The Police Announce Their Final Show

NEW YORK - The Police, who reunited for a 30th-anniversary world tour last year, say their final concert will take place this summer in New York City.

Frontman Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland made the announcement Tuesday at a news conference with Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The Police say they have a special connection with the Big Apple. They say in a statement: "We kicked off our very first American tour at CBGB's in 1978, and this summer, 30 years later, our journey will come full circle as we play our final show here in New York City."

The concert date and venue will be announced later. Proceeds will go toward arts programming for public television.

The band split up in 1984.

Comments

[peepeeray]

Let them do their final concert at Shea Stadium (which is also bowing out after 45 years of service after the baseball season). Twenty-five years ago, The Police played in front of 70,000 at Shea. As Sting said on stage, ''We'd like to thank the Beatles for lending us their stadium.''

[guntotinganglion]

Sad that they couldn't come up with any new music. I assumed that since their tour ended up being a long one, that was quite lucrative, perhaps they'd find one more albums worth of new music to offer before calling it quits. But, sorry to say, this just confirms what I already knew, that this tour was designed to refresh the bank accounts, while revisiting their youth which has now passed them by, not a stab at reigniting their once prodigious creative talents. That part of their legacy is long past. Good to know that they won't be another Beach Boys though, in that they know when to stop.

The tour receipts ought to assure that Andy and Stuart can retire comfortably. I think Sting already had that covered, and this tour was a kindness on his part to his former band mates. They certainly must have had a good time touring, since they ended up doing so many shows...but in closing, that's what makes me most sad, the fact of their not being able to translate that common experience and energy into a CD's worth of entirely new music.

[SoonerThought]

Geeze, its not like Andy and Stewart were living in poverty. The Police had unfinished business, have now finished it to their satisfaction, and are going out with class and style. I saw them play St. Louis--best concert of my life. I loved it so much I am going again next week when they come to Kansas City. The Police are the Best Band of the 1980s, and they deserve nothing less than respect--not silly assumptions that two thirds of the band were playing on the street with a tin cup.

[sesshoumaru]

I think that's selling them short. Real musicians love to play. They had a good run and ended it in their prime. I don't blame them for not making new music. The fact is that they've all moved on musically. Andy doesn't really play effect heavy gutiar. Although he still has an ear for those famous police chords, he doesn't play with the same 1980's, hey lets try this new echoplex, phase effect.

Creating music is more then simple ability. There's much to be said about the person you are at the time you make the music. When the Police broke up, MIDI was new and personal computers were a luxury! Every group goes through this at some point. The difference is that we didn't see it with The Police because they went out on top.

I'd love to hear some new material as well, but I know that it wouldn't be the same. I do like Stewart's "dearrangements" Those are really cool. There's quite a bit of live material from their prime (1980-82). Great Octoban work from Copeland, Excellent solo's from Andy and well.....Sting at his best.

*as a bonus, there's HD copy of a recent show. if you spend ANY time on the internet, you'll know how to find it.*

[stepintothelight]

Saw the Wrigley Field show last summer. I was a big fan back in the day. I was so happy when they announced the tour. Would love to see it filmed and released as a live set!!!

[guntotinganglion]

The DVD will be cool, but the old videos of them performing live are priceless. I can't remember the title of the old laserdisc (yes, I am OLD!) I have, but it was shot right after they'd hit it big, but they still had the punk attitude that was their hallmark at the start. They were playing to a fairly small crowd, and someone in the audience threw something at Sting, and he spotted the guy and threatened him with an asskicking when he got his hands on him...ahhh, those were the days, when people could actually get within crap throwing distance...and Sting would willingly dive into the crowd to take out the perp! Hard to maintain that attitude with millions of pounds in the bank. Kind of hard for most younger fans to see that "take no shit" attitude in them anymore.

[Economike]

Strummer, Joey, Dee Dee, gone but we still have this?

[SoonerThought]

The Police are real talents--far more so than the Clash or Ramones.

[readreza]

okay, I LOVE the Ramones, love them. Back in the day, we went to every show we could afford to drive to. But you are not seriously comparing them to the amazing talents of these three guys, are you? Because that is just beyond ridiculous. Ramones, by their own admission (and you know this) just were not talented musicians. You do know the story about how they decided who would do what in their "band", I assume.

And to the poster who assumes Copeland and Summers can now "retire comfortably": Oh, please. Neither was hurting for money and both have been very successful. If you've seen a movie in the last twenty years, Copeland was likely heavily involved in its music.

[oneplusoneequalsthree]

I think NWA said it best,
f**k the police.

[wadenelson1]

Please God, let it end here. No more. No reunion. Let FINAL be FINAL.

[SoonerThought]

Why? You prefer Hanna Montana over great music by real musicians? Or is it because they had the temerity to regroup for a fun tour? Grow up.

[heretical_eggs]

I saw them in the early eighties with UB40 as the opening. Great show. I think that memory will suffice. However, it would be nice if they filmed their "last" concert.

NOW, if Led Zeppelin goes on tour next Fall or next year as they have indicated, I will go to a great deal of trouble to see them.

[audiodramatist]

Okay, the plane is booked, i will be in NYC from July to September. Now i just need to get in to see the concert. Ah-h, the problems of the modern world...especially when a whole bunch of other people are thinking the same thing. Is Branford guesting on the set?

[takingbkourcountry]

Thanks! IMO..one of the great UNDERrated bands of all time. No hyper-masculine 45 minute guitar solos from Andy Summers, just tasteful interesting licks.

[Quotato]

King Crimson had some great drumming too. Especially those melodic cymbals and tom tom beats.

Sting was a good bass player and singer in the early days with a couple of good melodic songs under his belt. But, Paul McCartney is the best all-around electric bass player, singer and songwriter there shall ever be.

Retro-Rock can be better than indi/emo rock. Youth is over-rated as old is under-rated. The Police have arrested themselves. Stop when you are ahead. Because even the old starts to sound sucky after hearing it over and over and over....

[SoonerThought]

They sound fantastic. Unless you went to the concert you are talking out your ass.

[hilaritee]

i just saw them in buffalo ny and i was really more excited to see elvis costello. let me tell you that the police sounded amazing; i was shocked at how good they sounded. talk smack all you want to but if you live in nyc work on getting yourself some tickets. consider yourselves advised.

[americansheep]

Who gives a s---. Sting is a twit. A successful twit but his opus of interesting work is about two song long. Now when David Bowie gives it up I will be upset.

[SoonerThought]

Um, Bowie has given it up. He just doesn't know it.

[GrouchyJim]

This should give Sting plenty of time to over-populate the earth.

[GallopingCat]

The Rolling Stones' final show was in 1981.

[guntotinganglion]

And The Who in 1982!

[mediamarv]

Yawn!

[rpence]

Is that a threat, or a promise?

[hbw3]

No, it's a loss.

[rektruax]

Finally stopping? Maybe Sting can find time for some bass lessons now.

Just kidding... Not about Sting being a lousy player, but what would be the point in lessons now? I liked his voice...

[readreza]

that's really funny, especially since you seem to believe first that it's true, and second that you are qualified to make that judgment...

[tryharder2think]

I learned to play bass when I was 10 to walking on the moon. Think you can carry that thing on for 4 minutes and actually have it feel like it's supposed to and then sing? Dream on...

He's an amazing bass player and an amazing vocalist - geesh great musician all around.

Plus he's gem of a human at this point.

So take your lies and peddle them elsewhere.

try harder

[Economike]

not so impressed, sorry

[rektruax]

For starters... Stanley Clarke, Stu Hamm, Jaco Pastorius, Larry Graham, etc... are "amazing" bass players...

Secondly, I was just screwing around. You're reacting as if I said he was a pedophile.

[cg3]

Weren't they famous once, a generation or two ago?

[hbw3]

Please don't embarrass yourself, it would be painful to watch.

[sesshoumaru]

The Police................what else is there to say.

One of the greatest groups of all time. Sting is the face of the group but Andy Stewart and Sting each made the group work sonically. Andy's incredible experimentation with effects and "off" chords while Copeland easily filled in the space of only being a 3 piece group with various hi hats, splashes and yes those wonderful Octobans!!!

[ohiomark]

Neil Peart is my favorite drummer, but Stewart Copeland is a close second. I saw their show last year and I was blown away.

[AnotherToerag]

My favorite band ever - couldn't have said it better. Copeland is, indeed, the man.