I really hope they enjoy the playing.

[mardee]

[quote="Divemistress of the Dark"]Yep. You guys need to chill out. Calling people names is a no-no, so is characterizing their opinions as "crap." Gio's pretty low-key, but don't think he's going to let people start getting into brawls around here. (You want to fight with people and call them names? Go hang out on the ThePolice.com. It's like the Wild West over there...as far as I can tell there are no moderators.)

Not that I think I need to defend my opinion, but I can tell anyone who wouldn't want to see Oysterhead do another tour hasn't seen them live. Ditto for the Gizmo stuff, which I'd hazard a few members around here haven't ever heard of, much less heard for themselves.

This is Stewart's message board. As such, many of us here are fans of his solo work.[/quote]

You said it, Sister!

I'd like to see Oysterhead live, and Gizmo, and I think seeing the Spyro ST done live would be awesome.

Conroy: Video Games Live looks like great fun. I love the soundtracks to video games and cosplay is one of the best parts of anime/ video game related event.

[Wait and See]

>>>If they go their own ways after this tour, then that is great too.<<<

That's what I don't get. If you are a fan of the band, how could you say having them go their own ways would be "great"? Understandable maybe, easy to accept given that they broke up for 23 years, but "great"? Seems like most people would be disappointed, even if it was fully expected...

[Three over Four]

Yes great. Why? Because I absolutely love his work with Oysterhead, his Orchestralli project, I've always wanted an excuse to visit Italy and what better than another Notte della Taranta Festival. These other projects of Stewart's would be a lot less likely to occur if the Police were to continue.

That being said, the Police is my most favorite project of Stewart's, so if a new album happens then I will be thrilled! Ultimately, I am a fan of Stewart Copeland, and if the Police don't continue after this tour then I know I can expect more great work from this highly talented individual.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

I really have to think that anyone questioning some of us wanting more solo work out of the guys hasn't heard any of their solo work...and I won't begin to speculate that any of them have seen it live.

Believe it or not, there's more to artistic expression that simply pleasing the masses. I suspect Stewart would be the first to tell you that there are *a lot* of artistic compromises one has to make to partake in a tour that's marketed by outfits like Clear Channel and Best Buy.

(Boy. This is one mixed-up message board these days. Folks arguing The Police tour is a big waste of time vs. people who can't understand why anyone wouldn't want it to go on forever. I think my paradigm has been shaken, then stirred. )

[DirtyMartini]

Speaking of martinis . . .


Ditto to 3/4.

Plus, as much as I love the music, I (personally) don't feel comfortable placing my enjoyment before the players' personal happiness. Maybe that's goofy and extra crunchy -- but that's fine with me. I would honestly prefer Stewart (and every one of you guys as well for that matter) to work on projects that make him happy than do something that he doesn't enjoy.

(Considering the likely compromises that Stewart has had to make, as Dive noted, I do hope that he is able to be happy on this tour.)

If The Police continue, I gain more music. But if they don't, I lose absolutely nothing because I still have what they've already made.

[Three over Four]

[quote]I really have to think that anyone questioning some of us wanting more solo work out of the guys hasn't heard any of their solo work...and I won't begin to speculate that any of them have seen it live.[/quote]

I seriously could not take the Orchestralli disc out of my player for a good month or two when I first bought it. And that would be the DVD playing in my house, and the CD in the car. Also, consider this W&S, if Stewart were to embark on a tour for Orchestralli or a similar project, how much of a better view of his work would we all have in the venues it would likely take place in as opposed to the mega-sports structures the current Police tour is booked in? Things look good to me regardless of the direction Stewart goes after his current project.

[Wait and See]

OK, I can see the angle of providing moral support to Stewart here on his board, regardless of the outcome. Personally, I would be lying if I said his other projects rose to the level of what he's done with the Police, even though I think he's the "genius" of the group. The combination of the three of them is unique. Apart, they aren't quite the same. That's just me, though.

As for them being happy--I think it goes without saying that they have to be happy for the group to continue, so I'm not sure there's a distinction. Them getting along, the music rising to the level of their capabilities, and the Police remaining an ongoing entity would be the ideal outcome from my POV, and that's what I'm rooting for.

[Three over Four]

I think we're saying basically the same thing W&S. The Police continuing would be my top choice for sure. The only thing I'd add is that it's more than just moral support for Stewart if that doesn't happen....I truly LOVE his other works. Particularly Orchestralli. The fact that he wrote all of that material, rehearsed with the musicians for a few days, and then toured & recorded with the resulting stellar album/DVD just blows my mind.

[DirtyMartini]

[quote="Three over Four"]I think we're saying basically the same thing W&S. The Police continuing would be my top choice for sure. The only thing I'd add is that it's more than just moral support for Stewart if that doesn't happen....I truly LOVE his other works.[/quote]

Ditto 3/4 again.

Obviously "kick ass in (insert city here)" threads are about moral support, and I'm all over that. (RAH RAH, Stewart.) But I also like and love his other work. A Police fan's loss is an Oysterhead fan's gain. I'm mostly ecstatic to see Stewart playing drums again.


[quote="Wait and See"]Them getting along, the music rising to the level of their capabilities, and the Police remaining an ongoing entity would be the ideal outcome from my POV, and that's what I'm rooting for.[/quote]

Yup, I'd love that. But I won't be disappointed if it doesn't happen, especially considering all the many realities of the situation.

I think my ideal outcome would be for SC, Andy, and Sting to have the ability to treat The Police like SC, Trey, and Les treat Oysterhead -- as an occasional but on-going project. It would be great to see them get together for a while, do their thing, go off to do other things, then get together for another project, etc. (Ebb and flow, baby.)

BUT because The Police is such a huge machine, I just don't know if it could feasibly and realistically handled in such a casual manner, even if the band wanted to. In one way The Police is three musicians; in another it is waaay bigger than them.

[nathanarizona]

[quote]I think my ideal outcome would be for SC, Andy, and Sting to have the ability to treat The Police like SC, Trey, and Les treat Oysterhead -- as an occasional but on-going project. It would be great to see them get together for a while, do their thing, go off to do other things, then get together for another project, etc. (Ebb and flow, baby.)

BUT because The Police is such a huge machine, I just don't know if it could feasibly and reasonably handled in such a casual manner, even if the band wanted to. In one way The Police is three musicians; in another it is waaay bigger than them.[quote]

Agree totally with that assessment. I've read before that Stew and Andy kind of wanted this back in '84 or so - everybody go do their thing and we'll come back to the Police, then start the cycle again. I'd love it if they could all do both, sorta like Jack White does with the Stripes and Racanteurs and the stuff he did with Loretta Lynn.