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==Background==
==Background==
Stewart Armstrong Copeland was born in [[Alexandria, Virginia]] on July 16, 1952,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/01/26/DI2006012601460_pf.html |title=Film: "Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out" |publisher=Washingtonpost.com |date=January 26, 2006 |accessdate=October 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.stewartcopeland.net/biography/1952-75.htm] {{dead link|date=October 2011}}</ref> the youngest of four children of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer [[Miles Copeland, Jr.]] and Scottish [[archaeologist]] [[Lorraine Copeland|Lorraine Adie]]. The family moved to [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]], a few months after his birth, and Copeland spent his formative years in the Middle East. In 1957, the family moved to [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]],<ref>http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/478413/Stewart-Copeland-talks-about-life-after-The-Police</ref> and Copeland attended the [[American Community School at Beirut|American Community School]] there. He started taking drum lessons at age twelve and was playing drums for school dances within a year. Later he moved to England and attended [[Millfield]]<ref>http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/478413/Stewart-Copeland-talks-about-life-after-The-Police</ref> from 1967 to 1969. Copeland went to college in California, attending [[United States International University]] and [[UC Berkeley]]. Returning to England, he worked as road manager for the [[progressive rock]] band [[Curved Air]]'s 1974 reunion tour, and then assumed drumming duties for the band during 1975 and 1976.
Stewart Armstrong Copeland was born in [[Alexandria, Virginia]] on July 16, 1952,<ref> the youngest of four children of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer [[Miles Copeland, Jr.]] and Scottish [[archaeologist]] [[Lorraine Copeland|Lorraine Adie]]. The family moved to [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]], a few months after his birth, and Copeland spent his formative years in the Middle East. In 1957, the family moved to [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]],<ref>http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/478413/Stewart-Copeland-talks-about-life-after-The-Police</ref> and Copeland attended the [[American Community School at Beirut|American Community School]] there. He started taking drum lessons at age twelve and was playing drums for school dances within a year. Later he moved to England and attended [[Millfield]]<ref>http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/478413/Stewart-Copeland-talks-about-life-after-The-Police</ref> from 1967 to 1969. Copeland went to college in California, attending [[United States International University]] and [[UC Berkeley]]. Returning to England, he worked as road manager for the [[progressive rock]] band [[Curved Air]]'s 1974 reunion tour, and then assumed drumming duties for the band during 1975 and 1976.


==The Police==
==The Police==

Revision as of 14:04, 24 May 2015

Stewart Copeland
E1 Music
Websitewww.stewartcopeland.net

Stewart Armstrong Copeland (born July 16, 1952) is an American musician, multi-instrumentalist and composer best known as the drummer for the English rock band The Police and for his film music soundtracks. He has also written various pieces of music for ballet, opera and orchestra.

Background

Stewart Armstrong Copeland was born in

UC Berkeley. Returning to England, he worked as road manager for the progressive rock band Curved Air
's 1974 reunion tour, and then assumed drumming duties for the band during 1975 and 1976.

The Police

Main article: The Police

In 1977, Copeland founded the Police with singer-bassist Sting and guitarist Henry Padovani (who was soon replaced by Andy Summers), and it became one of the top bands of the 1980s. The Police's early track list was mostly made of Copeland's compositions, including the band's first single "Fall Out" (Illegal Records, 1977) and the flip side "Nothing Achieving". Though Copeland's songwriting contribution was reduced to a couple of songs per album as Sting started writing more material, he continued to co-arrange all the Police's songs with his two bandmates. Amongst Copeland's most notable songs are "On Any Other Day" (where he sang lead vocals too), "Does Everyone Stare" (later to be used as the title of his documentary on the band Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out), "Contact", "Bombs Away", "Darkness" and "Miss Gradenko". Copeland also co-authored a number of songs with Sting, including "Peanuts", "Landlord", "It's Alright for You" and "Re-Humanize Yourself".

Klark Kent

Copeland also recorded under the

vinyl released in 1980. Recorded at Nigel Gray's Surrey Sound Studio, Copeland played all the instruments and sang the lead vocals himself. Kent's "Don't Care", which peaked at #48 UK in August 1978, actually predates the first chart single by The Police by several months ("Can't Stand Losing You
", issued in October 1978).

Later career

In 1982 Copeland was involved in the production of a

Cleveland Opera) and ballets (Prey' Ballet Oklahoma, Casque of Amontillado, Noah's Ark/Solcheeka, commissioned by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, King Lear, commissioned by the San Francisco Ballet Company, Emilio).[2]

In 1985, Copeland released a solo album, The Rhythmatist. The record was the result of a pilgrimage to Africa and its people, and it features local drums and percussion, with more drums, percussion, other musical instruments and occasional lead vocals added by Copeland. The album was the official soundtrack to the movie of the same name, which was co-written by Stewart. He also starred in the film, which is "A musical odyssey through the heart of Africa in search of the roots of rock & roll." (Copeland is seen playing the drums in a cage with lions surrounding him.) The film is an almost anthropological and mythological adventure drawing from sources like Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung, similar to Peter Weir's "The Last Wave."

In 1988 Copeland followed up with The Equalizer & Other Cliff Hangers on

Spyro the Dragon. He also created the musical scores for the sequels Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, Spyro: Year of the Dragon, and Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly. In 1999, he provided the voice of an additional American soldier in the animated musical comedy war film South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
.

In 2000, he combined with

BBC television show Just the Two of Us
(a role he later reprised for a second series in January 2007).

The Police reunion (2007–2008)

Main article: The Police Reunion Tour

At the 2007 Grammy Awards, Copeland, Andy Summers and Sting performed the song "Roxanne" together again as The Police. This marked the band's first public performance since 1986 (they had previously reunited only for an improvised set at Sting's wedding party in 1992 and for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003). One day later, the band announced that in celebration of The Police's 30th anniversary, they would be embarking on what turned out to be a one-off reunion tour on May 28, 2007. Also at that time, Copeland released the compilation album The Stewart Copeland Anthology.

Recent years

In 2008,

RIM commissioned Copeland to write a "soundtrack" for the BlackBerry Bold. Copeland created a highly percussive theme of one minute's length, from which he evolved six ringtones and a softer 'alarm tone' that are preloaded on the device.[3]

In March 2008, Copeland premiered a new orchestral composition "Celeste" at "An Evening with Stewart Copeland", part of the

Harper Collins.[6] The book chronicles much of Copeland's life, from his childhood through the course of his work with The Police and to the present.[7]

In 2008, Copeland was commissioned by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to create a percussion piece involving primarily Indonesian instruments. "Gamelan D’Drum" was first performed (after two weather delays) in Dallas on February 5, 2011, and had its European Premiere at the Royal Academy of Music in London in July 2012.

In October 2009 he was a guest on Private Passions, the biographical music discussion programme on BBC Radio 3.[8]

On May 24, 2011, Copeland started a personal

Snoop Lion
and others in his home studio, which he refers to as the Sacred Grove.

On August 24, 2011, Copeland was a featured soloist on the Late Show with David Letterman, as part of their second "Drum Solo Week".

On January 10, 2012, he appeared on an episode of the A&E reality series Storage Wars to appraise a drum set for Barry Weiss, buying a Turkish cymbal from the set for $40. In July he reunited with former Animal Logic band mate Stanley Clarke for a European tour.

On November 26, 2013, he appeared in the first episode of the Tim Ferriss Experiment.[10]

Personal life

Copeland was romantically involved with Curved Air vocalist Sonja Kristina beginning in 1974, and they were married from 1982 to 1991.[11][12] Copeland adopted Kristina's son Sven from a prior relationship, and they had two more sons together, Jordan and Scott.[12][13] In 1981, Copeland fathered a son, Patrick, with Marina Guinness, daughter of Irish author Desmond Guinness.[12][14][15] Copeland currently lives in Los Angeles with his second wife, Fiona Dent, with whom he has three daughters (Eve, Grace and Celeste).[12]

Copeland's oldest brother

CIA in 2008.[17]

In 2007, the French Government appointed Copeland (along with Police bandmates Andy Summers and Sting) a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.[18]

Copeland's hobbies include rollerskating, cycling along the beach in Santa Monica, filmmaking and playing polo.[12]

Drumming

Copeland is known for precise, energetic, and creative reggae-influenced drumming along with a

hi-hat
work with understated flourishes.

Despite being left-handed, Copeland plays drums like a right-handed drummer, with the

hi-hat on his left and ride cymbal and floor toms on his right. He played his snare drum in a very peculiar way: from big booming hits to jazzy counter-tempo to soft beating on the ridge. During his years with The Police, he became known for engaging only the hi-hat with bass drum to keep the beat on many Police tracks. Copeland is a master of the syncopated beat
, and his distinct approach consolidates his position as an important drummer on the world stage, subsequently influencing generations of drummers.

Copeland is also noted for his strong emphasis on the groove as a complement to the song, rather than as its core component. He once drove this point home at a drum clinic: Copeland announced that he would show the audience something "that very few modern drummers can do," and proceeded to play a simple rock beat for two minutes.

matched grip
.

Equipment

Stewart Copeland currently uses Tama drums, Paiste cymbals, Remo drum heads and Vater drum sticks.

The Police Reunion (2007–2008) tour kit

  • Tama Starclassic Maple Drums and Paiste Cymbals:
  • Drums - Custom Police Blue Sparkle Maple Wood
    • 10x8" Tom
    • 13x9" Tom
    • 12x8" Tom (To the left of his snare drum)
    • 16x16" Floor Tom
    • 18x16" Floor Tom
    • 20x14" Tama Gong Drum
    • 22x18" Bass Drum
    • 14x5" Tama SC145 Stewart Copeland Signature Snare
    • Tama Custom Police Blue Sparkle Octobans (x4) (custom made for Copeland)
  • Cymbals - Paiste
    • 12" Prototype Micro Hi-Hats
    • 16" Signature Full Crash
    • 17" Signature Fast Crash
    • 18" Signature Fast Crash
    • 18" Signature Full Crash
    • 18" 2002 Flat Ride (prototype)
    • 22" Signature Blue Bell Ride
    • 10" Signature Splash
    • 8" Signature Bell
    • 8" Signature Prototype Splash
  • Stewart also uses his own Vater Stewart Copeland Standard Sticks.

Original live kit set-up (1984)

  • Tama Imperial Star Mahogany Drums (9-ply) and Paiste Cymbals:
  • Drums - Midnight Blue
    • 10x8" Rack Tom
    • 12x8" Rack Tom
    • 13x9" Rack Tom
    • 16x16" Floor Tom
    • 14x5" Pearl Jupiter Snare
    • 22x14" Bass Drum
    • Tama Octobans Low Pitch (x4)
    • Cowbell
    • Wood Blocks
  • Cymbals - Paiste
    • 13" Formula 602 Medium Hi-Hats
    • 16" 2002 Thin Crash
    • 8" 2002 Bell
    • 7.5 Ufip Ictus Bell
    • 8" 2002 Splash (x2)
    • 11" 2002 Splash
    • 14" (or 16") Rude Crash/Ride
    • 16" (or (18") Rude Crash/Ride
    • 18" 2002 Medium
    • 24" Rude Ride/Crash
    • 20" 2002 China
    • Simmons (x2) Pads (to his left)
    • Assorted Percusion
    • Stewart also used Calato Regal Tip Rock Wood Tipped Drumsticks

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

  • "Don't Care" / "Thrills" / "Office Girls" - 1978 (as Klark Kent)
  • "Too Kool To Kalypso" / "Kinetic Ritual" - 1978 (as Klark Kent)
  • "Away From Home" / "Office Talk" - 1980 (as Klark Kent)
  • "Rich in a Ditch" / "Grandelinquent" - 1980 (as Klark Kent)
  • "Don't Box Me In" / "Drama at Home" - 1983 (A-side with Stan Ridgway)
  • "Koteja" / "Gong Rock" - 1985 (A-side with Ray Lema)
  • "Out of Bounds" / "Out of Bounds" (instrumental) - 1986 (with Adam Ant)
  • "Love Lessons" / "Love Lessons (remix)" - 1986 (with Derek Holt)
  • "The Equalizer" / "The Equalizer Busy Equalizing" - 1988

Soundtracks

References

  1. ^ http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/478413/Stewart-Copeland-talks-about-life-after-The-Police
  2. ^ "Stewart Copeland". Stewartcopeland.net. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  3. ^ "Stewart Copeland puts message in a bottle for BlackBerry Bold owners". Apcmag.com. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  4. ^ "Review: Police's Stewart Copeland rocks SummerFest". Sdnn.com. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  5. ^ John Garth (May 12, 2009). "When in London, do as the Romans... Ben-Hur O2 show to be staged in Latin and Aramaic". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  6. Harper Collins
    . Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  7. ^ "Stewart Copeland Book Signing". Amoeba Music. October 8, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  8. ^ "BBC Radio 3". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  9. ^ "Stewart Copeland". YouTube. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  10. ^ "Premiere TV Episode! "The Tim Ferriss Experiment" — Online for Free - The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss". Fourhourweek.com. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  11. ^ James, Billy (May 2008). "Interview: Sonja Kristina". Get Ready to ROCK!. hotdigitsnewmedia group.
  12. ^ a b c d e Copeland, Stewart (2009). Strange Things Happen: A Life with The Police, Polo, and Pygmies. HarperCollins.
  13. ^ Pearce, Garth (August 18, 1983). "Shea, yeah, yeah...". The Daily Express.
  14. ^ Daly, Susan (July 19, 2008). "Bohemian rhapsody: Marina Guinness and Kila". Irish Independent.
  15. ^ Ross, Seamus (March 16, 2008). "Talent on Tap". Sunday Mirror.
  16. Aurum Press
    , 1989
  17. ^ Julia Child, Others Part of Spy Network, AOL News, August 14, 2008
  18. ^ "Cérémonie de remise des insignes de Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres à Sting, Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers, du groupe The Police". October 1, 2007. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  19. ^ "Playing style of Stewart Copeland". Youtube.com. April 18, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  20. ^ "Stewart Copeland interview". Effingham.net. Retrieved January 18, 2015.

External links

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