Famed drummer Stewart Copeland discusses forming the Police with Sting and Andy Summers. Reveals his family's CIA background, musical falling out with Sting, and how Arabic rhythms influenced his drumming style. Talks about his book 'Stewart Copeland's Police Diaries'
Stewart Copeland's unique drumming style was influenced by Arabic rhythms from his upbringing, shaping The Police's iconic sound.
Stewart Copeland transitioned from punk to orchestral compositions, showcasing his willingness to challenge boundaries and evolve creatively across genres.
Despite being left-handed, the podcast episode emphasizes that drumming success is more about coordination and creativity than hand dominance.
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Stuart Copeland's Journey in The Police Band
Stuart Copeland, drummer of The Police, recounts his band's formation with Sting and Andy Summers, leading them to become one of the top-selling rock bands with over 75 million records sold. Copeland reveals insights about his initial musical falling out with Sting, influenced by Arabic rhythms from his upbringing in Lebanon, shaping The Police's iconic sound and songwriting dynamic.
Stuart Copeland's Musical Evolution and Creative Ventures
Stuart Copeland discusses his diverse musical ventures, including writing operas, film scores, and ballets, after transitioning from a punk background to extensive orchestral compositions. Copeland shares how his instinctual gift for music guided him through new projects, signifying a willingness to challenge boundaries and evolve creatively across various musical genres.
Influence of Being Left-Handed on Drumming
Despite being left-handed, the podcast episode highlights how the drumming experience relates more to the coordination and creativity required. The speaker, drawing from personal experience, explains that while left-handedness may slightly alter one's approach to playing an instrument like drums, it does not significantly impact their ability to excel. Using examples like Ringo Starr's unconventional approach to drumming setup, the episode emphasizes the importance of adapting to standard instrument configurations.
Musical Evolution and Use of AI in Music
The episode delves into the evolution of music technology and its impact on musicians' creative processes. It discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in music creation, highlighting how AI tools provide more opportunities for non-musicians to engage in music production. By exploring the benefits and challenges of AI in music composition, the episode underscores a shift towards democratizing music creation. Additionally, it addresses legal and ethical considerations regarding AI-generated music and acknowledges the potential for AI to enhance music accessibility for a broader audience.
Famed drummer for the Police and composer Stewart Copeland has one of the more fascinating bios in modern music. His father was a founding member of the CIA and his mom worked in British Intelligence.
After playing in the successful UK prog rock band Curved Air in the mid 70s, Stewart started a new band called the Police with bassist and lead singer, Sting—and eventually guitarist Andy Summers. Over the next decade the Police would go on to become one of the top-selling rock bands of all time, selling over 75 million records.
Last year Stewart released the book, “Stewart Copeland’s Police Diaries,” which includes his personal notes dating back to the band’s formation in 1976 through 1978, when they started to take off.
On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Stewart Copeland about the first time he saw Sting play and how he was able to successfully lure him into his then non-existent band. Stewart also explains why he and Sting eventually had a musical falling out, and how the Arabic rhythms he heard growing up influenced his highly lauded drumming style.
You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from Stewart Copeland and The Police HERE.
