STEWART COPELAND

by **Divemistress of the Dark** on 04 Jul 2007 04:42

Link 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

by **samburusunset** on 04 Jul 2007 05:13

Dive, Is this what you emailed to the sonofabitch? Good. He doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about. Especially if he hasn't even seen them yet.

by **empty** on 04 Jul 2007 05:19

Look, PR is a big part of my job, but I have to tell you- there are some good journalists, even some great ones,but they are rare.

Most are too lazy or too busy to bother checking, and spout off crap and half truths.

That's why I took my communications degree and ended up doing lighting and then tech marketing- no way was I turning into a journo!

by **zilboy** on 04 Jul 2007 05:50

Hey, Dive -

You've gotta take this guy with a grain of salt. His favorite band is Wilco. He is notorious for being whiny and grumpy. He rarely has a kind word for anyone with talent.

He reminds me of a guy I went to school with. He was really intelligent and could have made a lot of friends, but he seemed to make it his mission to piss everyone who was in earshot off.

Trust me, don't waste your time or anger on this slime-o. You'll only fuel his fire.

Dan

by **AZPEARTPORTNOY** on 04 Jul 2007 05:51

Don't let him get the best of you. I really didn't take offense to much of what he said. The fact is Police fans will decide for themselves, they're not gonna let a "journalist" change their minds. When my wife and I saw the boys in Phoenix we both had mixed feelings about the show. I should note that my wife is a huge Police fan, where I'm more of Stu fan. She felt that the show didn't meet her expectations but like she also said, how could it, with all the hype and hoopla. She also blamed herself for sneaking a peak at the set list as she felt that made things predictable. She also noted that with the tickets going on sale in Febuary for a show in June it's tough to keep the excitement for that long. The seats we got through Best Buy were very dissappointing for the price point. I'm seeing Rush in August, row 13, $90.00 for a THREE hour show with no opening act to deal with. With that said, it doesn't change the fact we had a great time and were part of something special.

I would also like to say that Friction Plane played WAY TO LONG for an opening band. I know who makes that possible but their set should be cut be at least fifteen minutes.

by **georgygirl** on 04 Jul 2007 05:51

Is a good article. Thanks Dive, many things I founded there I think are true, don't agree with others, but the main misunderstanding is in the part they quote part of Stewart's article here. This man didn´t know anything about the writing relationship between Stewart and us, his fans.

Another mistake is when he wrote about Police's presentation on Grammy's 2006, when it was on Grammy's 2007.

And bad comments about Police's nowaday shows, are just perceptions of other people. (The other ones are complete bullshit) :mrgreen:

And new material, facing and viewing in a pragmatic way, it doesn´t depends only on The Police's member decision, because is true that is a music corporation with more persons involved. (Music Producers)

by **Divemistress of the Dark** on 04 Jul 2007 05:55

I didn't email the guy...my response was what I posted at TPT. I see nothing wrong with sharing my two cents on his worthless screed with my fellow fans.

Nor would I try to "take him on." My experience with folks like this is that they are generally completely humorless and totally unwilling to cede any ground whatsoever. Given the magnitude of this guy's readiness to put out complete misinformation, had he any shame, this fish wrapper would not have ever seen print. I don't expect him to get religion now because a bunch of Police fans start chewing on him; it'll only make him more defensive and determined to spew bile in the future.

I agree with whomever said the state of journalism today is pitiful. There are some bright shining stars, but given that most major outlets are owned by a paltry handful of megaconglomerates, there aren't many swans in the sewer.

p.s. I love Wilco myself. Don't hold Jeff Tweedy or my second-favorite drummer Glenn Kotche responsible for this halfass.

p.s. again: and he's even got the cutesy "Police attack" double entendre in the header to the article. Le barf.

by **georgygirl** on 04 Jul 2007 06:02

Just an article, it is not so important...

Anyway, the guy writes good, and thanks to share it here Dive. I did my own analysis of it.

:wink:

by **BinaryXtreme** on 04 Jul 2007 06:42

If Stewart reads this, open invite man, you give me a set of your sticks and a pair of your tube socks and I'll tie him down and beat him to death with the sticks if I can keep them. Now if you want real torture wake my wife up 2 hours early and unleash that fury on his no talent ass.

by **georgygirl** on 04 Jul 2007 06:56

[quote]unleash that fury on his no talent ass. [/quote]

Uhhhhhhhh, that really can hurt...

by **BinaryXtreme** on 04 Jul 2007 07:04

[quote="georgygirl"][quote]unleash that fury on his no talent ass. [/quote]

Uhhhhhhhh, that really can hurt...

[/quote]

You're telling me? I once woke her up early and I woke up in the fetal position with a Hot Wheel shoved up my ass. I've done it a thousand times. This is just a dream, right?

by **georgygirl** on 04 Jul 2007 07:08

The thing that hurt me the most was "no talent ass"

it´s okay, I understand you
anyway.

by **BinaryXtreme** on 04 Jul 2007 07:12

[quote="georgygirl"]The thing that hurt me the most was "no talent ass"

it´s okay, I understand you
anyway.

[/quote]

Sorry, I just have this deep anger with poor poor journalism. Please forgive me

Offer's still open Mr. Stewart!

by **georgygirl** on 04 Jul 2007 07:39

Sure I forgive you.

:wink:

As a matter of fact is just a misunderstanding.

You are such a lovely guy BinaryXtreme.

:lol:

by **DirtyMartini** on 04 Jul 2007 13:40

I saw this article a day or two ago. Yeah, it's the usual sensationalistic bullshit. Fact-checking and journalism are a thing of the past.

(Even that interview with SC the other day (St. Louis, I think?) had SC down as former band leader for the Dennis Miller show. Pretty easy fact to check and fix. But I guess the overwhelming physical resemblance of Andy and Stewart must have confused the guy . . .)

Truth is boring. Bullshit generates $, and bullshit generates website hits.

STEWART COPELAND

Infuriating article in Chicago Sun-Times

Infuriating article in Chicago Sun-Times

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