Spectacle: Elvis Costello interview and performance with The Police at the Apollo

The Police reunion tour makes a pit stop at the Apollo Theatre for an intimate performance and interview. Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers join Elvis Costello. EC and the Police perform a few of their most famous songs together.

[@bigred1222]

They are one of those "Supergroups in hindsight". All 3 of them are unique and they are all very talented. Together they get it done big time.

[@michaelrennie7687]

Love Sting and the Police....but Elvis Costello is friggin off the charts cool and talented.

[@sentientmoreorless.9210]

Everyday, Sting bows down and thanks the Merry Gods in meeting Andy Summers. A trancendent guitarist.

[@Twayne7]

and Stewart!

[@jdolew]

@@Twayne7 yes without Stewart doing his magic there would be no Police. But it's a triumvirate, all interdependent.

[@jinkertsun]

Sting, I think appreciates what the other two guys bring to the party. Personalities are different but the sum of the parts and all that.......

[@mell3109]

They all think of each other like that however Sting and Copland are the problem

[@nguzoloveinlofi3832]

@@jdolew Which one is Caesar, who's Pompeii and who's Crassus?

[@jasonb4988]

So proud to be British ! These guys are just amazing ! 🇨🇦🇬🇧

[@scottharrisohn6972]

Stewart is so funny

[@BeesWaxMinder]

a rare solo from Andy! Magnifique!

[@bluesman7703]

Big thanks to you Elvis C. You are a true treasure !!!! Most Excellent !!!!

[@owenwilberforce6138]

What an absolutely delightful surprise this video was. This is the best live collaboration I have seen since Elvis sat in with Ricky Skaggs in a live video from London in the 80’s. The fact that the scholarship of music was integral to both Elvis Costello and The Police is what made them stellar artists. They all let that deep love of the history of music come through in every note they played. Say what you want about The Police, they made their mark, as did Declan and Gordon, two of the finest vocalists to emerge from the school of ‘77.

[@gratiacynthiamaiaporto1596]

Amaaaaaaazing! I loved it.

[@ReneRThorne]

I think Stewart Copeland is my favorite person, what a talent

[@munter10]

Rene R. Thorne ..... I thought he was an egotistical hyper active adolescent in an old body. Awesome drummer though.

[@GiorgioVVVV]

@@munter10 Yeah, he's a bit over the top :D But he's clearly having a blast, and has no issues with showing it, I love that. As far as the "old body" is concerned... man, I'm about 20 years younger, and he's fitter than me!!

[@dinopappous6639]

Easily replaceable....I can think of 50 drummers that are way better.....meh, NEXT

[@svgitana2499]

Dino Pappous the jealousy you have comes right thru your condescending ass! What a sad little person you are. For somebody that thinks so lowly of this band, you sure spend a lot of time making comments about the band.

[@sparrowlittle5477]

Stewart Copeland is an incredibly talented drummer. And he also seems to be a funny chap, one of those who spread good vibes all around. Both aptitudes deserve my admiration.

[@dinopappous6639]

Mediocre at best

[@fernandes5986]

Everything they do is magic. Stings raspy voice, Stewart Jazz complexity and Andy etehreal chords.

[@iggypopisgod9]

jorge fernandes until Stewart and Andy attempt to write songs....see why Sting left

[@fernandes5986]

@@iggypopisgod9 Ok. Didn't know that.

[@MisAnnThorpe]

Copeland's not really a jazz drummer. He'd soon be found out playing in those circles.

[@BabySoupify]

Elvis is the King

[@TheTestingGrounds]

Wow, Elvis and Sting harmonize well.

[@zurlocker1]

This was a great show. Funny to see how much Sting squirms on stage when Stewart talks. That Sunshine of Your Love cover is pure gold!

[@tandjfinch5572]

wow, this is great...I have never heard of this series and the Police and Elvis are great.

[@webinator9715]

Elvis works hard on this show. What a star!

[@alexbostelle287]

Elvis Costello showed me a lot, well done, let his guests shine while adroitly orchestrating the egos and prolific histories of these legends into palatable conversation.

[@lesleystorey3917]

Brilliant nice to c elvis costello again

[@johnroumeliotis666]

Love this band. Saw them in concert : Athens Greece in 1980 and again during the reunion 07-08 tour in Hershey Pa, plus sting solo tour at the same place a few years before . Amazing sound. Strong and unique characters as well as musicians.

[@paulyb-englishmaninhangzho3609]

One of those rare bands where every member has an important voice without ever stepping on each other.

[@rd3dtv]

how unnoticeable & fast each decade slips away... show biz so ephemeral..nostalgia so illusory.. video so both of those

[@robertainsworth7375]

Wow! Elvis really delivered and choreographed a memorable insightful interview. I could see how Copelands energy and verbosity could become exhausting. In my book best 80’s band.

[@keefos66]

I mean, how great is this?!

[@urbansocrates]

Copeland is a laff riot. And he always plays on top of the beat!

[@rickkiebiech6088]

KZbin ads while Sting is singing! Cool!

[@jimharkins6257]

Fantastic! Sunshine Of Your Love!

[@phila3884]

Huge Police fan, lucky enough to see them twice in 1981. When they started talking about John Dowland, I have exactly one John Dowland bookmark. Look up "My Lady Hunsdon's Puffe"

[@willjam465]

Favorite song by The Police? “So Lonely “. Never get tired of that song.

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

no woman no cry - bob marley

[@PrinceBlake]

I have played bass in two bands and both of my drummer's names were David. One was a Brit and we met in Japan and found two other blokes to play with us. There was another Dave in the band on guitar and two of us brothers Krchnak on guitar and bass - so we named ourselves 2DK, for 2 Daves 2 Krchnaks. We covered a lot of Police songs and I sang. That's when I learned to sing false falsetto. What's that? It's a slight adjustment of the throat shape which allows one to sing high using regular voice but it gives the impression of falsetto but is more powerful. When I first heard Sting in concert in 1983 I thought - wow - the voice of a ringmaster. We hear it here when he takes us back to day he discovered his voice - as a newspaper boy - there it is - I thought - the ringmaster!

[@josemengal5339]

The best band ever... with song titles and lyrics that nowadays take actuality...

[@Gardosunron]

Elvis version of "Every breath "mercifully short.

[@telefrk49]

Awesome!!

[@mariamanolaros8339]

AAAAAAWWWWWWW!!!!!! this is incredible !!!!!

[@augustosolari7721]

Watching the detectives Is so appropiate for the police with its nice reagge groove.

[@Stepherner]

It's such a pleasure listening to the stories. And event to the music! :-)

[@NormBa]

Wow Costello is such a brilliant interviewer. Excellent!

[@goldTopDeluxe]

Oh yeah! Elvis ripping it up on that Goldtop at the end!

[@thomaskissick4705]

It's a shame this interview series doesn't have more views. They're excellent interviews and performances.

[@anndavis2920]

5-8-20 I loved this & I was looking for something else but was curious when I read this title. Elvis Costello is so cool & I love his accent. I loved him singing w/Sting & tearing up & vice-versa. I saw the moisture in his eyes & this is first time I heard the song Alison. Thank u & stay safe in 2020

[@Rahoorkhuitable]

"Watching the detectives" - fantastic combo

[@Swaggerlot]

A long long time ago that I watched them at Hitchin Technical College.

[@dinopappous6639]

Hatfield Polytechnic.....long before Sting was a DEUSCHE !!!

[@snootslobber]

Saw this tour in Orlando last minute! Thanks for reuniting, amazing! First time seeing them along with many younger people who would never have had the chance. (Didn't do Spirits)

[@BenjWarrant]

The Police, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, playing Sunshine of your love, produced by *Sir* Elton John. If you'd told me this about the time I was buying Elvis Costello and Police LPs on their first release (worked in a record shop....) I would not have believed it.

[@chaosmusician]

That was fun! I remember watching it with my first wife...

[@gratiacynthiamaiaporto1596]

I do love Sting. This interview was great. He is so nice. Elvis seems to be very pleasant to be with them too. A very nice energy.

[@R---66---R]

Emotional Humorous Exquisite

[@peterhendriks1602]

The good thing about Elvis Costello is that everybody knows and respects him. None of these big egos ever thinks 'why isn't this guy totally sucking up to me. He is below me in the rockstar pecking order.' Also, he has got such an incredible wide musical knowledge.

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

Everyone respects Elvis Costello, partly because of his music, and partly because his wife - a great singer, a fabulous pianist AND a hot babe - picked HIM out and married and had kids with him. Diana Krall performs on another of these shows, and she rocks the house, along with series executive producer Sir Elton John. All HER decisions, so nobody gets to complain. I think that Elvis does a good job in these shows, and I'm just delighted to be going through them and watching all the great music happen.

[@kenton6098]

And it's great to have someone who really knows what questions to ask. Compare this to that old Dylan press conference in '65.

[@kevanbodsworth9868]

I sometimes wonder if those slagging off are talking more about themselves in that position than the person they are reflecting off.

[@wanker9621]

Very very cool......love The Police and Elvis is pretty cool too !

[@marcojimenez5243]

Age has certainly worked on them. Favorite band.

[@barbarabrown7115]

Best drummer for me

[@ralfhenke8148]

epic, I must say. even though I never was overly keen on their music The Police were and will always be a true stand-out in rock history. Plus Andy Summers is probably one of the nicest guys in the business.

[@Holymakinaw]

One of the better shows to ever come out of Canada(and the UK). Elvis is the best.

[@Sergedanilow]

Outstanding keyboardist!!

[@SuilujChannel]

27:27 at the transition to Walking on the Moon i got goosebumps! perfect sound :)

[@jakeregan5729]

How come this series only has likes in double digits? Elvis Costello and so many top artists should be the hottest thing on KZbin!

[@pietzsche]

Literally just found this by accident, never heard of it

[@jakeregan5729]

@@pietzsche I stumbled across it myself. A gem!

[@pietzsche]

@@jakeregan5729 Yup, I'll be through all of these in the next day o two at this rate

[@seattleite6631]

It was posted just over 3 months ago.

[@pietzsche]

@@seattleite6631 The series started in 2008

[@idalavida]

Wow!!

[@neiljamessloan]

Sublime! Great sharing and nod to the influence. Onya The Police & Elvis.

[@jorjo1972]

Elvis Costello...Es el puto amo!!!!

[@giovannipeirone3915]

the police+costello+a clapton's song=

[@jamesfrangione8448]

42 minutes well-spent. Two of the greatest acts of the 70s/80s.

[@johncopple6479]

Stewart Copeland played bass when he jammed with Neil Peart! "Make a little Noise"

[@SIELband]

hahaha! I love this! they should be better now with each other, much older, wiser, they have families now...life happened. Happy theyre still together, never say never!! so i think this is good. loving this Spectacle Elvis Costello!

[@tonylaughlin6663]

Wow on the body language from Sting. Stewart is right, whether they like it or not they are stuck with each other. Who knows, time may soften their attitudes. Doesn't matter I guess, they gave us great music that will last long after we are all gone...

[@MikaelLewisify]

How did I not know about this?

[@arlenkalifuentes]

One of my all time RockBand...it came at the time when I thought that music is either dead or has no future.

[@embracethemystery]

"hand me my lute" If I had a dollar everytime I heard that, I'd er have one dollar

[@nicksmithworld]

but if it t'were the middle ages, and we were in a tavern...

[@jasonnstegall]

Stewart once stated that all it would take for The Police to do a sixth studio album was for Sting to provide a new set of lyrics. Then he wryly added, "To this day, Andy and I are still waiting."

[@keithskelton5596]

Playing out with a Cream number Amazing show ✌🏼🌈

[@govertw.visser2015]

Leuk

[@BeesWaxMinder]

Really liked his cover at the start👍

[@braddietzmusic2429]

Love that Sting is playing to the shtick of being an arrogant egotist for a few moments, clearly tongue in cheek, and having fun with a few moments like that. Still seems like a nice guy, and this time with Costello works very well here.

[@dinopappous6639]

Don't become a "Detective".....

[@cactaceous]

Yeah, I don't think he's playing to any shtick. He is an arrogant, egotists asshole in real life and on tv.

[@davidconnelly]

How does Stewart Copeland manage to always stay so energetic?

[@danielphnut6745]

Cocaine.

[@AlainHubert]

Somewhat curious but still very satisfying to hear The Police do a cover song!

[@bugradio]

...and I stop watching at 21:30 to go listen to Miss Gradenko for the first time in a looong time!

[@pixiemouse1]

interesting set up Costello and Sting, -Gap- then Andy Summer and Copeland speaks volumes

[@rcpsammy7186]

Trippy how Elvis mentioned Curved Air, but neither he nor Stuart brought up that Copeland was married to that band's singer, Sonja Kristina, one of the greatest singers, ever. They still perform to this day, and I was lucky enough to meet her a couple years ago...big highlight.

[@Kiltoonie]

I'm amazed that here we are are in lockdown, and this hasn't got 20M views yet: these are legends and heroes of rock'n roll !

[@lamper2]

i did my part!

[@munter10]

I only stumbled upon this by accident.... very enjoyable I must say, they are still as good as they were 40 years ago!

[@dinopappous6639]

Don't kid yourself.....they can't touch Led Zep.....please....

[@SIELband]

@@munter10 same here! im very glad of this accident! ddnt know bout this show at all. but seems will be watching more of this from now on! just subscribed!

[@LD10000]

I read that article (1979-80?) how Elvis Costello said that Sting sang with a fake Jamaican accent, I like that he buried the hatchet. It's good to see them getting along well. They were kings of a musical movement gone by.

[@deanrane1961]

35:26 It was great hearing Andy Summers' favorite Police memory was playing Shea Stadium. That was one of the best times of my teenage years, Joan Jett opened for them & killed.

[@Sean-bb6xg]

And REM....was 15, got chased by a mounted cop.....what a blast!

[@deanrane1961]

@@Sean-bb6xg Hahaa! Yeah man shit like that happened on a regular basis in '83. I remember it started pouring rain . Good Times bro, glad someone remembers.

[@Sean-bb6xg]

Ironically, I ended up retiring from NYPD!

[@deanrane1961]

@@Sean-bb6xg Wow! One of my best buds who went with us to that show also retired from nypd a few years ago. Synchronicity !

[@MisAnnThorpe]

Who did she kill? You didn't finish the sentence.

[@bobbykingma4109]

I love the Police........but I like Copeland by far the most...............

[@dlux703]

Having the experience of playing bass with "emotional" drummers, who's "tempo may vary" I can attest to the 'give and take' relationships that can develop. It's totally understandable, from my perspective, that these guys could be both accomplice and antagonist, resulting in a dynamic perfection of rhythmic foundation. Meanwhile, Andy soars overhead.

[@10ampsloblo21]

tempos do vary its human it feels right most of the time

[@dennislindqvist8443]

@@10ampsloblo21 Yes, many bands are destroying their tracks by using drum machines or click tracks. If you think you need a click track, you maybe need to practice some more. I like electronica but very few bands know how to mix it with rock. It was big in the 90's but I heard just one or two bands that I liked.

[@thefunkyphantom1322]

the last 10 minutes basically summed up the zen of my high school years. You CAN have it all... EC just proved it. I mean if you could somehow add Weller, Foxton, Dammers and the boys.. Squeeze..., Mick, Joe and Paul ,... I think I would either turn to stone or evaporate. Amazing that this was captured so exquisitely, Thanks for sharing it for all time.

[@vomitingconfetti7187]

I had the chance to read Andy Summer's book detailing their experiences as a group when they were just starting out to the time they achieved superband status internationally. I was laughing the whole time because it was hilarious. Andy is a superb storyteller. It was like watching a nice comedy movie. If you have the chance, grab a copy of his book. it's a good read. It is worth your time and money. It is so good you can feel the snow.

[@lesleystorey3917]

I wouldn't read the book didn't buy a record not paying in to the BBC ant more than I have to to keep me out of jail

[@racketman2u]

thanks for the tip, love muso's autobiographies, it's fascinating how much they all interact with each other socially as well as musically, although the two are never very far apart!

[@christianalander9487]

At 46:55... Elvis Costello and The Police covering "Sunshine of Your Love" -- odd idea, but it works!

[@danfango1333]

Walking round the room.

[@steveaustin6467]

stuart copeland, killer drummer.....

[@rael1999]

Possibly the fastest rendition of 'Watching the detectives' Elvis has ever played...did Stewart have a promise on after the gig or what !

[@lonegroover]

This is the weirdest dream I never had

[@aquamarine99911]

This is just so great. Man, I love all four of these guys. I've got so many of their albums - faves being Imperial Bedroom and Synchronicity Hah, Sting and Stuart are such polar opposites. I will say that Elvis's and Sting's voices don't really mesh. Never a Cream fan, tho'.

[@BenjWarrant]

I'm with you there. Imperial bedroom is a large chunk of musical genius.

[@panchopuskas1]

.....being polar opposites is what probably makes it work....think McCartney and Lennon....the back and forths and differences, if managed well, usually make the best outcomes....

[@dwightgaston6079]

STING!!! PLEEEEEZ DO THAT TANGO VERSION OF ROXANNE! So beautiful!

[@carlosyanezlozada8809]

Costello was smart to interview them separately.

[@miquelmix]

Tienes toda la razón, Carlos. Bien visto!!

[@munter10]

Yes, the tension between sting and Stewart was awkward and obvious, stings body language said it all!

[@johng2880]

Nice bit of Cream for desert.

[@NotMe-zq6sn]

I wish KZbin would learn where to put commercials and where NOT to (like the middle of a great song).

[@jackflowers999]

Maybe a comeback Acoustic Jazzy tour Unpluged? The Police Rules

[@joshuabrande2417]

A most enjoyable time. Thank you.

[@Jinkabel]

Sting has a monumental ego, but he probably wears it better than some (who deserve it less). Stewart Copeland is irrepressible and I think his drumming is amazing!

[@jeffmostrom89]

I could see and feel the tension police band ! Lot of talent in all of them.

[@darkoanton5]

OMG! Stewart Copeland and the other drummer (don't know who he is) on White Room. Simply awesome.

[@mchaggis622]

That is Pete Thomas Elvis’s original drummer from The Attractions. Check out some of the early videos. That’s him! A fantastic player.

[@BrunoFerreira-md5dx]

Pete Thomas one of the best drummer! Even Larry Mullen Júnior from U2 os a Pete Fan

[@ebampscabs6203]

How good is this???

[@christopherking3937]

Elvis put a lot of effort into some great questions. Pity that Sing shot him down in flames in some of his questions.