# Sting vs. The Police - a talent comparison

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sting-vs-the-police-a-talent-comparison/793108>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 8, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sting-vs-the-police-a-talent-comparison/793108 "2017-08-08T17:08:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sting-vs-the-police-a-talent-comparison/793108/41 "2017-08-18T16:51:51Z")

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> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> What exactly is the dynamic there? I never really followed their interpersonal relationships. Are all of them kind of pissed off at each other. Or is it Sting vs Summers and Copeland? Or something else? I’m terrible at following intra-band drama, but I truly am curious here.

Sting basically holding Copeland and Summers hostage to his (Sting’s) vision of a band whose concept, musical approach and name were all driven by Copeland. As I have stated, famously, Sting showed up with the demos for Ghost in the Machine and stated to the un-involved other two that it was the completed album

Then there is the famous stories about Copeland taping FUCK OFF YOU CUNT onto his drum heads so he could beat out his feelings about Sting.

Here is a link to a great write up of Copeland’s huge talent and career. Halfway down is a mention of the message on some drum heads to the King of Pain: [http://offthetracks.co.nz/drummers-you-just-cant-beat-11-stewart-copeland/](http://offthetracks.co.nz/drummers-you-just-cant-beat-11-stewart-copeland/)

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sting-vs-the-police-a-talent-comparison/793108/42 "2017-08-18T17:27:31Z")

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> [@WordMan](#):
>
> Sting basically holding Copeland and Summers hostage to his (Sting’s) vision of a band whose concept, musical approach and name were all driven by Copeland. As I have stated, famously, Sting showed up with the demos for Ghost in the Machine and stated to the un-involved other two that it was the completed album
> 
> Then there is the famous stories about Copeland taping FUCK OFF YOU CUNT onto his drum heads so he could beat out his feelings about Sting.
> 
> Here is a link to a great write up of Copeland’s huge talent and career. Halfway down is a mention of the message on some drum heads to the King of Pain: [http://offthetracks.co.nz/drummers-you-just-cant-beat-11-stewart-copeland/](http://offthetracks.co.nz/drummers-you-just-cant-beat-11-stewart-copeland/)

That’s awesome. I knew there was some tension between Sting & Copeland, but never really dove into the extent of it. Was Summers similarly involved, or did he just kind of sit on the sidelines?

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sting-vs-the-police-a-talent-comparison/793108/43 "2017-08-18T18:05:57Z")

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> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> That’s awesome. I knew there was some tension between Sting & Copeland, but never really dove into the extent of it. Was Summers similarly involved, or did he just kind of sit on the sidelines?

I don’t recall Summers being as forcefully caustic against Sting, but recall that he had his issues, too. But he’d been around the block and appreciated what he had.

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