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Strange Things Happen: A life with The Police, polo and pygmies
A remarkable memoir from the legendary drummer with The Police.
Stewart Copeland is a genuine rock legend. As the drummer with The Police he was part of the biggest rock band in the world. They sold over 50 million records, won 2 Brits and 6 Grammys and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. When they reformed in 2007 they played to nearly 4 million fans on a record-breaking world tour which grossed over $400m.
But his time with The Police is just a tiny part of his story.
Growing up in Lebanon, unaware that his dad was a major US spy. Being best friends with Kim Philby’s son. Singing in the choir in Wells Cathedral. Performing arts college in San Diego. Drumming with prog-rock gods Curved Air. Appearing on TOTP as Klark Kent in full camoflage make-up. Spray painting The Police logos around London at night. Rock stardom and fan obsessions. Filming experimental movies with a pygmy tribe. Playing polo against Prince Charles. Recording the score to Rumblefish with Francis Ford Coppola looking on. Composing operas. Reforming the band. Arguing with Sting. Embarking on one of the biggest tours of all time as he approaches sixty.
These are just a few of the episodes covered in this revelatory autobiography. It is destined to be a must-read for thousands of Police fans and music enthusiasts.
Strange Things Happen is an unforgettable memoir from a musician who has earned his place in rock history.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
107 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
January 19, 2025
A candid, confident autobio from from a guy so much more than the drummer from the Police - someone who's written dozens of film scores, an opera, is a champion on the polo field and has a strange time grasping the finer points of idolatry. You get a humane look at someone intelligent enough in certain ways and not intelligent in certain ways (in Sting's eyes) and how this balance was enough - and necessary - to make some unbelievable music. Lots of great stories, extremely well-worded paragraphs and finely timed humor in clipped, amusing vignettes. The stories from his childhood are particularily vivid and borderline touching.
Some of the humor comes across in a humane way to deal the moon-sized talent of Sting, who Copeland artfully talks about without giving us too much.
Here he describes Sting's wife: "Trudie Styler is unique. Not one for half measures, she always greets family with full Latin embrace. No pecks on the cheek for Trudie - she inspires and demands full mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She can turn the most Nordic of dweebs into Antonio Banderas." So Copeland is self-effacing, too, a pleasant trait for any rock star.
He also reaches a high point humor-wise when he describes a jam with a band of parents from the highest-end school that his kids go to, a band that includes big-tongued Gene Simmons from KISS: "What I really like is how all of the alpha moms are scandalized by the Neanderthal lowbrow vibe and just can't stop twittering about it."
Of course, the funniest parts involve Sting, described here in a difficult Police concert moment in Italy:
"Andy takes a solo. He can feel the excitation. As he ramps it up and up, I'm raging with him. OK, so the tempo gets a little overheated. When we get back to the song Sting has to snatch at the lyrics in the brighter tempo. Well, I know that's going to piss him off.
"And it does: now he's got Tourett's syndrome. He doesn't want to miss a precious word of his blessed song, so he's singing like a bird, but after every line of soaring beauty, his head twitches around to spit venom... It's vital that I not miss any drop of his message."
Throughout the book, Copeland often says more by what he leaves out. It is a strength of the book because it's probably meant to keep the pace plugging along, but it also gives an incomplete view of Copeland and who he really is. It would seem possible to not reveal too much information while giving his multitude of fans some vital info: what his wife is like, what kind of dad he is, more of the nice things and encounters that he's had with people, namely The Police. What efforts has Copeland made to contribute to the band and break through the Sting mystique? How does he manage to stay so incredibly busy? We don't learn much from this book.
Still, there's a very understanding paragraph near the end of all of it, written after a year of the recent reunion tour. Copeland is restless to move on to other parts of his overall agenda:
"Maybe Sting still has the energy to continue harassing me after a solid year of it because he thinks he's going to be stuck with me. Maybe he's so resistant to collaboration because he sees a trap closing around him. Well, I certainly can sympathize. I've felt this constriction for a year now..."
Well said. Empathetic. I just wanted more of this human stuff.
Still, I flew through the book, as fast as Copeland's hands at the unforgettable Police concert I saw in Vancouver, WA in '08. What we have here is a musician standing up and looking good in his own kind of light.
Some of the humor comes across in a humane way to deal the moon-sized talent of Sting, who Copeland artfully talks about without giving us too much.
Here he describes Sting's wife: "Trudie Styler is unique. Not one for half measures, she always greets family with full Latin embrace. No pecks on the cheek for Trudie - she inspires and demands full mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She can turn the most Nordic of dweebs into Antonio Banderas." So Copeland is self-effacing, too, a pleasant trait for any rock star.
He also reaches a high point humor-wise when he describes a jam with a band of parents from the highest-end school that his kids go to, a band that includes big-tongued Gene Simmons from KISS: "What I really like is how all of the alpha moms are scandalized by the Neanderthal lowbrow vibe and just can't stop twittering about it."
Of course, the funniest parts involve Sting, described here in a difficult Police concert moment in Italy:
"Andy takes a solo. He can feel the excitation. As he ramps it up and up, I'm raging with him. OK, so the tempo gets a little overheated. When we get back to the song Sting has to snatch at the lyrics in the brighter tempo. Well, I know that's going to piss him off.
"And it does: now he's got Tourett's syndrome. He doesn't want to miss a precious word of his blessed song, so he's singing like a bird, but after every line of soaring beauty, his head twitches around to spit venom... It's vital that I not miss any drop of his message."
Throughout the book, Copeland often says more by what he leaves out. It is a strength of the book because it's probably meant to keep the pace plugging along, but it also gives an incomplete view of Copeland and who he really is. It would seem possible to not reveal too much information while giving his multitude of fans some vital info: what his wife is like, what kind of dad he is, more of the nice things and encounters that he's had with people, namely The Police. What efforts has Copeland made to contribute to the band and break through the Sting mystique? How does he manage to stay so incredibly busy? We don't learn much from this book.
Still, there's a very understanding paragraph near the end of all of it, written after a year of the recent reunion tour. Copeland is restless to move on to other parts of his overall agenda:
"Maybe Sting still has the energy to continue harassing me after a solid year of it because he thinks he's going to be stuck with me. Maybe he's so resistant to collaboration because he sees a trap closing around him. Well, I certainly can sympathize. I've felt this constriction for a year now..."
Well said. Empathetic. I just wanted more of this human stuff.
Still, I flew through the book, as fast as Copeland's hands at the unforgettable Police concert I saw in Vancouver, WA in '08. What we have here is a musician standing up and looking good in his own kind of light.
February 23, 2010
And I am a drummer AND love The Police! This is often not very interesting. Maybe that is copeland's point: That he is just a regular guy now. I felt on the outside looking in during stories of Polo. You are not a regular guy if you have a fleet of ponies. Sorry!
He is truly unafraid to put his arrogance on parade. Imagine he and Sting on stage, both trying to keep their own ego pumped up. Yikes!
I read it so you don't have to.
He is truly unafraid to put his arrogance on parade. Imagine he and Sting on stage, both trying to keep their own ego pumped up. Yikes!
I read it so you don't have to.
September 15, 2010
A fun read... Disjointed and self-indulgent, but fun nonetheless.
May 16, 2021
This memoir seemed to ramble and was written in conversational form. I have utmost respect for Stewart Copeland as a musician, percussionist, and songwriter. But this book missed the mark in my opinion. Similar to Neil Young's Hippie Dream autobiography, it lacked deep meaning and gainful insight. I kept waiting to be awed by something, but it never came. Thanks.
July 13, 2018
Drummer, Stewart Copeland, who achieved fame with The Police, has done many other things in a rich and varied life. He was the first of the trio to have a hit single, he has a prolific career as a composer for film and television (as well as orchestra, Opera and Ballet). He also has a varied career in world music (especially African and Italian Pizzaca - he was given the keys to an Italian city for his work). He also has a delightfully anarchic and shrewdly insightful writing style, observant and thoughtful, always cutting to the core of things. Whether he's writing about why Sting and he will never get along musically (despite lots of love and respect), the game of polo, his Middle East childhood with his CIA father, or the shamanistic rituals of music, Copeland always has something interesting and pertinent to say. A very engaging read. - BH.
September 1, 2021
Не стоит ждать от книги инсайдов и документалистики. Стюрт всю жизнь нарушал все возможные правила, поэтому и книгу-биографию он написал по-своему. Сборник простеньких, но в большинстве интересных историй. Немного жаль, что про работу над саундтреками не написано больше интересных историй, учитывая что рассказать было о чём.
December 13, 2009
I heard an interview with Steward Copeland (former drummer of The Police) on NPR and was intrigued to pick up his book. Although it was not what I expected, I did find parts of the book interesting, especially the backstage descriptions. Copeland's style of writing is very random, however, and it's more of a collection of disjointed adventure stories.
January 15, 2020
Hilarious and insightful-great stories about The Police, polo and playing drums while lions attack. I wish I'd had this book when I was still a hungry, angry musician.
July 18, 2017
I'm a drummer, and I was pretty excited to read this. After several chapters about horses and polo I can't bear it anymore. We're done here.
October 18, 2022
When I was in high school, my friend John S. had a chance to do something where he met Stewart. I can't remember what or how but it wasn't in the scope of famous people stuff - I think they both knew someone and that's how it happened? Since Stewart's an interesting guy with a fascinating family history, anything is possible. I begged and begged for John to take me with but he didn't and then he showed me the picture of him and Stewart sitting on a porch swing together and I wanted to strangle him and if I saw him today I would still feel that way. How could he leave me out?!
Anyway. I'm a superfan of Mr. Copeland. I have all his solo albums, even the elusive green vinyl Klark Kent, which a guy I knew in college got for me because he was trying to get in my pants. Didn't work (he had another girlfriend and I would never!) but thanks buddy, I still have it.
I wanted to read this when it came out, which is that elusive "a little over 10 years ago" time that I worked at Barnes and Noble. I finally was able to get it from Cloud Library so away I went. While some of it is dated due to the pub date (for instance, it's hard reading about Taylor Hawkins when you know he died this year and how awful that was for the music community) it's arranged fairly chronologically and he writes with humor, elegance and elan. He is truly a fascinating person and the main reason I loved The Police all through high school - there was one other reason and he certainly didn't play bass if you know what I mean. And I tried to read HIS book but when there was mention of cat torture in the early chapters I had to bail.
Best story has to be the Gene Simmons one. The stories of playing in Italy are also fun and immersive. I still wish I had gotten he chance to meet him but at least I read the book, right?
Anyway. I'm a superfan of Mr. Copeland. I have all his solo albums, even the elusive green vinyl Klark Kent, which a guy I knew in college got for me because he was trying to get in my pants. Didn't work (he had another girlfriend and I would never!) but thanks buddy, I still have it.
I wanted to read this when it came out, which is that elusive "a little over 10 years ago" time that I worked at Barnes and Noble. I finally was able to get it from Cloud Library so away I went. While some of it is dated due to the pub date (for instance, it's hard reading about Taylor Hawkins when you know he died this year and how awful that was for the music community) it's arranged fairly chronologically and he writes with humor, elegance and elan. He is truly a fascinating person and the main reason I loved The Police all through high school - there was one other reason and he certainly didn't play bass if you know what I mean. And I tried to read HIS book but when there was mention of cat torture in the early chapters I had to bail.
Best story has to be the Gene Simmons one. The stories of playing in Italy are also fun and immersive. I still wish I had gotten he chance to meet him but at least I read the book, right?
January 15, 2024
"My father made sure that I had every kind of proper musical training and technique, but no one was ever able to teach me when to shut up."
If you've ever watched interviews of Stewart Copeland, the voluble, quotable drummer of the famous 80s band The Police, you see immediately he's a hu... [see the rest on my book review site.]
If you've ever watched interviews of Stewart Copeland, the voluble, quotable drummer of the famous 80s band The Police, you see immediately he's a hu... [see the rest on my book review site.]
November 14, 2025
Entertaining memoir from my favorite drummer. He writes just as howlish as he talks (which I enjoy), and it is cool to glimpse in his storied life before and after the police. Of course, I wish there were more anecdotes about his time while touring with The Police, but I digress.
May 4, 2023
Stewart Copeland is funny guy. I was going to say that Police fans will be disappointed because there is very little about the early days of The Police and very much about his numerous other projects between the breakup and the reformation for one final tour of the band. The last chapters about the final tour had me laughing. He really does rant on, in a good humoured way, about what winds him up about Sting and what he does that winds up Sting. The three of them are all extremely talented musicians but even though he is playing with a super talented drummer, Sting always wants to correct or change something minor about the way the drunmer plays. I’d say this book is not for the casual fan, the more you love Stewart Copeland and his eclectic work the more you’ll get out of it. Overall, I enjoyed it but like Stewart with The Police, I’m done with it.
May 8, 2013
Copeland would have us believe that The Police and his time with that important band had become almost a vague and rarely thought of memory such is the intensity of his life and achievements since however the ghost in the machine presides over all and is only exorcised through an ecstatic and exhausting reunion tour.
Copeland is an effervescent character, born into an unusual family of the world, surrounded by celebrity and infamy, and not wanting for anything, this is no rags to riches story. One senses that he would have found fame and fortune at something, somewhere, such is his drive, talent, thick skin, and appreciation of good fortune. When a door opens he swaggers through, all except his favoured polo club which stubbornly refused to bow to his celebrity, and rising to the challenge he achieves acceptance through sheer hard work, sweat and determination.
What I found most intriguing was that Copeland is a learned and disciplined writer, arranger and performer of music, whether for TV and movie scores, or as part of a euphoric Italian folk ensemble, yet it is with The Police that his wild child emerges and he revels in a chaotic drumming style which creates perfect tension against the perfectionist Sting, Andy Sumner providing the oft needed sanity to prevent the polar opposites from tearing everything apart.
The book contains many anecdotes as one may expect but this is no tale of rock and roll excesses, no drugs, some booze but only in moderation, and Copeland's principal vice seems to be an obsession with the post performance power shower.
Strange Things Happen is an enjoyable and insightful read.
Copeland is an effervescent character, born into an unusual family of the world, surrounded by celebrity and infamy, and not wanting for anything, this is no rags to riches story. One senses that he would have found fame and fortune at something, somewhere, such is his drive, talent, thick skin, and appreciation of good fortune. When a door opens he swaggers through, all except his favoured polo club which stubbornly refused to bow to his celebrity, and rising to the challenge he achieves acceptance through sheer hard work, sweat and determination.
What I found most intriguing was that Copeland is a learned and disciplined writer, arranger and performer of music, whether for TV and movie scores, or as part of a euphoric Italian folk ensemble, yet it is with The Police that his wild child emerges and he revels in a chaotic drumming style which creates perfect tension against the perfectionist Sting, Andy Sumner providing the oft needed sanity to prevent the polar opposites from tearing everything apart.
The book contains many anecdotes as one may expect but this is no tale of rock and roll excesses, no drugs, some booze but only in moderation, and Copeland's principal vice seems to be an obsession with the post performance power shower.
Strange Things Happen is an enjoyable and insightful read.
April 1, 2016
This was a great read. I had picked it up because the title grabbed me and I found that it is a rather interesting collection of tales.
Although if you're looking for a book that's about Copeland's experiences with The Police, this probably isn't the book for you. Although he does discuss briefly their career at the start of the book and he does devote a section to the reunion tour that began in 2008, this book is not about The Police.
Strange Things Happen can be classified as an autobiography although it certainly doesn't follow the traditional format. There's no real personal revelation or dirt to dish here. If you want Copeland's (and by default The Police's) dirty laundry, this is not the book for you.
In some senses this book can be viewed as a collection of loosely connected short stories involving the same character as he goes through many fantastical adventures. In this case, all the stories and adventures are true. In other senses, there is a very anthropological view whenever Copeland talks about the ritualistic experience of how live music connects the musician and the audience.
If you're not looking for a book about The Police or any scandals, this is definitely a good book to read whether you're a fan of The Police or Stewart Copeland's solo work or not.
Although if you're looking for a book that's about Copeland's experiences with The Police, this probably isn't the book for you. Although he does discuss briefly their career at the start of the book and he does devote a section to the reunion tour that began in 2008, this book is not about The Police.
Strange Things Happen can be classified as an autobiography although it certainly doesn't follow the traditional format. There's no real personal revelation or dirt to dish here. If you want Copeland's (and by default The Police's) dirty laundry, this is not the book for you.
In some senses this book can be viewed as a collection of loosely connected short stories involving the same character as he goes through many fantastical adventures. In this case, all the stories and adventures are true. In other senses, there is a very anthropological view whenever Copeland talks about the ritualistic experience of how live music connects the musician and the audience.
If you're not looking for a book about The Police or any scandals, this is definitely a good book to read whether you're a fan of The Police or Stewart Copeland's solo work or not.
December 31, 2016
Don't come looking for a history of The Police. This book is so strange (pun intended). It's really just a collection of various odd stories from Copeland's life and it jumps back and forth in time. Most of it is fairly enjoyable. There are hardly any stories about the original The Police years, but then the last third of the book turns into an exhaustive chronicling of the 2007-2008 The Police reunion tour. Such a strange choice! Stewart Copeland is an egomaniac. Sting is a controlling (of his music) bastard. Andy Summers is barely acknowledged. The stories about Oysterhead and Les Claypool are fun. The Foo Fighters section was interesting. The Rage Against the Machine story was hilarious. There is enjoyment to be had out of this book, but some of the choices were just...well...strange.
October 26, 2009
Smart, snarky and smug. I never imagined that a drummer could be so intelligent nor could I imagine that one could put together a coherent thought together. (OK, so I have known a lot of drummers in my life and most of them weren't the brightest.) There are some amusing anecdotes in this book but I didn't quite get the movie portion of the book. You could see how creative types can clash when they all think that their way is the best. The best story is when Prince of Wales hit his car at a polo match right after he told Princess Diana to not sit on his precious Aston Martin. If you are looking for a note by note history of the Police's reunion tour, it is not here, but you really get a good feel for the lifestyle. I received this book from the publisher.
November 3, 2009
Very cool sort of autobiography from Stewart Copeland. Some neat insights into Sting and the Police, drumming, family life, celebrity, his own youth in the Middle East, etc. Here is a quote about being a celebrity: "But living with idolatry is strange, even for those who seek and expect it. You notice that people act oddly in your presence. There is heightened tension. Veins throb in people's foreheads. The tiniest acts fo kindness, wisdom, or wit are rewarded with undue enthusiasm. People apologize for all manner of imperfections, as if it is their duty to maintain the pristine quality of my environment. Folks seem to assume that I deserve a better shake than they get. Somehow I'm special, although there is not anything remotely sacred about me." Interesting insights. Good book.
January 14, 2010
I thoroughly enjoyed Copelands juicy deets of the Police then and now... the pygmies and the polo, not so much. However, truth be told, Copeland is a genious and is a very accomplished musician. I If you like(d) the Police, you should have a read. I never knew Stingo was such a complicated character.
November 24, 2010
Entertaining and funny. Favorite quote: "Sting and I actually get along really well, just as long as we're not talking about music." And the fact that he refers to his lead singer in a condescending fashion as "Stingo" was also awesome.
March 31, 2014
This book was a little bit scatter-brained, a little over-the-top, not that structured, and pretty insightful. A lot like Copeland's drumming. I loved it :). I am a huge Copeland fan, so my love of his drumming may have tainted my opinion of the book.
October 19, 2010
Revealing and entertaining, but about as coherent as a fever dream.
January 22, 2010
Entirely entertaining glimpse of his life with and away from The Police (for whom he was the drummer). All sorts of funny anecdotes.
February 14, 2010
Fast paced collection of biographical anecdotes from the life of Stewart Copeland--he writes like he drums! Highly recommended.
September 1, 2025
I seem to have a thing for rock-star memoirs where the author skips over the period that they're most famous for. That's the impression I get reading this book, which, much like David Byrne's "How Music Works," teases the past accomplishments of its author while going into detail about post-famous-band-break-up musical activities. But damn, if it isn't entertaining nonetheless.
"Strange Things Happen" is Stewart Copeland's beguiling memoir of his life and times, starting with his father's posting to Beirut when Stewart was a child and continuing through his early music career and onto the present-day (circa 2008) circumstances of his life thus far. And oh yeah, that famous band he was a member of? More on that later.
I have to say, I never imagined that I would buy this book, much less read it. It's nothing against Mr. Copeland himself, but just a sort "meh" feeling would strike me every time I saw it on the shelves when I went to my local library's Thursday book sales. But recently, in full flush of feeling excited about a new job, I was somehow swayed to purchase this one (for about one or two dollars, so it wasn't a huge investment). At first I was a little disappointed that he didn't go into detail about his time in his most well-known band, but I found myself charmed by his writing nonetheless. We get to see Stewart develop his aptitude for drums and other instruments and to grow into the role of film composer and traveling musician, often on tour with bands that I've never heard of but which sounds like a hell of a lot of fun.
And then we get to the reunion tour of The Police.
Yep, not a big mystery who Stewart drummed for (it's in the subtitle), but I saved the reveal for now because it's what vaulted me over the three-star rating I was going to give it (which is still pretty good). Andy Summers, Stewart, and Sting were the biggest band for a while there in the early Eighties, and their creative venture was fraught with tension and angst. It's no different in 2007, when they surprise the world and go on tour. Bad blood can still spring up (especially between the drummer and the bass-player/multi-platinum best-selling solo artist), but then so can creative joy and pure camaraderie (after all, sometimes the best way to show love is to shit-talk each other). The reunion tour section of the book, which takes up the last third, really feels like the best part of the book (though there's plenty to enjoy prior). We see rock gods acting like petulant children sometimes, having arguments onstage and nearly coming to blows off of it. But they also have a dynamic musical chemistry that they don't really find elsewhere. And that's why The Police were so huge.
"Strange Things Happen" is Stewart Copeland's testimony to the power of music to not just provide someone with a career, but with a life. Playing music has opened the world to him, and we get to go along for the ride.
"Strange Things Happen" is Stewart Copeland's beguiling memoir of his life and times, starting with his father's posting to Beirut when Stewart was a child and continuing through his early music career and onto the present-day (circa 2008) circumstances of his life thus far. And oh yeah, that famous band he was a member of? More on that later.
I have to say, I never imagined that I would buy this book, much less read it. It's nothing against Mr. Copeland himself, but just a sort "meh" feeling would strike me every time I saw it on the shelves when I went to my local library's Thursday book sales. But recently, in full flush of feeling excited about a new job, I was somehow swayed to purchase this one (for about one or two dollars, so it wasn't a huge investment). At first I was a little disappointed that he didn't go into detail about his time in his most well-known band, but I found myself charmed by his writing nonetheless. We get to see Stewart develop his aptitude for drums and other instruments and to grow into the role of film composer and traveling musician, often on tour with bands that I've never heard of but which sounds like a hell of a lot of fun.
And then we get to the reunion tour of The Police.
Yep, not a big mystery who Stewart drummed for (it's in the subtitle), but I saved the reveal for now because it's what vaulted me over the three-star rating I was going to give it (which is still pretty good). Andy Summers, Stewart, and Sting were the biggest band for a while there in the early Eighties, and their creative venture was fraught with tension and angst. It's no different in 2007, when they surprise the world and go on tour. Bad blood can still spring up (especially between the drummer and the bass-player/multi-platinum best-selling solo artist), but then so can creative joy and pure camaraderie (after all, sometimes the best way to show love is to shit-talk each other). The reunion tour section of the book, which takes up the last third, really feels like the best part of the book (though there's plenty to enjoy prior). We see rock gods acting like petulant children sometimes, having arguments onstage and nearly coming to blows off of it. But they also have a dynamic musical chemistry that they don't really find elsewhere. And that's why The Police were so huge.
"Strange Things Happen" is Stewart Copeland's testimony to the power of music to not just provide someone with a career, but with a life. Playing music has opened the world to him, and we get to go along for the ride.
July 19, 2018
As much as I have enjoyed the Police's music in my life, I'll admit I never really paid much attention to the people in the band not named Sting. I didn't even know this drummer guy was American! What a revelation. It's sent me down some interesting side-project rabbit holes, like Oysterhead, Gizmodrome, and Animal Logic, which are helping to keep my musical interest going.
This autobiography follows a roughly chronological journey through Copeland's life. At first, he skips over the entirety of his time in The Police with a cursory three-page "chapter", and focuses instead on all his soundtrack work, opera/ballet excursions, film adventures, and polo jaunts. I was irritated by this, but thankfully Copeland's humorous writing style kept me going. As time goes on, he gradually inserts his bandmates in the storyline, leading up to their grand reunion tour of the mid-2000s. Finally, he divulges some savory details of what life is like in Policeland. If you're familiar with Copeland's deep, droll speaking voice, hearing it intone in your head as you read is priceless.
The best parts of the book are when Copeland describes his live performances. He clearly has a love and driving passion for his "job", regardless of who is playing with him...whether it's his rowdy Police bandmates, or rollicking Italian folk performers, or fellow rockers like Primus or Foo Fighters. As long as he gets his body into shape, he seems to be able to handle whatever is thrown at him. Pretty impressive.
A friend of mine lent this book to me. Since he was a drummer in his Orlando-based band Last Winter, he definitely appreciated the work. I can recommend it too.
This autobiography follows a roughly chronological journey through Copeland's life. At first, he skips over the entirety of his time in The Police with a cursory three-page "chapter", and focuses instead on all his soundtrack work, opera/ballet excursions, film adventures, and polo jaunts. I was irritated by this, but thankfully Copeland's humorous writing style kept me going. As time goes on, he gradually inserts his bandmates in the storyline, leading up to their grand reunion tour of the mid-2000s. Finally, he divulges some savory details of what life is like in Policeland. If you're familiar with Copeland's deep, droll speaking voice, hearing it intone in your head as you read is priceless.
The best parts of the book are when Copeland describes his live performances. He clearly has a love and driving passion for his "job", regardless of who is playing with him...whether it's his rowdy Police bandmates, or rollicking Italian folk performers, or fellow rockers like Primus or Foo Fighters. As long as he gets his body into shape, he seems to be able to handle whatever is thrown at him. Pretty impressive.
A friend of mine lent this book to me. Since he was a drummer in his Orlando-based band Last Winter, he definitely appreciated the work. I can recommend it too.
February 16, 2025
This book is for you if you aren’t yet full up of arrogance, chauvinism and a dash of racism. Uninteresting stories and distracting posturing.
Women are only wives or girlfriends or heaving bosomed or babe fans who still look good at 40, but as musicians or professionals, every single one of them mentioned sucks, screeches, is a crybaby actress, or simply fills role of a Black voice. Staff males are valued tech support, the female is a lint brush roller. Argentinians “have a flair for female leaders, and in this case, Copeland refers to their president as babelicious. To put a point on it, Copeland, ‘leering’ about the new president, offers this charming quip: “I suggest that after a beer or two she could qualify as hot, too bad about that Chilean president, now that would take at least 4 beers”.
Everything else is Copeland glorifying himself and belittling others. Hard pass on the remaining 6 books he’s written.
Women are only wives or girlfriends or heaving bosomed or babe fans who still look good at 40, but as musicians or professionals, every single one of them mentioned sucks, screeches, is a crybaby actress, or simply fills role of a Black voice. Staff males are valued tech support, the female is a lint brush roller. Argentinians “have a flair for female leaders, and in this case, Copeland refers to their president as babelicious. To put a point on it, Copeland, ‘leering’ about the new president, offers this charming quip: “I suggest that after a beer or two she could qualify as hot, too bad about that Chilean president, now that would take at least 4 beers”.
Everything else is Copeland glorifying himself and belittling others. Hard pass on the remaining 6 books he’s written.
June 28, 2018
Very different from the Summers and Sting book this is a series of vignettes from his early childhood and then post police days. He devotes two snippets, to The Police in their hey day, a lazy timeline and a flashback. However he does devote much of the second part of the book to the last Police reunion and the estranged way, that the band members live separate lives away from the stage, both pre and post concert. He is frank about his difficulties with Sting and explains the reasons behind their somewhat fraught relationship, and why the police generally are not a sustainable force. He also writes of his other passions, travel, film scoring, Polo, and his other bands. Stewart Copeland feels like a guy with an undiagnosed hyperactivity attention deficit disorder and writes in a similarly brief but very focused way and enjoyable read.
December 7, 2025
Rhythmtastic
This is terrific, written in such a way as you can really HEAR Copeland's voice. The first half meanders without chronology through some wild musical projects and it is a fascination to establish how busy this man has been outside of those high profile Police years. I'd never even heard of Oysterhead, but will be checking out their music. But for its all about part 2 and the 2007/8 reunion tour. I'm a massive fan of The Police's music and this live tour was superbly reinterpreted and performed, I attended a Twickenham show on 2007, and have played the subsequent live recording to death, so it was fascinating to read some of behind the scenes moments from Copeland's perspective. Loved it.
This is terrific, written in such a way as you can really HEAR Copeland's voice. The first half meanders without chronology through some wild musical projects and it is a fascination to establish how busy this man has been outside of those high profile Police years. I'd never even heard of Oysterhead, but will be checking out their music. But for its all about part 2 and the 2007/8 reunion tour. I'm a massive fan of The Police's music and this live tour was superbly reinterpreted and performed, I attended a Twickenham show on 2007, and have played the subsequent live recording to death, so it was fascinating to read some of behind the scenes moments from Copeland's perspective. Loved it.
December 23, 2017
An Odd Read
I really could not care less about Polo, and consider it a bad vestige of Colonialism, so I flew through that nonsense with more than a few grains of salt. I would have liked to have read some details about his time with both Curved Air and his life with Sonia, as well as specifics on the first run of the Police, but that is simply not there, sorry to. say. Very disappointing. The details of the reunion tour are nice, but this book should have been a whole lot more than it is.
I really could not care less about Polo, and consider it a bad vestige of Colonialism, so I flew through that nonsense with more than a few grains of salt. I would have liked to have read some details about his time with both Curved Air and his life with Sonia, as well as specifics on the first run of the Police, but that is simply not there, sorry to. say. Very disappointing. The details of the reunion tour are nice, but this book should have been a whole lot more than it is.
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