Stewart Copeland Reveals the Pros and Cons of Being a Rock Star Turned Composer

Catch "The Invention of Morel" at the Beverly O’Neill theatre at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. March 17th, March 24th and 25th. For tickets visit longbeachopera.org. This segment aired on the KTLA 5 Morning, News, Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

[@BassByTheBay]

Stewart is one of the best musician interviewees ever. He's so transparent, honest, and articulate.

[@sharktroubles]

Mr. Stewart Copeland's one of the most authentic, unique, inventive and versatile musical heroes to ever live.

[@mikeriesco6174]

What an articulate, intelligent, likable person. Oh, and an awesome musician too.

[@ivanjulian2532]

But manic occasioanlly too. All of which added up to an ongoing musical conflict with Sting, who is also equally forceful (and talented) regarding HIS music. They love each other like brothers outside of the studio, but inside the studio they drove each other crazy.

[@johngray9434]

Greatest drummer of all time. And must also correct the reporters opening comment. Stewart Copeland was the SOLE founder of the police! It was and always will be STEWART’S BAND!

[@jrevell158]

Good call here. And as much as I'd like to agree with you that The Police was always Stew's band, sadly it became less and less of his band each album : /

[@krollpeter]

@@jrevell158 Without Stings compositions he would be a good drummer + percussionist. With Stings composition he became a very wealthy good drummer, and he can do now what ever he loves to do. To my opinion he was 50 % of the police's sound, at least live. But no Police without Sting. Listen to Sting playing Police songs without Mr. Copeland, it's all right. Listen to Police songs sung by others, it's mostly lesser good. Not always though.

[@rubberneckk]

JÖHN GRAY in fairness that’s debatable

[@bent2]

Mike Howlet former member of Gong had a hand in this too. Sting, Copeland and Summers first played with him in Strontium 90 in the first half of 1977. He came across Sting in 1976 after seeing him play, and so Sting recorded an early version of Everything She Does.. in his studio that same year.

[@krollpeter]

@@bent2 It is without any doubt that he is a blessed composer.

[@LewyLewy2008]

That Stewart Copeland is a musical genius goes without saying, but it wasn’t until I started watching all of these types of interviews of him that I appreciated what an engaging and articulate speaker and storyteller he is.

[@JohnnyBeane]

Stewart is an amazing musician!

[@joshsartain4020]

one of the funnest and coolest guys around!

[@1035pm]

I one day hope to age as gracefully as Mr Copeland.

[@mikearndt2217]

Not only a great drummer, charismatic, intellectual .. All around awesome dude!

[@paultrundley6408]

Legendary drummer, fantastic interviewee, tremendous composer and born with un-burnable energy!

[@silentqueue2344]

That's a guy who really loves life.

[@radi2449]

This man had the name of the band (Police). He found Sting in Newcastle and invited him to join the not yet existing band. He had the first few punk songs (o.k. Sting soon came with much better songs). He founded his own record label for the first publishing. Stewart Copeland is the founder of the Police and that‘s a fact! And a fantastic storyteller as well …

[@frankhoward7645]

And the only American, and the youngest member!

[@PoliticusRex632]

Wasn't his brother instrumental in the band's founding?

[@frankhoward7645]

@@PoliticusRex632 Ian Stewart was their booking agent and Ian Stewart was their manager.

[@mykhedelic6471]

Stewart is awesome, and he's finding joy in even this unfortunate panel. Best chin in rock (and somehow all The Policemen are aging better than science currently allows, true mark of God-dom. Reason, unending energy, passion and joie de vivre.)

[@bemused9522]

Stewart Copeland, so incredibly talented! I wish I could see all 5 of the operas he has composed. I know that they must be incredible!

[@startervisions]

Some of y'all don't know how great of a rock n roll drummer he is lol

[@sticktrik]

startervisions but,.. he despises JAZZ!!!!!

[@BluesLicks101]

@@sticktrik Not true.

[@thetr00per30]

Watch interviews from the early 80's and he is just as sharp and honest and introspective. Absolutely incomparable percussionist and musician.

[@WhiskeySam1]

“Sure I’ll write you an opera…” I can’t think of many musicians on the planet besides Stewart Copeland who have the generosity and openness AS WELL AS the balls to say yes to something like that.

[@larrykorell750]

I loved Stewart before....and as much now....I'd love to have lunch with him and just chat about life. What a well grounded and well rounded guy!

[@JonahNelson7]

Grounded and rounded

[@kittyblingbling]

Intellectual & the sexiest drummer alive!!

[@Bigaphid]

Q: "Where did the love of opera come from?" A: "It came from a commission from the Cleveland Opera." Best Q and A ever.

[@svtrader]

Lotta energy from an old dude.

[@BelgianDrummer]

svtrader You should check out some of the late 70’s live performances of The Police. Then you really see what energy he brought to the band.

[@michaelatkinson2829]

How good to see an interviewee turn up and *work* rather than just deadpanning promo answers.

[@davidvalderrama1816]

Amazing! He is so honest. Incredible work together, drummer genius!

[@lindacensi2750]

“In Italian -adagio-“ , it s so nice when I heard Italian words pronounced with pleasure by Maestri abroad!!

[@edithbonilla6688]

I love Him 😍

[@plushbatfan]

He was the main composer of Spyro the Dragon music.

[@SuperQdaddy]

Great creative guy

[@mark11967AD]

Stewart comes across as someone who’s very smart and articulate and doesn’t take any crap. Fortunately there’s also an honesty and sense of decency so yeah cool dude. Thanks for all the great music loved the Police in the 80s and well beyond.

[@Josh-yi4gr]

The perfect definition of Genius

[@felixbaum48]

"Every Little Thing" is such a spectacularly good song, especially the percussion... The fact that it was highly improvised is remarkable. Such playfulness and joy.

[@markielinhart]

A well performed aria can bring me to tears - and I’m a jazz/rock/blues fan…✌️🌻

[@sadetwizelve]

They're asking about the police when he really doesn't give a damn

[@crnkmnky]

If it gives the audience a reason to care about him and his opera, then they’re doing him a favor. #Marketing

[@dave0110aaaa]

This was a fantastic video. Wow...

[@newaccount4143]

Love hearing him talk - he could just recite the phone book - it would sound interesting.

[@EntropiaOrganizada]

One day I'll grow up and be a little like Stewart Copeland.

[@Chrisicola]

Dude is hilarious. Even sounded like Bill Walton for a second there.

[@koopsjunta]

Who gives thumbs down for Stewart Copeland?!? A pox on them!

[@ariesleorising9421]

A pox indeed!

[@lindacensi2750]

And Stewart is actually aMong the greatest Maestro In music !

[@Venus_Isle]

Engaging, charming & articulate chap...

[@c-tology]

Copeland's a legend 👏

[@otineb5]

I had a chance to see in Chicago in 2017 and it was really interesting especially since it was my very first time attending an Opera.

[@TheKinoEye]

Articulate as he is relatable..

[@RonnieDillJrLoveIsADarkPlace]

Yes he is amazing

[@oohkumar]

Legend

[@WeLuv9x5]

Utterly tragic that Sting and Stewart couldn’t coexist in the 80’s. Just imagine the creative output The Police would have had had these two been able to control their ferocious egos? Greatest trio to EVER grace the stage!

[@eladbari]

Great Scott!

[@highlanderdetroit5370]

Stewart's Band !!!

[@555pontifex]

Copeland is smart, a high-functioning individual.

[@volkwino]

He is a genius. If Sting does know it?

[@gj8683]

Passable effort on both sides at bridging the cultural divide

[@crnkmnky]

Seriously. Some fans are griping, but I thought it was well balanced: nostalgia factor + personal angle + making opera sound cool.

[@donbailey6600]

If they ever re-boot BTTF, Stewart should play "doc brown"....just sayin.

[@gregoryyoung8819]

Stewart was 1/2 of the Police.

[@jamesheath7601]

I love The Police so much

[@ImYourHuckleberry_29]

My fav drummer by a country mile. Musically The Police and Pink Floyd are the greatest bands in the world.

[@manuelazacchetti4726]

💪🏻 Allego sostenuto!!

[@Frontdesk99]

Someone needs to tell mr. Copeland that an opera that is described as a "comedy" is operetta.

[@amraverageproduction5379]

I don’t know why but I find all those presenters odd! Just seem like robots. Having said that it was a good interview.😎

[@martinweir4007]

The main interviewer just could not quiet down about the past! Yes, we all know his old music. Why is he visiting now!

[@rintunt]

He’s 8 years older than the guy interviewing him. Who looks in better shape?....

[@StorckOnBass]

'Co-founder of The Police with Sting.'? Stewart is THE founder of The Police. Stewart later saw Sting perform and invited him to play in The Police.

[@derektorostayloryetenekian9963]

🎶🥁🎵💪💃🎺🌹🎸🥁🎵😊👍

[@dannylittle6766]

The most fun a composer can have with his clothes on....lol

[@davidfarmer2049]

....even raaaaaaaaark stars.....

[@kevinbrown1893]

666 thumbs up. I don't want to ruin that.

[@fillhixx]

….a montage of police songs, featuring Stings face…. READ THE ROOM MAN! ;-D

[@danielstoddart]

"Co-founder of The Police." He meant founder of The Police.

[@oliveroneill1388]

hands that buitt amarica

[@HughMartell]

if ya got something INTELLIGENT say, learn how to spell and type, ya big dunbass!

[@SonnyGTA]

Lars Ulrich and Tommy Lee thumbed this down.

[@ThvonS]

What an insult. Forcing mr. Copeland to participate in a early morning TV show, while true believers of cultural exchange are still at sleep

[@BluesLicks101]

Well well, aren't you the snotty booger?

[@hutch1197]

What the hell are you talking about? Even A-List stars do the morning show circuit. They stop by those shows while they are touring each city or promoting a movie, etc. It helps make them relatable to the city they're visiting.

[@jamesbond4633]

I like how he paraphrases Jim Morrison ....I want the world ...and I want it now. He actually played with the reformed Doors for a few concerts ...until he found out John Densmore wasn't on board ..and they shouldn't be using the original name. Densmore had to sue the other 2 Doors members to change the name. He was successful but eventually made up with the guys. Stewart is absolutely amazing. He may not be the fastest or best technical drummer in the world but he is like Ringo Starr. The perfect drummer for the band they were in and very original. Ian Paice of Deep Purple was like that ..Bill Ward of Black Sabbath ...Neil Peart of Rush. They add something musically that no one else can. Stewart also had that middle eastern and reggae influence that really set him apart. I know his secret though. He talks about being behind the beat in his playing which gave it a different feel. Accenting on the & of 2 and four or whatever. Hahha ...that came from the drum solo in Wipeout I propose....the accent in the 2nd measure is on the 2& . There you have it..Stewarts's secret!!!

[@aldopeer]

@James Bond: what makes you think that Stewart isn't the fastest and not the best technical drummer? If you would check out some footage, or bootlegs from the early days, you would see/hear that Stewart can play as fast as a TGV... Not the best technically? It depends to whom you are comparing him with.

[@philiphicks1273]

You DO know he’s voted one of the five (or ten) best rock drummers of all time? (Depending which agency is doing the rating)

[@jamesbond4633]

I am talking about players who can play every rudiment known in the drumming world and play them in one song!!!! lol Kidding of course. I would agree totally with Stewart being one of the top influential drummers in the world. He was very inventive and no one quite played the drums like him. Very unique sound. Even John Bonham was a fan. I guess he went to see The Police with his son and went back stage ....but got into a bit of a tiff with Sting and wanted to beat him up. Would like to hear that full story. Being the best musician is very subjective to whomever is listening. There are lots of musicians who are world class but I am just not into the type of music they play. Stewart is a brilliant musician ..not just drummer but composer. He added a lot to The Police sound. So did Andy. I saw Sting play with 2 other musicians doing mostly Police music. My cousin was there too. He went a year later and saw The Police reunion tour. He said it was like night and day. The energy and vibe of The Police was unreal he said. The musicians who played with Sting when I saw him were really good....but...chemistry is a mysterious thing.

[@peacelovehealthhappiness3958]

stewart wants talk to the lady, but that man as interviewer do block that communication and wants to put himself on the spot!! very annoying! let the two meet!

[@BroncUK]

It wasn't just Sting who was pretentious.