Andy Summers - Boston Bookreading, 10/11/2006

[bab]

I attended Andy's book reading in Brookline, MA on Tuesday (Aug 11, 2006). The reading took place at and signing at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, while the signing was across the street at the Brookline Booksmith. The Coolidge Corner Theatre is a great little independent, non-profit movie house that I've wanted to visit for years.

In the old days, I would have had to arrive at the event several hours before-hand and waited in line forever in order to get the best seat. I was able to avoid this urge, instead stopping to eat a couple slices of Upper Crust pizza and drink a glass of Chianti with a buddy of mine. Having bought the $2 tickets earlier in the day (they would have been purchased weeks ago in my more obsessed days), we arrived at the theatre about 40 minutes before the doors opened. About 10 people were waiting before us.

The doors opened at 6:00pm. We walked in and up the stairs (past the snack counter – I wanted a bottle of water, but I wanted a good seat more). After getting our seats, my friend went back downstairs to get us drinks. 3nd row, center. I would guess that the theatre holds about 150 people, which seemed to be sold out.

After being introduced, Andy walked out and greeted the attendees. He said that he was still trying to figure out the best passages to read at book readings, and was selecting a few different pages for this night.

He read anecdotes including:

• An Acid trip that he had with Zoot Money
• Jamming with Jimi Hendrix
• His response to having had his hair dyed blonde
• The Police having an awful time in Paris
• Recording Synchronicity and asking George Martin to produce
• Taking photographs of moths for his 1/3rd of the Synchronicity Cover
• Recording Every Breath You Take

After the reading, he took questions from the audience. Unfortunately, I've forgotten a lot of them.

He was asked about the book that inspired “Friends” (Robert Heinlein’s “Stranger in a Strange Land”) – He said that it was an amazing and exciting book in its time.

He was asked and discussed his photography. He has a large coffee table-sized book of photographs he took of the Police being released next year.

He’s been working on his autobiography for a few years now, but really hunkered down in 2004 and spent 6 months working on it.

He was asked if the success of his career was worth toll placed on his personal life. He says that it was not. "It's all in the book."

After the reading was completed, Andy left the stage and went across the street to sign books at the Brookline Booksmith. The line moved quickly. As he signed my copy of his book, I asked him a few questions.

- What was the history behind the surround-sound version of De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da that appears on the DTS and SACD version of the Police Greatest Hits? Was it from a demo, or possibly from the ’86 sessions that saw the rerecording of Don’t Stand So Close To Me? Andy said that he was asked the very same question the previous evening. Amazingly, he says that HE HASN’T EVEN HEARD THE SONG! He has no idea that this version is on the greatest hits, but will need to listen to it.

- What does he think of Stewart’s Derangements? He said that while he doesn’t care that much for them, he thinks that they work very well in Stewart’s film.

- Are there any recordings left in the “Police vaults”? He said that they plan on doing a comprehensive search. They are hoping to have a release next year.

I stuck around for another 10 minutes, perusing through some of the used books. After finishing the signings, Andy prepared to leave. A staff member at the book store told him that they sold 75 books for the event. Andy spoke with a couple more fans, shook a few hands, and left.

Brian