The Police - Latest News
- 16.12.2002 - ''It could have been a schmaltzy love fest or nerdishly technical. It wasn't. It had lightness to it, as well as a sense of occasion...'' The Times reviews 'Spectacle'...

A year at Hogwarts wouldn't be enough time to explain to ... Read More
...me the black art of television scheduling. For instance: on Remembrance Sunday some genius at the BBC decided to broadcast its Vera Brittain documentary a few hours early, meaning millions of viewers missed it. A more historical grudge - I nurse it to keep it warm, like Mrs Tam O'Shanter's wrath - dates from the Nineties when the BBC scheduled the decade's best two American sitcoms, Seinfeld and The Larry Sanders Show, so as to ensure the nation was asleep when they went out and years of future sales of box sets.
And now there is Spectacle, an event more than a programme that would have graced Christmas night on Channel 4, a treat to compare with the Parkinson that reunited the Goons. In this show, half Inside the Actors Studio, half an MTV Unplugged, Elvis Costello interviewed, and played with, all three members of the Police. My pleasure in this hour-long encounter perhaps locates my youth in the late Seventies more surely than carbon dating, but it would have been shared by millions had only they known it was on.
It opened with Costello singing, and beautifully, 'Every Breath You Take', a Police number, of course. Then the Policemen came on one by one, each representing a facet of the band's warring personality. Andy Summers was quiet and learned, no trouble at all. Stewart Copeland, the barmy American drummer, loudly claimed the band for himself. But the ownership dispute was quelled by the arrival of Sting, exuding authority, charisma and, less expectedly, humour.
Costello worried away at the fake reggaeness of their hit 'Roxanne'. Sting replied that his Geordie accent just sounded Jamaican. The real story was how the song had come to be at all. At the time, he said, all was punk and songs needed titles such as I am Going to Kill You, You Bitch. Costello's 'Alison' had given him confidence to sing a song with "a soppy girl's name". They sang 'Alison' together and I could have sworn Sting teared up, although he had an alternative explanation for his rheum. "When Elvis expresses himself vocally there is a lot of moisture around. Sharing a microphone with him can be challenging and when he says his aim is true - he is right." All four musicians ended by singing 'Watching the Detectives'.
It could have been a schmaltzy love fest or nerdishly technical. It wasn't. It had lightness to it, as well as a sense of occasion. Costello, his face framed by a fedora and sideburns, proved an able interviewer, his skills honed from standing in for David Letterman. And yet this gem of programme was thrown away at 12.05 this morning. Even more extraordinary is that it is part of a series recently made for the American Sundance Channel and acquired by Channel 4. Other editions feature Lou Reed, Smokey Robinson, Herbie Hancock, Tony Bennett and Bill Clinton. The next Spectacle is on tomorrow, even later, at 12.25. It features Elton John.
© The Times by Andrew Billen

- 12.12.2002 - 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... The Police' premieres in the UK/Ireland on December 16, Channel 4 at five past midnight and in the USA on January 7 at 9pm on the Sundance channel...

Channel 4 will premiere 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..... Read More
.... The Police' in the UK and Ireland on December 16 at five minutes past midnight.
The show will air in the USA on January 7 at 9pm on the Sundance Channel.
Details of the Canadian broadcast will follow shortly.
Guests to include Diana Krall, James Taylor, Rufus Wainwright, Norah Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Herbie Hancock and Renée Fleming...
'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...' has announced the final set of guests for the new talk/performance series' debut season. The series is set to premiere later this year on Sundance Channel in the U.S., CTV in Canada and Channel 4 in the U.K., with FremantleMedia Enterprises launching the series for international sale at MIPCOM in Cannes, France, in October 2008.
Confirmed guests of 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...' episodes to tape in September at Harlem's world famous Apollo Theater in New York City are: iconic American singer-songwriter James Taylor; jazz legend and winner of this year's Grammy Award for Album of the Year Herbie Hancock; one of the most acclaimed new artists of the past decade, Rufus Wainwright; the brilliant singer-songwriter Roseanne Cash; actor/singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson; international jazz sensation Diana Krall; recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Mellencamp; singer-songwriter Jakob Dylan; the indie duo She & Him (formed by actress Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward); international sensation Norah Jones; singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis; and from the world of opera, the great American soprano Renée Fleming.
As previously announced, the Canada/United Kingdom co-production will also feature The Police, President Bill Clinton, Tony Bennett, Lou Reed, Smokey Robinson, and Sir Elton John, who is also one of the program's Executive Producers.

The series of 13 one-hour episodes will feature everything from intimate one-on-one interviews with legendary performers and notable newcomers to unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime musical performances and collaborations.
Consistent with Sir Elton John's long-standing commitment to philanthropy and music, the series producers have struck an exciting association with the (Product) RED (www.joinred.com) campaign created to raise awareness and money for the Global Fund (www.theglobalfund.org) to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa. Select program excerpts and performances will be distributed in a variety of new media and conventional platforms, with a portion of the profits directed to the Global Fund.
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... is produced by Rocket Pictures, SpyBox Pictures, Prospero Pictures and reinvention entertainment, in association with Sundance Channel, CTV, Channel 4 and FremantleMedia Enterprises. Executive Producers are Sir Elton John, Elvis Costello, David Furnish, Steve Hamilton-Shaw, Jordan Jacobs, Martin Katz and Stephen Warden. Co-Executive Producer is Alex Coletti.

- 01.12.2002 - The Police, U2, Coldplay, Killers Help Launch (RED)WIRE...

Some of the biggest names in music are contributing exclu... Read More
...sive songs to RED(WIRE), a new digital music magazine launching on World AIDS Day, December 1.
The Police, U2, Coldplay, the Killers, the Dixie Chicks, John Legend, R.E.M. and Bob Dylan are on board for the initiative, which is an outgrowth of the Bono-reared activist organization (RED). All proceeds from subscriptions will benefit HIV-infected people in Africa; MSN.com will host a kick-off party on Dec. 1.
For $5, users will receive a new issue of RED(WIRE) every Wednesday, featuring an exclusive song from a major artist, a song from an artist (RED) aims to showcase, a multimedia piece that could encompass video or photography and a look at how proceeds are directly benefiting Africans in need. The materials will be downloaded to a custom player and automatically loaded into iTunes.
Users can send two free issues to friends, and will be rewarded if they join RED(WIRE). "Artists are already saying, 'I want to give you a track for those people who brought friends in,'" (RED)WIRE founder Don MacKinnon tells Billboard.com. "That's the biggest idea: using social networking to actually change the world in a unique way."
U2's track was recorded just last Wednesday, while the Killers, Elton John and the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant teamed up for the Christmas song "Joseph, Better You Than Me," which MacKinnon describes as "like a power ballad." This is the third year in a row the Killers have penned a holiday song and donated proceeds to (RED).
Meanwhile, John Legend's take on Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" finds him eschewing piano for a stripped-down arrangement with guitar, bass and backing vocalists, according to MacKinnon.
Also coming is the first new Dixie Chicks song since the group's Grammy sweep in 2007, "Lucky One," and Elvis Costello and the Police jamming on "Watching the Detectives" and "Walking On the Moon," taped during Costello's new Sundance Channel show "Spectacle." Additional (RED)WIRE offerings will be announced in the coming weeks.
MacKinnon is particularly enthused about the creative directions open to (RED)WIRE, especially with such high-profile artist participation.
"I had a meeting with Jay-Z, and he wants to talk about artists to be featured in that spotlight slot," he says. "Big artists may curate an issue. The whole goal was to create a creative platform. When somebody says, 'I do all this photography and I want to put it in as an extra,' That's when I go, this is going to be really cool."
Visit red.msn.com/ to see a great clip of The Police and Elvis Costello performing 'Watching The Detectives/Walking On The Moon' from Elvis's new TV show "Spectacle".

- 29.11.2002 - Signed Sting bass up for auction!
When Sting was back home in Newcastle recently he signed one of his Fender Precision Signature basses and this is currently being auctioned to raise f... Read More
...unds for Acomb Court Residential Care Home in Hexham, near Newcastle. This is a really worthwhile cause and provides Sting fans with the ideal opportunity to get their hands on a fantastic Christmas present for either themselves or a loved one!
The Japanese Fender is Sting's signature model and has been donated by an anonymous source with the purpose of raising funds for the residents at Acomb Court. As an exceptional addition to the guitar, Sting himself signed it on his visit to the region this month (see photo).
Angela Bews, Manager at Acomb Court said: "We were delighted when we found out about this very exciting donation. We always ensure that the residents have plenty of activities and trips planned throughout the year and this generous donation will enable us to do this even more this year."
The guitar will appear on eBay from the Friday 28 November and will be auctioned for two weeks. The guitar will be set at a guide price of £600 and comes with a soft case and a certificate of authenticity.
Visit www.ebay.co.uk to bid or for further information!

- 19.11.2002 - Fan Club DVDs have started shipping...
Legacy members will be pleased to know that the fan club DVD has started shipping and the first members are reporting receipt. If you're a legacy memb... Read More
...er keep an eye out for your mail...

The Fan Club DVD contains performance and behind-the-scenes footage from some of the finest moments of the tour captured by Director of Photography Jordan Copeland, as well as bonus material including discussions with the tour manager, the lighting designer and others who helped make The Police tour such a great success. Also featured are cameos from the Foo Fighters, Eddie Vedder and Ziggy Marley. For a taste of what you can expect, check out the trailer.

Not sure if you're a legacy member? Go to My Account to check your status.
Once all legacy members have received the DVD we will also announce how interested non-legacy members can upgrade their membership to receive a copy.

- 11.11.2002 - 'The Police: Certifiable' DVD now in stores!
Police fans, get ready to relive all the sights and sounds of The Police world tour. "The Police: Certifiable," DVD featuring the band's entire perfor... Read More
...mance from one especially hot night of music in Buenos Aires, Argentina is out now.
Fans in the United States can purchase "The Police: Certifiable" exclusively at Best Buy retail locations and BestBuy.com. For The Police fans in the UK, stop by The Police UK Store to pre-order your copy today - fans outside of the US & UK, head to The Police International Store to buy yours now.
In addition to the entire concert from Riverplate Stadium in Buenos Aires, "The Police: Certifiable" includes a 50-minute bonus feature, "Better Than Therapy," directed by Jordan Copeland. The feature details the entire historic run of The Police, complete with behind-the-scenes interviews with the band and crew, and a pair of photo galleries of The Police on tour, one by guitarist/photographer Andy Summers, and one by famed rock photographer Danny Clinch.
Get your copy in one of a number of different formats so that all fans can choose their favorite and enjoy "The Police: Certifiable" as it was meant to be played. The DVD Edition features the entire concert and the behind-the-scenes featurette on two DVDs, and the full double CD of the new live album from Buenos Aires.
For the fans who want the best concert experience possible in their own homes, choose the Blu-Ray Edition - enjoy the concert footage and featurette presented in stunning 1080 HD picture quality, plus Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital surround and stereo sound, and receive the 2-CD live album as well.
Or, for the fans who prefer hearing The Police on their turntables, get the full album on vinyl - 3 pieces of heavy weight, 180-gram vinyl, a wine spine gatefold jacket, and even an insert redeemable for a free mp3 download of the album.
Whichever way you choose to enjoy "The Police: Certifiable," be sure to order your copy today.

- 31.10.2002 - Vote for The Police in the Billboard Awards!
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Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and the Police are among the finalists for the 2008 Billboard Touring Awards, set for Nov. 20 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
All three of those tours are finalists for the top tour and top draw awards, which recognize the topgrossing and top ticket sellers, respectively. The awards are based on data reported to Billboard Boxscore from Oct. 1,2007, through Sept. 30, 2008.
Other finalists include Kenny Chesney's Poets & Pirates tour, Journey/Heart/Cheap Trick, and Mary J. BligelJay-Z with the-Dream for top package and Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and Michael Buble for breakthrough artist. The latter award acknowledges the top-grossing act that breaks into the top 25 tours for the first time.
Top festival finalists are Coachella in Indio, Calif.; Lollapalooza in Chicago; and Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn. The top boxscore finalists -for the top-grossing engagement -are Spice Girls at the 02 in London, Madonna at Stade de France in Paris and Celine Dion at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
On the industry side, Live Nation, AEG Live and 3A Entertainment are finalists for the top promoter award, and the William Morris Agency, Creative Artists Agency and Artists Group International are the three finalists for top agency. Top manager finalists are Jon Landau Management, Bon Jovi Management and Front Line Management. Venue finalists in various categories include Madison Square Garden, the Wa Mu Theater at MSG and Radio City Music Hall - all in New York - along with the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the 02, Bell Centre, Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Performing Arts Center and the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Top club and top amphitheater will also be awarded.
Special award winners this year include Widespread Panic for the Road Warrior award, Jon Bon Jovi and the Philadelphia Soul arena football team for the Humanitarian award, "Walking With Dinosaurs" for the Creative Content award and the Allman Brothers Band for the Legend of Live award. The awards wrap the Nov. 19-20 conference.
For a complete listing offinalists, go to billboard.biz.

- 29.10.2002 - Watch 'Message In A Bottle' from the upcoming 'Certifiable' release!
Go to MTV or VH1 from today to watch the live video of 'Message In A Bottle' from from the upcoming release 'Certifiable' (Cherrytree/A&M).
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'Certifiable' is released in the USA on November 11 exclusively through Best Buy and contains the band's entire concert from Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the US, this special piece - along with Blu-Ray version and three-LP, premium 180-gram vinyl set with MP3 file key. In the rest of the world, the album and DVD will be released via all retail outlets internationally on November 10. The United Kingdom release date for the DVD and Blu-Ray formats is November 24.
To pre-order 'Certifiable' from Best Buy visit http://www.bestbuy.com/thepolice.

- 16.09.2002 - 'The Police: Certifiable': Exclusive recordings from The Police reunion tour - New live DVD and CD set to be released this November....
Thirty years after they first stormed the music scene, legendary rock band The Police, bassist/vocalist Sting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist ... Read More
...Andy Summers, embarked on a reunion tour on May 28, 2007. This highly successful world tour visited five continents, played to nearly 3.7 million fans and garnered numerous accolades from Billboard, Pollstar, as well as The People's Choice award for Favorite Reunion Tour. It also went down in history as the third highest grossing tour of all-time. Now, following their much heralded 14-month reunion tour, The Police commemorate the culmination of the tour with a special release.
On November 11, The Police will release a 4-disc set (2 CD's and 2 DVD's) entitled "The Police: Certifiable," which contains the band's entire concert from Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the US, this special piece - along with Blu-Ray version and three-LP, premium 180-gram vinyl set with MP3 file key - will be released exclusively through Best Buy where pre-orders are already available. In the rest of the world, the album and DVD will be released via all retail outlets internationally on November 10. The United Kingdom release date for the DVD and Blu-Ray formats is November 24.
A massive European media launch of the Blu-Ray format, in association with Sony, Dolby and the Blu-Ray Association, will take place prior to the European release and will be attended by Stewart Copeland of The Police.
"The Police: Certifiable" is produced and directed by the award-winning Graying & Balding, Inc. team of Ann Kim and Jim Gable, whose film credits include the Rolling Stones, Sting, Keith Urban and Chris Botti.
In the U.S. specifically, the STANDARD set will contain 2-DVD's and 2-CD's that include the following:
* DVD with a 109-minute wide-screen concert presented in Dolby Surround and Stereo
* DVD with 50-minute bonus feature, "Better Than Therapy, " directed by Jordan Copeland detailing The Police's historic reunion with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews from the band and road crew, plus 2 photo galleries of The Police on tour; one shot by guitarist and photographer Andy Summers and one by photographer Danny Clinch.
* 2 CD's with The Police's new live album from Riverplate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, including all of the band's classics such as "Message in a Bottle," "Walking on the Moon" and "Every Breath You Take."
The Blu-Ray format will contain:
* The 109-minute 1080 HD (High Definition) concert presented in Surround and Stereo, in Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital
* The special 50-minute bonus feature, "Better Than Therapy" in HD, and the Summers and Clinch photo galleries in HD.
* 2 CD's of Buenos Aires concert
As well as full album on VINYL, featuring:
*Wide spine gatefold jacket, contains 3 pieces of heavy weight (180 gram vinyl), plus insert for downloading MP3's of the album.

- 15.09.2002 - UK Release details: 'The Police: Certifiable' CD and DVD...
'The Police: Certifiable' CD & DVD, a live concert from The Police's reunion tour, is set to be released in the UK on 24 November by Cherrytree/A&M Re... Read More
...cords.
Featuring the band's entire concert at the famous Riverplate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, The Police: Certifiable includes the bands classics 'Message in a Bottle,' 'Walking on the Moon' and 'Every Breath You Take.' The concert video is produced and directed by Ann Kim and Jim Gable (Rolling Stones, Sting, Keith Urban, Chris Botti).
The Police Tour began in May last year, visited five continents and played to nearly 3.7 million people over fourteen months.
The Police: Certifiable also includes a 50 min bonus feature 'Better Than Therapy', detailing the bands reunion tour. Directed by Jordan Copeland, this bonus footage includes behind the scenes interviews from the band and road crew, plus photo galleries of The Police on tour by Danny Clinch and Andy Summers.
The Police: Certifiable is the first large issue release available in Blu Ray through Universal music, and Stewart Copeland will attend a European media launch ahead of the release. The concert will also be available in standard and deluxe CD/DVD formats - full tracklisting and format info below.
TRACKLISTING AND FORMAT INFO:
Standard format:
- DVD with a 109 minute concert at Buenos Aires presented in Dolby Surround and Stereo. Tracklist: Message In A Bottle; Synchronicity II; Walking On The Moon; Voices Inside My Head / When The World Is Running Down; Don't Stand So Close To Me; Driven To Tears; Hole In My Life; Truth Hits Everybody; Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; Wrapped Around Your Finger; De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da; Invisible Sun; Walking in Your Footsteps; Can't Stand Losing You/Regatta De Blanc; Roxanne; King Of Pain; So Lonely; Every Breath You Take; Next To You
- CD of live audio highlights from Buenos Aires. Tracklist: Message In A Bottle; Synchronicity II; Walking On The Moon; Don't Stand So Close To Me; Driven To Tears; Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da; Walking in Your Footsteps; Can't Stand Losing You/Regatta De Blanc; Roxanne; King Of Pain; So Lonely; Every Breath You Take; Next To You
Deluxe format:
- DVD with Buenos Aires live concert as per the standard format.
- DVD with bonus material: Better Than Therapy feature directed by Jordan Copeland with behind the scenes interviews from the band and road crew; Andy Summers photo gallery; Danny Clinch photo gallery
- Double CD of the new live album from Buenos Aires. Tracklisting: Disc 1 - Message In A Bottle; Synchronicity II; Walking On The Moon; Voices Inside My Head / When The World Is Running Down; Don't Stand So Close To Me; Driven To Tears; Hole In My Life; Truth Hits Everybody; Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; Wrapped Around Your Finger; Disc 2 - De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da; Invisible Sun; Walking in Your Footsteps; Can't Stand Losing You/Regatta De Blanc; Roxanne; King Of Pain; So Lonely; Every Breath You Take; Next To You
Blu Ray format:
- BD50 featuring HD concert presented in Surround and Stereo, in Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital, and bonus material. Tracklist as per the deluxe format.
- Double CD of the new live album from Buenos Aires, tracklist as per the deluxe format.
