There is a lot of excitement in the press and on the web about a forum post by Police drummer Stewart Copeland about the rough spots on the first gig of the Police reunion tour (see OUR FIRST DISASTER GIG!)

Critics of the post — and there are MANY — have decided that the post has doomed the tour and that Stewart is antagonizing bandmates Sting and Andy Summers through his remarks. They fail to recognize that the post is both humble and self-deprecating. It’s an honest and humourous look at the first full length concert performance by the band in twenty-three years — that they have to build up their endurance, learn their stage setup and get over their nervous energy of the beginning of a long and demanding tour.

What the critics have failed to acknowledge (or perhaps realize) is that the post is extremely positive. It illustrates the excitement and commitment of the band and the fans. Everyone is getting geared up and the wrinkles are getting ironed out. There also seems to be a recognition that now is the time to fix things up, at the beginning of the tour when mistakes are expected and forgiven.

I am happy to see that Stewart is embracing the new media mindset and is apparently trying to include everyone in the excitement of The Police reunion tour. I hope that all of this controversy that some people have invented doesn’t force the band to keep to itself during the tour and take issue with fans that are posting concert videos, audio and photos on the web.

Photo: Kris Krug (see his Police photos here) — Great photos, Kris! Thanks!