"Strange Things Happen" Stewart Copeland's sort of autobiography - GOOD READ

[underpants]

This is not a complete autobiography more of bits and pieces of his life.

Grew up (10 years) basically in Beirut- until his CIA father got outed and off they went (his dad's best friend the KGB agent too). Look up his dad- founding member of the OSS and CIA like Poppa Bush. Copeland didn't play cowboys and indians, he and his diplo-brat buddies played Crusader Knights.

When playing in and managing a band called "Curved Air" Copeland created a stir about himself by mailing fan letters about himself after each gig around England on a variety of stationary, colored pens, and handwriting styles. He got an article dedicated to him in Melody Maker.

Copeland wrote three songs under the name KlarK Kent. A faceless persona he created. Moderate success but they got on "Top of the Pops". As the whole band was disguised Sting had to wear a pig mask.

The Police
He weaves in and out on this topic ending with the big comeback tour. He and Sting's relationship is basically older brother - younger brother but Copeland already had the two coolest kids in town as brothers (IRS Records founder Miles and record exec Ian) so he was having none of it.

Copeland's nicknames for Sting : "StingO" "My Main Man" and "Planet Sumner"

The culmination of Sting's birthday tuba in Turin... the next morning after an onstage angerfest
"Give me back my f***ing tuba, ***hole"
StingO "Can't. I trashed it."

Polo
he buys an expensive "string" of Argentinian horses, gets two ringers, and an old diplo-brat friend from childhood take an esteemed Cup in a tournie. Played against Charles Prince of Wales, as their horses bumped into each other.. Copeland:
"No Taxation!..."
BUMP
"...without representation!"
BUMP
"Boston Tea Party!"
BUMP
He takes it with pretty good cheer.





The Grateful Dad
For a fund raiser for what is clearly a ritzy school that his kids go to his is recruited into a bit of a "super group"

Drums- Stewart Copeland
Guitar- Stephen Stills
Bass- Gene Simmons - his initial voicemail began "Hello, Stewart, this is Gene Simmons, ... you know, the guy with the tongue...."

There is a funny story about Simmons and a ghost sound mixer but the best story is the discussion Simmons and Copeland get in to backstage- seems they are both fans of "Mosaic literature" the bass player for Kiss and the drummer for The Police are displaying their expertise on the Old Testament (seriously).

Busted up knuckles sitting in with the Foo Fighters due to different drumstick gripping and snare drum set up.

Backstage with the newly re-grouped Rage Against the Machine getting them to sing "Kumbaya" whenever tensions (and there were still tensions) arose. They ragged on him for his CIA father and polo.

Great read. More stuff in the book. Lots of details about the physical toll of playing in a band.

[Dr. Strange]

1. I love Stewart Copeland.

I may just have to get this here book.

[underpants]

2. I found it in the new releases at the library

short bits too. Nice bathroom read.

[ThomasQED]

3. I have the Klark Kent EP...

on green vinyl. It's pretty good!

[Archae]

4. He did the soundtracks for the Insomniac Spyro the Dragon Games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kc2gGycBXc

[pink-o]

5. I gave Miles Copeland a tape of our girl group, right after his own, the GoGo's made it big.

I had a friend named Ted Turner (no, not THAT one) who was a member of Wishbone Ash, and we met Miles at his party. Our band sucked so bad, I'm surprised it didn't vacuum everything into its own vortex, but Miles took the tape and was pretty cool for a Spook's kid. I'm sure he never listened to it (in fact, I'm hoping he didn't) because we surely never got a callback.

And believe me, the world didn't suffer for us giving up our musical aspirations. Which is why I guess Miles Copeland had his own record label and I'm now working for the airlines.

Weird. I haven't really thought about the Copeland brothers for ages. There are other odd intersections I have with them, but long, name-dropping story. Glad Stewart is still playing, he's an amazing talent!

[BurtWorm]

6. Does he mention Cherry Vanilla?

I just read an advance of her memoir (Lick Me), which is due out in November. She talks about how she and the Police shared Copeland and Sting.

[underpants]

7. No

he really didn't go into his marriages (two) but he did mention that one of his sons was "from an English lass...." I forgot the name and I can't quickly find it in the book.

[BurtWorm]

8. That's typical of her luck.

She hated him, thought he was "sarcastic and snarky." He probably hated her, too.