[DrPepper]

serious talk about the band reuniting this year to celebrate
the 30th anniversary

• The Police may be headed your way.
Well, at least Sting is considering it. This year marks the 30th anniversary
of the formation of The Police, and the band’s famous former front man
says he may take a break from his current lute obsession to reunite
with drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers. “We started 30
years ago,so it would be nice to do something to celebrate,”
says Sting. “We don’t quite know what, but we’re talking about it.”

Sting says this just seems like the right time to discuss the past, though
he isn’t sure what form that discussion will take, including whether there
will finally be a long-awaited, much prophesized national reunion tour.
(Told that Police and Van Halen are “the two big reunions the world
is waiting for,” Sting jokes “I’ll join Van Halen.”) But he does promise
he’ll do something with his old band mates.

“I’m deeply, deeply fond of both of them. I’m very proud of the band
that we were in. I left the band because I felt I wanted to grow as a
musician, to mature as a musician, and to try more things than a band
is able to do. A band is very constricted. And you know, I spent the
last 25 years exploring that freedom and having a great time doing it.
We’re still great friends. It is the 30th anniversary. We are discussing
something. Don’t know what, but definitely something.”

Whatever he does with Police, Sting is not yet ready to stop exploring
the lute and the music of 16th century British composer John Dowland.
His album of Dowland songs, Songs From the Labyrinth, debuted on the
top of Billboard’s classical chart. And he’ll do songs from the album on
PBS for a February Great Performances special filmed at his manors in
England and Italy.

The lute, he says, is far more than a musical lark. “I took this very
seriously. I spent a lot of time studying and researching and took a
lot of advice from people who have been in the realm for many years.”

Normally, Sting says, this repertoire is sung by operatic singers. But he
felt the immediacy and melancholy in Dowland’s music could be adopted
to his “pop singer” style, though doing so, he says, was a great challenge.
And that’s not even considering playing the lute, a hard instrument to master.

“I think it’s good to put yourself through apprenticeship now and then to
learn something new and really challenging. I’ve played guitar for many years.
This is a different kind of animal altogether but I’m fascinated by it.”

And in some ways, says Sting, fascination is its own reward. “Work is
never wasted. If you do something well, it always helps the creative
process. So whether you’ll hear it on another record, I don’t know.
But it feels good. It feels like I’m doing something that I should be doing.”


http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...resstour_x.htm

[Azzin]

They're getting back together for The Grammys.

Originally Posted by Guardian Online

After all the rumours, most of which have emanated from Sting after a heavy night on the lute, it's finally been confirmed: the Police are to re-form, and will perform at this year's Grammy awards.
The Recording Academy, the American body which hosts the Grammys each year, released a statement last night announcing that Sting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers will perform together to open this year's ceremony.

http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/sto...002767,00.html

My guess would be as that's a worldwide show they will use it as a precursor to announcing a world tour.

I personally can't wait!

[Mac Man]

Register for tickets here (official tour site)

http://www.thepolicetour.com/


Although they want $100 for you to register for the premium pack.

This allows you to get tickets at the pre-sale (which may be the only way of getting tickets)


Oh... and a limited edition print of the guys.

But I still wanna go. Never saw them 1st time around.

Just hope they don't fleece on the ticket prices. So long as it's not in the Madonna/Stones bracket (£100+) and more in the U2/Eagles bracket (£50+). Have a worrying feeling it might be the former as they probably need the cash.

[KoThreads]

On the 'live from LA' thing last night the american shows were being quoted at $245 and $250 so i think your guess of £100 might even be low.

I would love to see them as i never liked them enough the first time round, but i'm not paying the silly money a lot of re-formed bands are asking.

[Azzin]

Has anyone seen/got this:

The Police - Every Breath You Take [DTS 5.1 CD] [DVD AUDIO] [DTS Surround Sound]?

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by Idoexist

On the 'live from LA' thing last night the american shows were being quoted at $245 and $250 so i think your guess of £100 might even be low.

I would love to see them as i never liked them enough the first time round, but i'm not paying the silly money a lot of re-formed bands are asking.

Just got my tickets off TicketB'stards.

Not as dear as those prices... but not cheap either.

Better be a damn good gig, that's all I can say

[Azzin]

Originally Posted by Chris Lamle

Just got my tickets off TicketB'stards.

Not as dear as those prices... but not cheap either.

Better be a damn good gig, that's all I can say

Where are the tickets for?

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by Azzin

Where are the tickets for?

Manchester MEN Arena.

You going?

The presale was today. You can get tickets (including fan club membership at, the moment - on ticketmaster) or wait for the public scramble on Friday

[KoThreads]

Originally Posted by Chris Lamle

Manchester MEN Arena.

You going?

The presale was today. You can get tickets (including fan club membership at, the moment - on ticketmaster) or wait for the public scramble on Friday

So that's £93 for the cheapest. £100 was about right.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by Idoexist

So that's £93 for the cheapest. £100 was about right.

I was thinking of going, but not after seeing the ticket prices. Did someone say they were looking to boost their flagging careers? More like their empty wallets......................

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by Idoexist

So that's £93 for the cheapest. £100 was about right.

Cheapest tickets were around £40 rising to £85 for front block seats.

Considering cheapest at Madonna/Stones were £100 upwards I don't feel hugely hard done by.

Sure it's a lot... but it's likely to be the last time they EVER play together.

Andy Summers is past 60 don't forget...

Personally I can't wait.

[KoThreads]

Chris do you know how much general sale tickets will be minus the membership fee? If any are left by then.

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by Idoexist

Chris do you know how much general sale tickets will be minus the membership fee? If any are left by then.

£40 - £85 (+ ticketb'stard 'fee'). Plus the usual 'special packages' at silly prices.

There will (so I believe) be a mixture of seats available. The members presale meant fewer people trying to access tickets on Tuesday. I can imagine there being a bit of a scrum this Friday.

Best advice is not to go for too many tickets - 2 maximum. This is because lots of people will be wanting blocks of four (or more - possibly to scalp on later).

Make sure you're quick on Ticketmaster... if you wait too long you'll get kicked out the system. And keep trying - don't get disheartened if the systems seems to be going really slow.

And good luck

[overkill]

Originally Posted by Chris Lamle

Cheapest tickets were around £40 rising to £85 for front block seats.

Considering cheapest at Madonna/Stones were £100 upwards I don't feel hugely hard done by.

Sure it's a lot... but it's likely to be the last time they EVER play together.

Andy Summers is past 60 don't forget...

Personally I can't wait.

Agreed. And I don't blame you Chris, the Police were always great live, so for a fan it's going to be worth it.

I just can't justify that sort of fee (on my wages) for a re-union gig, which let's face it, is always a risk.

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by overkill

Agreed. And I don't blame you Chris, the Police were always great live, so for a fan it's going to be worth it.

I just can't justify that sort of fee (on my wages) for a re-union gig, which let's face it, is always a risk.

I don't do this every week mind... seems to be just once a year these days.

I think that gigs, in real terms, are waaaaay more expensive than they ever were 25 years ago. I think you're about the same age as me (43)... did you ever see Genesis in the early 80s? I went 3 times between 1980 and 83. I could afford to go then, even as an impoversished student earning £10 on a Saturday job. Don't think I'd be able to do the same these days.

I was really tempted to get tickets for the Genesis reunion... but I was never all that keen on their later stuff after Abacab.

Think the only band I would pay serious money to watch now would be the Floyd. Having said that I'm seeing the Aussie version next month... and those buggers are playing the B'ham Arena. What's the world coming to when a copy of the real thing is playing stadium gigs

[Toasty]

The older the band the more expensive the gig, is what I find nowadays.

I paid nigh on £50 to see guns and roses, could have seen Muse for half that at the same venue.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by Chris Lamle

I don't do this every week mind... seems to be just once a year these days.

I think that gigs, in real terms, are waaaaay more expensive than they ever were 25 years ago. I think you're about the same age as me (43)... did you ever see Genesis in the early 80s? I went 3 times between 1980 and 83. I could afford to go then, even as an impoversished student earning £10 on a Saturday job. Don't think I'd be able to do the same these days.

I was really tempted to get tickets for the Genesis reunion... but I was never all that keen on their later stuff after Abacab.

Think the only band I would pay serious money to watch now would be the Floyd. Having said that I'm seeing the Aussie version next month... and those buggers are playing the B'ham Arena. What's the world coming to when a copy of the real thing is playing stadium gigs

Blimey Chris, rougly the same age (bit older - sadly) and we like the same sort of bands - at that time!

Agree totally. In fact the concert tickets, like football prices have sky rocketed. Like yourself I was a student back in those days, but luckily for me I worked for my Grandfathers (B&D) firm to earn extra cash. As a result I was going to a gig every couple of weeks in the early 80's, including Genesis a few times at the Hammy Odeon. I couldn't imagine doing that now - unless I was earning big bucks in a P/T job.

I too only go to a few gigs a year now, Tool was the last at the MEN. Hoping to see VDGG in Liverpool next month. But the ticket prices for that are fairly sensible.

On the aussie Pink Floyd, that is bizzare! A tribute band that's playing venues the real band used to!

[KoThreads]

Originally Posted by overkill

On the aussie Pink Floyd, that is bizzare! A tribute band that's playing venues the real band used to!

Yes Overkill but I saw them last year and thought £23 was steep for a tribute band, but I'm seeing them again in May as they were the best band I saw last year. But I didn't get to see Tool

[Parmenion62]

Originally Posted by Azzin

Has anyone seen/got this:

The Police - Every Breath You Take [DTS 5.1 CD] [DVD AUDIO] [DTS Surround Sound]?

Yes - it has great surround sound versions of most of the hits - sounds great on my system. Only problem with it is that it is too short!

[AFC69]

Any of you guys go to the Twickers or Brum shows in September? I haven't seen a huge amount of feedback regarding their 30th Anniversary tour, and am just wandering how well it is actually going?

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by AFC69

Any of you guys go to the Twickers or Brum shows in September? I haven't seen a huge amount of feedback regarding their 30th Anniversary tour, and am just wandering how well it is actually going?

Tour's been going great by all accounts.

I should have seen them last night.... but Sting has come down with a throat infection and they've postponed both Manchester gigs (as well as a few in Europe last week).

Just hope they can re-schedule.

[KevD]

I caught one of the Twickenham shows, they were really good.

[AFC69]

Originally Posted by Chris Lamle

Tour's been going great by all accounts.

I should have seen them last night.... but Sting has come down with a throat infection and they've postponed both Manchester gigs (as well as a few in Europe last week).

Just hope they can re-schedule.

I was scheduled to go to the MEN tonight, I too hope they re-schedule. The thing that worries me that they might not is the fact that the tour seems very much Americanified, by that I mean starts and end there.

The only time I can see the Manchester dates being re-scheduled is two weeks either side of Christmas, but that's probably being deliberatly kept free for family stuff, or failing that, next March.

Be well ****** off if it doesn't get resheduled, as I ddi have tickets for twickers and sold them, as Manchester suited me better.

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by AFC69

I was scheduled to go to the MEN tonight, I too hope they re-schedule. The thing that worries me that they might not is the fact that the tour seems very much Americanified, by that I mean starts and end there.

The only time I can see the Manchester dates being re-scheduled is two weeks either side of Christmas, but that's probably being deliberatly kept free for family stuff, or failing that, next March.

Be well ****** off if it doesn't get resheduled, as I ddi have tickets for twickers and sold them, as Manchester suited me better.

Manchester gigs now re-scheduled for June next year

I've waited 25 years to see them, so another 8 months won't make much difference (assuming Andy doesn't drop dead from a heart attack or something).

[AFC69]

Yeah, just noticed that. June 18th it is then.

I assume that Sting has committments between mid Feb and mid June 2008 that stops the band from performing then.

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by AFC69

Yeah, just noticed that. June 18th it is then.

I assume that Sting has committments between mid Feb and mid June 2008 that stops the band from performing then.

It looks like they are doing a Far East / Australasia tour - taking in Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand.

If you don't have great tickets at the moment you may be able to score better ones and get a refund on the existing tickets you hold.

I've gone from Block H on the floor to Block 102 right next to the stage on the lower tier.

[AFC69]

The tour of New Zealand, Australia and Japan end on Feb 13th, so there must be committments that have enforced the 4 month break till the re-arranged Manchester shows.

My tickets are for section BL F, block F, £93, which I think is down the front.

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by AFC69

The tour of New Zealand, Australia and Japan end on Feb 13th, so there must be committments that have enforced the 4 month break till the re-arranged Manchester shows.

My tickets are for section BL F, block F, £93, which I think is down the front.

Hi mate

Block F is middle of the floor area - left of the stage. Should be ok if you're near front of the block.

[AFC69]

Is that still pretty near to the stage?

[Mac Man]

Originally Posted by AFC69

Is that still pretty near to the stage?

You'll be a minimum 27 rows from the front if you have front row seats in block F. So basically you've got 27 people in front if you're row A. Allowing (say) 2' between rows you'd be 54' from the stage, if you're block F row A.

I'd like to be nearer - esp at £90 a ticket. Mine were the cheaper ones in block H.