The bitter taste of glory still lingers on Stewart Copeland's lips as he reflects on The Police's 2003 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – an occasion that was more bitter than sweet. In a new documentary, the drummer lays bare the tension that gripped the band in the run-up to their historic performance, a reunion that had been decades in the making.
Copeland reveals that the rehearsal sessions were as frosty as the winter air outside, with palpable rifts between himself, Sting and Andy Summers. But despite the cold atmosphere, they somehow conjured up an electrifying performance – one that would be their last for a long time.
As soon as the curtain closed on that tense reunion, the band members went their separate ways, Copeland meeting up with his family while the others vanished into the night. But this was no joyous celebration; it was a parting of ways that would have far-reaching consequences.
The police's reunion may be 19 years gone, but the dispute over unpaid royalties continues to simmer – a long-standing row that has seen Summers and Copeland take Sting and his publishing company to court in London. The financial stakes are high: they're demanding between £1.5million and £8million in damages.
But amidst all this drama, there's also a chance to relive the magic of one of the greatest bands of all time – thanks to Copeland, a documentary that will premiere at the London Raindance Film Festival on Friday. Get ready for a wild ride through The Police's complex history and the complicated relationships that defined their reign.