Born on July 16: Stewart Copeland (The Police), the wizard of rhythm, Coppola’s alchemist

Stewart Copeland was born in 1952 in Alexandria, Virginia (USA). Like guitarist Andy Summers, he contributed to the complex and inventive rhythmic structures that became the hallmark of The Police’s irresistible pop melodies between 1977 and 1984.

Stewart Copeland grew up in the Middle East and Europe because his American father used his supposed career as an archaeologist, as well as diplomatic cover, for his intelligence work (as they euphemistically put it). He was also involved in the rise of the CIA and even published a fascinating autobiography a few years before his death—but that’s a whole other story! From a very young age, little Stewart sought out rhythms by drumming on just about anything within reach, but his earliest influences came from Stravinsky and jazz. After completing his university studies in England, he joined the progressive rock band Curved Air, first as a road manager and then as a drummer. He married their singer, Sonja Kristina, in 1982.

He then became world-famous as the drummer for The Police, the trio he founded in 1977 with Sting and Andy Summers. Before Sting rose to prominence as the primary composer of the band’s timeless hits, it was Stewart who wrote both tracks on their debut single, “Fall Out,” in 1977. After that, his contribution became more low-key, with songs such as “On And Other Day” (on which he also sang) or “Does Everyone Stare.” Nothing to rival Sting’s hits!

Starting with Synchronicity (1983), Stewart recalls an explosive atmosphere during the recording sessions: “To put it simply, we were at each other’s throats over the slightest thing,” he recalls today in Ultimate Classic Rock. Still, as time has smoothed out the rough edges, he now looks back fondly on those wild years—so much so that he even directed a touching documentary about that era, Everybody Stares: The Police Inside Out.

Shortly before the band split up, he also began to broaden his horizons. He contributed to the WOMAD charity album and composed the score for “Rumble Fish,” Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film. “One of the most intense moments of my musical career,” he recalls, “a far cry from the tensions that were brewing within The Police at the time.” He went on to compose music for“ Wall Street,”“The Equalizer,”“Talk Radio,”“Highlander II,”“Fresh,” as well as for ballets.

Returning to his first love, classical music, he also launched a slightly crazy project called Police Deranged For Orchestra, for which he reimagines some of the trio’s iconic songs. “If you’re up for hearing a slightly crazy version of ‘Roxanne,’ then this project might pique your interest,” he likes to say. Of course, some Police fans will find this approach iconoclastic, but with a certain sense of self-deprecation, Stewart couldn’t care less about the naysayers!

Photo: Stewart Copeland with The Police on stage at Ahoy in Rotterdam (Netherlands) on February 10, 1983