Stewart Copeland, the acclaimed drummer and composer, has candidly shared his emotional reaction to The Police's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, describing himself as 'heartbroken'. He recounted an unexpected moment of solitude after bandmates Sting and Andy Summers apparently left the ceremony without engaging further, immediately following their performance.
The revelation comes as Copeland is the focus of a new documentary, simply titled 'Copeland', which is set to premiere at the Raindance Film Festival this week. In the film, he reflects on the band's reunion for the ceremony, nearly two decades after they had disbanded at the height of their fame in 1984. Copeland described the rehearsals as 'a little weird' after such a long period apart.
Following their three-song performance during the induction, Copeland observed his bandmates making swift exits. “I look over and Andy’s walked off that way into the night, Sting’s walked off that way… I walk over the front of the stage, go meet up with my family… I never saw The Police again that night,” he recalled. This left him with “a feeling of sadness,” questioning the significance of their shared musical legacy and the moment itself. “I was heartbroken,” he stated, adding, “Does that mean nothing? Come on, guys. And I never saw them again.”
Speaking to The Independent, Copeland elaborated on his feelings, explaining that while he had no specific expectations for the post-performance interactions, he hadn't anticipated such an immediate and complete separation. He noted the irony of their coming together only to go their separate ways so abruptly, even finding more camaraderie with members of The Clash who were also present that evening.
Despite this initial experience, The Police did eventually embark on a full reunion tour in 2007, spurred by the release of the documentary 'Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out', which featured Copeland's Super-8 footage from the band's earlier touring days. The tour, which concluded in August 2008, became one of the highest-grossing of all time before the band once again went their separate ways.
Outside of The Police, Copeland has forged a distinguished career as a film and television composer, with credits including 'Wall Street' and 'The Equalizer', as well as the 'Spyro' video game series. He recently confirmed his non-involvement in the upcoming 'Spyro' sequel, 'A Realm Beyond', acknowledging a generational shift in creative direction. He also declined to comment on an ongoing lawsuit he and Andy Summers filed against Sting last year, concerning claims of owed royalties for hit songs like “Roxanne” and “Every Breath You Take.”
Source: The Independent