By: Justin Haley

July 2007

This year's reunion at the Grammy Awards marked the 30th year since the release of "Roxanne" catapulted Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland into American idol mania. Their 1983 album Synchronicity went platinum eight times in the U.S. and was number one in the UK as well. Two decades later, ever-popular 80's rockers The Police are back and embarking on a massive global tour that takes them to (literally) all four corners of the globe. But don’t expect mullets and bad pre-dubbing techniques. These boys have not only reunited but are fearlessly reinventing music that was already post-modern decades ago. "The songs have to evolve. Twenty-odd years later we have to be better musicians than we were," says solo star, actor, and activist Sting. "So we've slowed it all down, looked at where we are, and how the songs are now happening by listening to ourselves play them."

The Police originally shot to fame for exploring an experimental style of rock that brought reggae and punk into the mainstream. To develop this highly anticipated comeback, the trio spent almost eight months at intimate studios in tranquil north Vancouver and artistically inspiring Tuscany, Italy to progress their style even further. Expect a slowed-down version of "Don't Stand So Close To Me" that emphasizes the track's powerful lyrics and new percussion instrumentation on "Wrapped Around Your Finger," "Walking In Your Footsteps" and "King Of Pain." "I think we've got a good mix now where the fans get the song they remember, and most of it will sound the way they remembered it," says drummer Copeland. "Just when they are enjoying that, they get a new twist. I think all three of us are pretty happy with the balance there."

Instead of the "80s ideals of sex, drugs and rock n' roll, The Police are touting a 21st century environmentalist credo. Sting is a forerunner in using pop-culture status to bring attention to worldly issues, and a portion of ticket proceeds are going to WaterAid, an international non-profit organization that battles the poverty and disease caused by lack of safe water and sanitation.

Along with reinventing their own music and helping to salvage our unstable world, The Police are also providing a platform for an offspring of the group to launch himself into the music industry. The North American leg of The Police tour (which includes two sold out shows at The Air Canada Centre), will be opened by Fiction Plane, an English pop-rock band is from England whose lead singer, Joel Sumner, is the son of Sting. Expect rock to meet class as The Police visit Toronto on July 22nd and 23rd.

Shop On-line:
Purchase the latest The Police

---

Share This Article