Sting, Stewart & Andy: The Police in Their Own Words

In this compilation, join Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers as they share insights and stories from their legendary days in The Police.
Original Interviews ↓
Sting: • The Sting Interview
Andy Summers: • Andy Summers: His Care...
Stewart Copeland: • The Stewart Copeland I...
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[@Bluesman78]

The Evolution of Rick Beato has been an amazing thing to witness.

[@b62boom1]

Ain't that the truth! He's gone from just a KZbinr years ago, to that favourite uncle with all of the coolest mates and best stories.

[@gbenselum]

For me he Started as a grumpy Mac hater. Loved that video.

[@dkbrn1b.737]

move over Oprah, Rick's interviews can't be matched!

[@clutchrobinson358]

Now ya need all 3 in the same room...LETS GO!

[@Ingens_Scherz]

It had better be padded.

[@Riskmangler]

And with instruments.

[@edaw0]

Rick would win KZbin if he could pull that off and by win, I mean, like, he would own it.

[@benjaminperez7328]

@@Ingens_Scherz And round.

[@davidofpiano423]

Better bring the boxing gloves lol

[@richardfeldkamp1707]

One of my favourite Police quotes was when the group was asked about the band being passive aggressive with each other. Stewart answered, 'There was nothing passive about it.'

[@michaelmoraga2926]

😏

[@jfjodoin]

😂😂😂

[@PhillipCalvin627]

The thing I loved the most about the interview with Sting is that he gradually opens up and really starts enjoying himself when he realizes he's speaking with a real musician who both loves and understands the music he makes. All three interviews were great, but Andy is easy going and Stewart WANTS to share everything. Sting on the other hand, it's hard to get a good conversation with Sting the musician and Rick did that beautifully.

[@christopherwright8811]

Very well put. Exactly that.

[@dancarter482]

_NAILED IT!_

[@lesjayco7785]

“My purpose on the planet is to intrude” Just another classic Copeland comment. What a legend.

[@davidportch8837]

"The purpose of my life is to intrude"... priceless words from a brilliant drummer...love it...

[@kafkaesque123]

Brilliant but obnoxious

[@jamesragsdale8202]

​@@kafkaesque123stop intruding it's obnoxious.

[@roscoemuttley]

I love how technical Rick gets. I assume the artists appreciate that too. Not someone asking just about the shallow parts of being in a band, but a real Beato breakdown.

[@BifMcAwesome]

No doubt about that. I would imagine Sting would never be near as engaging as we saw here if Rick was one of those interviewers who wanted to mine the drama between them as they worked through their creative process to bring forth the excellent music that was interesting and intriguing. Rick showed high respect to artists through discussion of their art as opposed to low trafficking in gossip.

[@raeann63]

stewart copeland is HILARIOUS i love him so ❤ also plays a pretty mean drum.

[@zambonidriver42]

I like all 3, but Stuart is so bleeping funny!

[@CorbCorbin]

He was giving me some serious, Jeff Goldblum vibes, listening on headphones, without seeing him talk.

[@mightyV444]

​@CorbCorbin - Interesting! To me, he sounds like Kermit, just with a lower voice 😄 🐸 He's just as funny, too! 😊

[@CorbCorbin]

@@mightyV444 😄

[@mightyV444]

@@CorbCorbin - 😁

[@Mike80528]

They weren't together as a band all that long in the grand scheme of things, but they were an amazing group. Great music.

[@tonymaner5510]

Still amazingly popular even though their last record dates back to forty one years ago...

[@martinbeaumaniv2654]

Love this interview. Stewart Copeland is a genius. Much respect for the work of these three.

[@MM1717mm]

I've seen all 3 interviews... in their entirety.. more than once ... and I still wish this recap was at least 2hrs long 🎸🥁

[@leowalless9328]

It always drives me nuts that the entire band, including Stewart Copeland play down how absolutely fundamental to their success his drumming was! In fact, if you replace any one member of that trio they would never have had the same success. I understand that Sting evolved to become a genius song writer, but what was happening at the beginning was alchemy. As a twelve year old at the time who was completely immersed in everything music I cannot overstate how important the mix of punk and reggae influences was to the audience. Reggae and ska were a really big deal in the late 70's and we'd never heard anything like what the Police were doing before, it sounded new and original but it also sounded complete! Everybody thought Sting's vocal pitch and style were a nod of the head to his reggae influences. Roxanne would have been a dog of a song as a bossa nova, or a punk thrash, or a pop rocker! Copeland was 33% of the sound and it grinds my gears when Sting shoots a finger at Rick and says "Hey, he was a good drummer by the way" YEAH STING! We know!

[@caprise-music6722]

Actually he said ‘fantastic drummer’ but yes

[@RaySpainPlayer]

Well said.

[@J_Drix]

Imagine if Rick managed to get the trio together in one room for an interview

[@sinenkaari5477]

For a jam

[@ishko108]

It would be quite the "jam." 😎

[@dougcampbell3593]

He's already 2/3rds of the way, as far as we know ... and it's beginning to feel a little less impossible ✨️🪄✨️ ... how flippin' amazing that could be. You're on a wild ride, Rick 🚀 ... thanks for bringin' all of us along!

[@PianoDanny]

It wouldn’t end well!

[@SteveWhite-wv2wk]

It would be a pay per view knock down drag out.

[@JuanReyes-vv9tp]

As a Puerto Rican kid growing up in the streets of NYC I grew up with a very eclectic taste in music (Jazz standards, Soul, Funk, Salsa, Rap and Disco) Summer of 1982 I heard “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” on the radio. I had an old Panasonic boom box with cassette tape. It was always on standby whenever I heard any of my favs on the radio. As soon as I heard the first few chords I knew it was something special and pressed the record button ❤️ One of the best summers of my life with the Police being the main soundtrack. After that summer I was more than happy to add Punk/Rock & Roll to my Eclectic list 👍 Thank you Sting. Keep breathing life into our soundtrack of life ❤️

[@djizzah]

Police first two albums were the best, totally unique drum style chord structure guitar sound influences reggae and so on, but still amazing and original

[@diverdave4056]

Rick needs to have a PRIME TIME talk show !

[@caprise-music6722]

About music, with famous guests. I mean, in a way he already has that lol. But it would be awesome with like a full blown tv show. But I also understand that it’s rather unlikely.

[@thomasalderman2399]

I loved the Police as a kid in the late 70's and early 80' still do. Even appreciate them more now.

[@davidbecker8227]

Stewart Copeland is an amazing interview.

[@OrafuDa]

I like the 1986 version of Don’t stand so close to me. It has these eerie breaks with no drums that gives the song extra melancholy and depth. And when the drums come back in, they do it in a magical syncopated way that picks me up and carries me. The original version is quite different. I am glad that we have both.

[@tonymaner5510]

The 1980 version with a video is much cooler both musically and visually...The remake in 1986 looked like a swang song...Sad

[@mrJimCharles]

It is definitely different and most people don't like it lol! You're in the minority I think

[@vanessaa7602]

I agree, I like both.

[@OhioCoastie94]

Jam session: Stewart, Andy, & Sting ... with Rick recording. Make it happen!

[@bikegarrett]

Rick could easily hold his own playing with these guys, and record it simultaneously

[@deaconblue949]

Live at Rick Beato's House!

[@germancarluv]

Live at Ricks... Good one. /\

[@markothwriter]

They were definitely my favorite band when I was in high school.

[@mateokesselman]

interviewing Sting!!!, never seen someone calmer and cooler than Rick.

[@robertsobers8832]

The Police, my favorite band of all time, epitomize brilliance in every sense. Each member contributes a unique genius that, when combined, creates an unparalleled musical synergy. There will never be another band like them. Individually, they are exceptional, yet none could ever surpass the iconic sound of The Police on their own. Truly, they are the greatest band ever!

[@stevenspencer4238]

Thank you for doing this. The Police were my 1st favorite band, I was introduced to them as a kid by my babysitter in 1980. Was finally able to see them live in 2007, great to learn and hear 1st hand all this history.

[@mcentertainmentdjs]

Just the best interviews.....Thank you, sir!

[@earache70]

It's too bad Copeland is so shy. Who knows what sort of untapped potential exists within him if he'd just come out of his shell.

[@mightyV444]

😂👍

[@FoosTantrumGirl606]

😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤

[@jasonalun]

LOL nice one

[@HangsLopsided]

lol!

[@d.a.9937]

Very intersting watch. Sting just compels the ear, in music and in conversation.

[@floorticket]

"I never play the same thing twice." at 1:31 That explains a bit why he was such a good fit opening for The Grateful Dead eleven times in the summer of '93.

[@leveldk]

Rick working overtime to get a Police reunion happening

[@matiasmoulin2126]

well thanks, now I have to go back and watch the whole Stewart interview again. That guy is addictive!

[@scatpack440]

One of the most amazing bands of all time with such amazing muscians!

[@wilsonbrownofficial2828]

Mixing is an art in itself. Such subtle tweaks can make a huge difference

[@tomfeister]

Loved this series of conversations. The Police made music that still sounds fresh and exciting. ❤

[@cigarboxguitar9519]

You can see from the individual interviews why they might not always get along together. Geniuses and don't play well together. It's mind-blowing that were given the incredible music that they gave us.

[@skabuoy]

If Stewart's bio is to be believed, they get along better in private than one might expect from the mythology.

[@samuelshepherd5297]

Really enjoy your stuff Rick! I was showing my 90 year old mom your break down of Seal's song, and she loved it said you were a natural teacher...high praise from her!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

Sting looks like "Dr. Smith" from LOST IN SPACE. "Oh the pain Wil Robinson"....

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

That’s how he behaved in the studio I believe. 😂

[@Danny-fs1hk]

😂

[@user-kq9gh7xw9z]

Warning! Warning!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

@@user-kq9gh7xw9z

[@Beckola44]

I am a huge Police fan. You always get fantastic guests on your show. Thank you for the video Rick.

[@jimw6659]

Nice Zenyatta Mondatta tribute on the splash screen.

[@johnseward2934]

The attitude and personality difference between Steward and Sting is one of the more fascinating nuances to The Police, and undoubtedly a major contributing factor to their greatness. In some ways, similar to the differences and friction between Gilmour and Waters leading to their brilliance.

[@MrPrice2U]

The Police is still one of my top 3 bands since 1982. so good they quit at the right time.

[@johnforan2973]

The police, "Synchronicity 2", is my favorite song by you. The guitars are PERFECTO Andy. Thank you. My wife still has a hard time with you Sting. I will break her eventually. She is a few years younger. I have played this song and I do not think that she figured out who it is in the past. That is how you get them. Amazing band. The sound from a trio. Yes yes

[@lunes-1]

The Police 🇬🇧🎵🚨 were great, fresh, innovative and talented 👍💯... Sting was funny to watch on 🎬Quadrophenia

[@adamfrost3139]

I appreciate Stewart addressing Don't stand so Close to me 86'. I like that version, but I didn't like the padded flat snare and wondered how he could go from the signature "snap" of his usual snare, to some Radioshack type of drum sound lol. It's cool knowing that he himself felt the same way. Incredible interviews 👍

[@mightyV444]

"Radioshack-type"! I love it! 😄👍 Yeah, it was satisfying also to me that Stewart had sentiments similar to my own towards that version (which I _can't_ stand, by the way). Just like reading in Andy's biography that he "hated all that un-Police saxophone sh*t" 😊

[@ukok8177]

What if The police rearranged all sting's solo songs... That will be a surprise for all... Rick you are real professional and I hoped these interviews never ends, just magic. ❤❤

[@AA-ws3vd]

A song is a child. These are some good parents.

[@will5150]

Rick please interview Miles Copeland.

[@KevinCreighton]

Oh lord, yes. The bands he had on IRS set the tone for at least a decade’s worth of music.

[@will5150]

@@KevinCreighton after listening to the mike mills interview and mike talking about Ian, I'd love to hear from the oldest brother. the stories he could tell.

[@TjByers369]

The coolest rock n' roll band ever.

[@johnnybegood2693]

What a Trio.. love all of them! 🎉

[@mysteriousplankton]

Great compilation Rick! Compelling details and a behind the scenes perspective.

[@stevem2811]

Rick, thanks for the best interviews. Really outstanding.

[@Tubes12AX7k]

I think I've been waiting for this interview for my entire life.

[@CaesarDarias]

Mr. Beato hasn’t actually interviewed Miles Copeland, which many fans consider the 4th policeman. He played a key role in the success of the Police. Miles went on to manage Sting for about 16 years. Miles also wrote an excellent bio packed many anecdotes about all the famous bands and music personalities that he managed and met. For reasons never fully explained (probably money) Sting fired Miles and he was also not part of the Police reunion.

[@mrJimCharles]

In all fairness, when Sting fired Miles he was at the absolute nadir of his career

[@CaesarDarias]

@@mrJimCharles Not accurate, at all. When Miles left, the Brand New Day album was a worldwide 7x platinum smash hit. There was also a huge world tour. Miles is the one who insisted on a new producer focused on hits. That’s when Kipper entered the Sting universe because, said Miles, the previous producer was too timid around Sting and would not dare to contradict/advise him. The next album after Miles departed saw a sharp sales decline. Miles, occasional sharp elbows and all, was the perhaps the one man who was always honest with Sting.

[@atlanta2076]

Thank you, Rick! ♥♥♥

[@Schu2505]

Love the Equalizer Soundtrack!

[@vincentrocco1004]

I had the honor and pleasure of working with Andy for a year on a project Class act

[@roberthevern6169]

Brilliant, Rick! Loved every second of it! Thanks so much!

[@catherine6653]

Nice clips from the three interviews. I ❤ the music from The Police.

[@corradoparris9679]

There should be a bio-pic movie about The Police. It would be interesting.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Really beautifully edited :)

[@captainscarlet6758]

What a fascinating conversation. They always sound like there are more of them playing. Rush was the same . 👍

[@estebanrodriguez9007]

"It's not a museum piece". What a wonderful quote.

[@rockista4195]

I never het tired of listening to the story of Sting and Copeland arguing two weeks on drum sampling.

[@Schmuddel]

Will always be funny to me how Stewart Copeland's dad was one of the people who founded the CIA and then he went on to be in a band called The Police.

[@racegts]

A real police state!😂😂😂😂

[@ScottHoel]

And his brother Miles founded I.R.S. Records.

[@BLeeFAFO]

Years later Stewart had mentioned he and his brothers kinda were deliberate about jabbing a little at "The Gubbament". Miles founded I.R.S. Records, Ian founded FBI Booking, And Stewart founded The Police. Hilarious in hindsight.

[@Schmuddel]

@@BLeeFAFO I knew about IRS Records but I didn't know about FBI Booking, that's hilarious.

[@andymelendez9757]

Wouldn’t be the first time famous Brits have had associations w the intelligence community. Alister Crowley,a few actors etc.

[@staceystone7626]

Love Stewart ❤

[@shanewoolsey940]

In 1978 I was 13, bored and isolated in a farming town of 300 people. Everything was Skinner or Kenny & Dolly. Disappointing for a young guitar player who could only relate to Zep. Then I heard Roxanne. I had no idea there was a punk movement going on and new wave was only lightly sprinkled on the one AM rock station my dad listened to. I was not allowed to "mess with his channels!" In 1980 I heard Don't stand so close to me. At 15 I grabbed my guitar and fucked off to the city. I had a blast. Funny I live in a small farming town of 700 15 minutes away from the town I ran away from 44 years ago.

[@mightyV444]

Thank you for sharing your story! 😀👍 Amazing how powerful and even life-changing Music can be! 😍

[@ptjww9455]

'Every little thing' actually dates back to their Strontium90 era. The original version is just Sting's voice over a classical guitar.

[@mrbungle7586]

Great interviews and keep them coming if you can please. 👍

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Brilliant clips!

[@bngrbngr4416]

Just on my way home from hearing this song Sting live.

[@judih.8754]

I subbed from the moment I found this channel!

[@user-ut7ez6dx2r]

Best Band on the Planet

[@danielmconnolly7]

Extremely entertaining. I love them all~✨

[@visionlandmusic]

Excellent video!

[@bikegarrett]

Subbed and enjoyed both your channels as soon as I found you years ago, thanks Rick !!!

[@austinbushnell7448]

Based on the quality of these Police interviews, I'm subscribed Rick 👍

[@ozzydoop1473]

I live these mix mash interviews so Much as a huge police fan : thank you RB

[@leokimvideo]

Thank God Copeland intrudes. The Police is a complex three piece band, would never work unless it's Sting / Andy / Stewart. Take away one member in the band and the magic stops. I always feel the core backbone to their unique sound is Stewart Copeland's drumming. That intrusive snare drum of his is the stuff of music legends.

[@gracegeek4678]

Love King of Pain!!!

[@saintbees2088]

Beato you did it again!

[@terrat3048]

This is so entertaining...

[@robfehrle515]

Rick, you are the man. Idk what else to say

[@lodrezzon]

For anyone who doesn't understand the difficulty of singing and playing bass, it's difficult for Sting to explain why his playing is so varied over all his music. On right handed bassists, your speech center and your left hand movement are controlled by the same part of the brain. Left handed singers like Paul McCartney don't have this issue.Right handers have to memorize everything, and hope it 'plays back' live correctly. But as a singing jazz/pop/funk bassist for over 30 years, I can tell you that the second your mind feels like it wants to do something in the left hand other than what you've memorized, your voice rhythm, pitch control, and finger control all instantly go haywire. It isn't in the memorization part, it's in the live playing where your mind just wants to jam to something it feels at that moment, and either your ability to sing pays the price, or vice versa, your hand starts following the rhythmic intent of the words, since the fingers HAVE to follow rhythm of the voice. Sting mastered that strange dynamic, and built a career and musical genre around it.

[@skabuoy]

As a bass player who occasionally did (backing) vocals, I found I can sing and play no problem. But only with rock songs. Simple 4/4 straightforward bass. I tried (and very quickly gave up) combining the two in my Ska- and Reggae bands, but the singing would seriously eff up my bass playing because of the different timing with those genres.

[@lodrezzon]

@@skabuoy Ironically, I play keys and sing on about 50% of the bands songs with absolutely no problem. Even with my left hand playing bass lines on the keys. But start doing groove, funk, or syncopated stuff on my electric or upright, and fun becomes a nightmare.

[@williamweiss6128]

Trio, playing live. Great band.

[@andypearce5537]

Thank you Rick.

[@maxmeister5064]

As someone who is old enough to remember The Police, I have to say this is GREAT GREAT stuff, but still rather telling that you couldn't get all three for one and the same occasion.

[@skabuoy]

They do all three meet privately. According to Stewart's bio at least. That's how the reunion/farewell tour got going back in 2007.

[@user-qt1rr5tk9i]

Even in high school class of 87, Copeland was very recognized like Neil peart .

[@mojito6629]

They could not getting along for too long. Not a stereotype of a band which the members were kids grown up together, like a 'band', which can have one solid group vote about things. They're not. They just meet after everyone was already mature, even had kids already. They always have 3 vote as a band and fighting for theirs to be the winning one. But.. that's the chemistry of The Police. What had been broken them is also what made them great.

[@mikefeltner4216]

Thank goodness for the Reunion

[@steverherb]

Rick, please use your influence to convince The Police to play the Sphere in Vegas! Thanks for the great interview!

[@deco-edesiojairwittkowski8883]

Best band.. reunion again .. one more time.. last time..

[@marc_rosenberg]

I subscribe and I love your channel, Sir.

[@tonymaner5510]

I know for sure now, you are a Police enthusiast 100%...A conjoint interview is highly recommended

[@elusive1970]

You can never have enough Police interviews! Lets get them in the same room and lock the doors, see what happens.

[@kaoquinn]

❤Good stuff

[@brianwilson49]

Sting owes so much of his career to copeland and summers - they transformed his interesting but beige songs into something way beyond. need convincing? name a single song sting has produced outside of the police that is anywhere near as interseting as anything from the police’s output.

[@skabuoy]

Several from his "...Nothing Like The Sun" album. "History Will Teach Us Nothing" from the top of my head, but yeah, I agree with your point. The Police are on a pretty much unassailable level.

[@Binkley-rj6gf]

What a trio, and how articulate each is about their music. Though I think they hit their peak with Ghost in the Machine, and not Synchronicity.

[@skabuoy]

Agreed.

[@gookymofo]

They needed each other to make that Police sound. It’s a good thing they broke up. Definitely not self-sustaining, especially with Sting having so much ambition and didn’t want to be held back (in his interpretation). It’s sad because the three of them were synergic. However, it is good they ended it otherwise their legacy would have gotten stale.

[@user-yt8gr3zz4l]

Comforting memories of Our Y lll Yesterday sss While tllll Getting free music lessons From Sir rick

[@Fearzero]

It was funny when Stew called out the pompous sounding comment at the top of his interview; 'I don't do interviews, I have conversations. ' Ha ha 'I don't play drums I bang shit!' Classic.

[@dogmart]

Sting still doesn’t realize how much Stewart’s drumming breathes life into his songs. Not even Vinnie can do justice to Police songs. Copeland’s drumming made the Police sound.

[@Mo_Ketchups]

I can’t readily think of another celebrity whose every gesture, posture, & facial/verbal expressions are more glaringly cultivated & choreographed than Sting. I sensed this ever since the first album hit as a kid. Even here, he’s makin like he’s merely tolerating Rick as ya would an annoying kid. 😮‍💨🤦‍♂️ Edit: Michael Stipe may be a close second after a few minutes’ more thought. 👀🥴