Stewart Copeland Debunks The Biggest Myth About Him And Sting

In a new Q&A session with The Guardian, Stewart Copeland talked about his relationship with the other Police members, Andy Summers and Sting.

The drummer reflected on how he got along with the two and debunked a myth about his bond with Sting:

“We had a great bond, which wasn’t strong enough to make recording together very easy. We tore each other’s throats out in the studio but those two motherf*ckers came up with incredible stuff and we got on really well on stage, in the van, on the plane. To this day we still send each other dumb Instagram clips. It’s a myth that Sting and I fought all the time. I broke his rib once, but we were play-fighting.”

What Was The Police’s Final Period Like?

It is known that Stewart and Sting had some tough days, especially through the end of the Police. In a conversation with the New York Post last year, the rocker discussed the atmosphere during their fifth and final studio album, ‘Synchronicity’:

“It was a very uncomfortable place — and we drove each other crazy. We now understand where all that tension came from. And in fact, given that understanding, I’m very grateful that we got as many as five albums out of Stingo, because by then, he had a very clear idea of how the arrangements should go.”

The conflict started because they had different ideas about the band’s direction. At first, they worked well together, but it became harder for Sting to compromise. Copeland said the worst moments were when Sting gave him feedback on his drumming:

“The times when I came the closest to homicide, the times when it became absolutely critical that I choke the life out of this man, were when he would come over to me and tell me something about the hi-hat.”

Copeland also said Sting wanted the music to be calm, deep, and beautiful, but he had a different approach:

“Sting was looking for a beautiful place and to create something serene and moving and, dare I say, intellectual. For me, it’s about burning down the house — it’s a party.”

In a separate interview, Copeland again revealed that they do stay in touch, sharing memes and discussing business-like album releases. They understand why they fought before but don’t dwell on it. They have different views on music and its purpose in their lives.