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tendency to do awful cod reggae.
This would be legitimate criticism if they were trying to be a reggae band, which they weren't, so it isn't.
Doing awful cod reggae is terrible, even if you're not claiming to be a reggae band. The word 'awful' is a clue.
They were the best band I ever saw live (around 1983 NEC Birmingham) until I saw the Stereophonics.
Their music was original, however Sting's lyrics were always weird and simple. I think I heard someone on the radio saying he was the worst lyricist of the last few decades.
And to a young woman at the time, very easy on the eye.
a brother that was something to do with the CIA
It was his dad who worked for the CIA. Involved in MK Ultra apparently!
White men doing Reggae ..... Wrong, just wrong.
they kinda knew that though didn't they?
The literal translation of Regatta de Blanc is white reggae. they knew what they were doing and acknowledged it in naming the album.
I used to love them in the 80's up until that red/orange album as someone mentioned above.
Listened to some tracks again recently and really enjoying them again. some classics like walking on the moon and some irreverent ones like On any other day
They have personal space issues - don't stand so close to them...
Never been a huge fan - it's fairly easy listening.
Used to like every breath you take - until I found out it was a song about a stalker - slightly creepy...
White men doing Reggae ….. Wrong, just wrong.
Don't be ridiculous. 🙄
Used to like every breath you take – until I found out it was a song about a stalker – slightly creepy…
I bet you've sang along to Delilah by Tom Jones too haven't you?
Bit late to this, but yeah I’m a fan.
They crafted some fabulous songs, but then filled the albums out with some very weird creations, so if really is had to pick one album and go “like yeah, that’s the best one” The early ones had the edge and energy, so that fairly safe to predict, but the chaos of the personalities in the latter years created some sublime melodies.
Andy Summers has always been a favourite guitar player of mine, if you listen to some of the chord sequences in “Regatta” you’re gonna find some deeply jazzy riffs, all sprinkled with some hippy shit chorus pedals and flangers to take what simple jazz riffs into a new era with a punkesque energy and sharpness.
I’ve been lucky to have met Andy quite a few times, he’s notoriously quiet spoken, outspoken too. Yet even I find his solo stuff hard to listen too without skipping some tracks.
Sting, well yeah he moved on into his own stuff and TBH he was always going to do that and be deemed the “leader” but if you look at the structure of most of the Polices songs, most are drum rhythms with guitar laid over the top and in the gaps.. it’s only when you realise there is a bit of bass in ther that you realise Sting is the bass player.. well from the records that is.. it’s almost like an after thought the bass.
However, Stewart is IMO the mainstay of the band. He was the glue that brought them together and banged heads when everyone was up thier own arses. He now seems to stand out for his BBC4 drumming programmes and his almost childlike enthusiasm when presenting his favourite subject matter... and as is the case, may that continue for years to come.
So, over the years I’ve dipped in and out as I do with other artists but they do remain a favourite of mine and and easy choice if I’m feeling a bit nostalgic.
If you are a fan of Copeland, he's doing another BBC Four documentary starting 17th January.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000db8k
They were all musos riding the New Wave thang – Summers background was with Robin Fripp and King Crimson, so Prog rock at its best,
No truth in that whatsoever. And it’s Robert Fripp, as any ful know.
Summers' professional career began in the mid-1960s in London as guitarist for the British rhythm and blues band Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, which eventually came under the influence of the psychedelic scene and evolved into the acid rock group Dantalian's Chariot.[5] In September 1966, Summers was the first guitarist encountered by Jimi Hendrix after landing in the UK.[6] The young Summers is portrayed in fiction as one of the "two main love interests" in Jenny Fabian and Johnny Byrne's 1969 book Groupie, in which he is given the pseudonym "Davey".[7]
After the demise of Dantalion's Chariot, Summers joined Soft Machine for three months and toured the United States. For a brief time in 1968, he was a member of the Animals, then known as Eric Burdon and the Animals, with whom he recorded one album, Love Is. The album features a recording of Traffic's "Coloured Rain", which includes a 4 minute and 15 second guitar solo by Summers. The LP also included a reworked version of Dantalion's Chariot's sole single "Madman Running Through the Fields".
After five years in Los Angeles, mostly spent studying classical guitar and composition at California State University, Northridge, he returned to London with his American girlfriend Kate Lunken.
In London, Summers recorded and toured with acts including Kevin Coyne, Jon Lord, Joan Armatrading, David Essex, Neil Sedaka and Kevin Ayers. In October 1975 he participated in an orchestral rendition of Mike Oldfield's seminal "Tubular Bells".
In 1977, Summers was invited by ex-Gong bassist Mike Howlett to join his band Strontium 90, but was soon coaxed away by future Police bandmates Sting and Stewart Copeland.
The only connection any of The Police have with King Crimson is Stuart Copeland and his band Gizmodrome, which has Adrian Belew as a member.
Speaking as someone who’s been a fan of King Crimson for fifty years...
No truth in that whatsoever. And it’s Robert Fripp, as any ful know.
Ah and there was I thinking Robin must be Bob's little known brother.
Speaking as someone who’s been a fan of King Crimson for fifty years…
God you must be nearly as old as me.
Leaving aside post-Police Sting (whatever you think of him as an individual), can you please explain why they might be see by some as one of the blandest bands of all time? Because frankly, as a fan myself, I would love to know what makes them so polarising.
I have no real view on the police at all. Before my time and always just seemed a bit poppy rather than rock so I've never really bothered to listen to anything of theirs that hasn't been on the radio. But.....
Music and art will always have emotive polarising views, due to way that they make people feel, most of these views are neither right or wrong*. If you like something, great. If others don't, well it doesn't really affect your listening does it.
*Apart from coldpay and The 1975. Both shit. FACT.
This is the best thing they have done.
kayak23
White men doing Reggae ….. Wrong, just wrong.
Don’t be ridiculous. 🙄
What white man has ever done anything like decent reggae? apart from Yellowman 😉
UB 40 perhaps the closest as they were multiracial
Around this time last year I was in Davos for the World Economic Forum converting a night club for a one off event/****fest being thrown by one of the richest people in the world. The star guest was some bloke from around Newcastle. The big boss man from said big company, whilst surrounded by a haunch of burly ex-SAS types, said the bar was too big.
Major panic from the PM. The star guest was due to arrive for sound check....
Mate and I took half the the bar apart and needed to cut down the bar top. Took the bar outside and set up the saw. At that point some tart came running round telling us that said the VIP was about to arrive and that we shouldn't look him in the eye and it was best if we just left the area....
Some white Mercedes van pulled up and out stepped some bloke. At that point I pulled the trigger on the plunge saw and sent a load of saw dust in his general direction.
Don't look him in the eye.... WTF?!
William, that prick with stupid hats who is always on the Graham Norton show, turned up later. He was a right ****...
I'm amused at all the people who think they're above pop music.
Priceless. 🙂
I’m amused at all the people who think they’re above pop music.
Priceless. 🙂
Agreed. Some of the best art in the world is pop music.
My bad on getting Robert’s name wrong. I tend to turn off to Prog Rock icons. Toyah Wilcocks sold out her punk roots so badly.
White people not playing reggae - well the blues, disco and rock n roll need to be added to that. And then there is house , drum n bass etc ...
I assume that mean black folks shouldn’t do classical?
surrounded by a haunch of burly ex-SAS types
SAS or ex-SAS are very rarely burly, more usually wiry.
White people not playing reggae
Its no issue if they do a decent job of it hence my mention of UB40
But apart from them ( and even with them its a poppy sanitised version) has any white person ever made any decent reggae? Its like white folk with dreads. Sad.
As for Disco? basically invented by a couple of european producer / DJs. Moroder and Cerrone - both white
It is dreadfully "woke" to suggest people are only entitled to play music because of what colour their skin is. Kind of like art - it becomes appropriated by different cultures, who shape it differently and the world in better for it.
Thats not what I said.
*Apart from coldpay and The 1975. Both shit. FACT.
While we're getting facts sorted out, Billy Joel sucks.
But apart from them ( and even with them its a poppy sanitised version) has any white person ever made any decent reggae?
I ran this past a colleague who was a proper sound system DJ, out to Jamaica for records etc, like a short, balding, unsuccessful Rodigan and he had a list of one - Snow , Canadian artist and still a bit / a lot crap
Toyah Wilcocks sold out her punk roots so badly.
I think that was an act.
On of my favorite Onion stories was something along the lines of "Man realizes he doesn't really like reggae, he just likes Bob Marley's Legend". Unfortunately, I can't find the original, but white guys liking Marley does seem to be one of their stock jokes.
https://www.theonion.com/desperate-u-s-colleges-weigh-emergency-bob-marley-lege-1819566557
https://www.theonion.com/bob-marley-rises-from-grave-to-free-frat-boys-from-bond-1819568049
Bob Marley’s dad was white ( White Jamaican) - I am guessing he would have liked his son’s music.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27426329
Or maybe not 🙂
How about the clash? Quite a lot of reggae influence in much of their music and what about bankrobber?
Just about to post The Clash.
And The Ruts.
And don't forget all the superb white Ska bands.
Tis a silly question, as well you know. 🙂
Don't forget Bad Manners 🙂
Ska is not reggae!
tjagain
Not a lot, but this is great, and the band are all white
... admittedly it helps having Lee Perry involved.
As others have mentioned the Clash did some good stuff:
Bankrobber
White Man in Hammersmith Palais
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkM5lrrnq_Y
I'm struggling to think of much more.
Hotel California??
Excellent musicians and made some really good music.