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underpants

(193,031 posts)
Fri Aug 29, 2025, 03:49 PM Aug 29

Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland Sue Sting Over Police Royalties

Filing was made in the U.K.'s High Court

In related news, SPIN (which I used to love) still exists!!
https://www.spin.com/2025/08/police-members-royalty-lawsuit/

There’s a distinct lack of synchronicity in the Police camp. Per U.K. reports, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland are suing vocalist/bassist Sting in London’s High Court under the “general commercial contracts and arrangements” category, claiming they are owed millions in royalties.

The specific details of the filing have not been made public, but the case appears to include claims regarding the hit Synchronicity single “Every Breath You Take,” which was one of the most commercially successful and ubiquitous songs of the 1980s. Sting has been listed as the song’s co-writer since its release, but Summers has long complained that he wrote its signature guitar figure and was never properly credited or compensated.

Sting is listed as a defendant in the filing under his real name, Gordon Sumner, as is his company Magnetic Publishing Limited. In a bizarre twist, Sting and Summers appear together on a jazzy, updated version of the 1983 song “Murder by Numbers” from jazz star Christian McBride’s Without Further Ado, Vol. 1, which will be released Friday (Aug. 29). Since the Police, who split for good in 1986, made no new music during their 2007-8 reunion tour or afterwards, the collaboration the first between members of the group since Sting played on Summers’ 1990 album Charming Snakes.

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Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland Sue Sting Over Police Royalties (Original Post) underpants Aug 29 OP
Saw This The Other Day ProfessorGAC Aug 29 #1
Synchronicity tour (W&M hall) Williamsburg underpants Aug 29 #2
We Didn't Catch The Police ProfessorGAC Aug 29 #3
Another story. underpants Aug 29 #4
Outstanding! ProfessorGAC Aug 29 #5

ProfessorGAC

(74,477 posts)
1. Saw This The Other Day
Fri Aug 29, 2025, 04:45 PM
Aug 29

It's a bummer.
Two guys worth over $100 million suing a guy with $600 million who indisputably wrote the songs.
As big a fan as I was (am) this legal thing is angering.

underpants

(193,031 posts)
2. Synchronicity tour (W&M hall) Williamsburg
Fri Aug 29, 2025, 06:51 PM
Aug 29

“Tea in the Sahara” is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard live.

My buddy and I listened to them a lot on the 5 hour back & forth to college. Outlandos Regeytta Zentatta Ghost.

The Police were well seasoned actors. Summers was at Electric Lady Land and Sting had been in a Quadrophenia. Copeland’s book is a good read.

REM, at very young ages, avoided this. Equal writing credit $ for everything in alphabetical order- Berry Buck Mills Stipe.

ProfessorGAC

(74,477 posts)
3. We Didn't Catch The Police
Fri Aug 29, 2025, 07:02 PM
Aug 29

But, my wife & I saw Sting & The Blue Turtles Band up at Alpine Valley.
Probably the best live show I've ever seen.
They did lots of revised Police tunes & they were awesome.

underpants

(193,031 posts)
4. Another story.
Fri Aug 29, 2025, 07:27 PM
Aug 29

I worked with a great guy who was the drummer in a DC band. What became NOFX was playing at the 9:30 Club. Basically a hot cave. My buddy’s guitar player hit it off with the guitar player when the played together. There was a cooler of bear backstage. After that you were on your own.

The opening act finished and found a cooler with a floating cream soda. The Police was the opener. Sting tore the place apart.


Put a bullet through the Juke box

?si=XB9m4M8Qdujjh4ky

ProfessorGAC

(74,477 posts)
5. Outstanding!
Fri Aug 29, 2025, 07:50 PM
Aug 29

We saw Survivor in a 400 seat club in the NW suburbs about a month before the first album was released. (Remember the song "Somewhere In America"?)
Peterik had just bought an all new EV/Crest PA system. Sounded like the world's loudest stereo!
Within 3 years I was playing in a band at that same club. I thought that was cool.

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