AS: The second Police album Regatta D'Blanc was made in 10 days. The Police records were all really fast. We were such a playing band that we would start with the songs and have them together within the week. We didn't need to spend a huge amount of time on it because we were constantly performing so we were always ready. We were a working band. We knew our style. We didn't need 10 years to work things out. When they gave us 6 weeks to go to Montserrat and record Ghost in the Machine we were done in 10 days and would then just sit around. Personally I think people spend too long on records and try to make them too perfect. There is a certain rush of energy that you get. You shouldn't take too long because I think you get a better feeling on the record. People take too much time and detailing and it ends up sounding a bit dead I think.
PC: What about your old Police songs like 'Behind My Camel' or 'Omegaman', do you ever resurrect them live?
AS: No. I can't actually. We should leave them for the right moment.
PC: Would you like to take those old songs and reinvent them?
AS: Not particularly. I think that was an era then. I don't have a great nostalgia for the past. I am pretty embroiled in moving on and moving forward with music. We are about to play at Birdland in New York which is extremely tough and has some of the coolest musicians in the world. I am going to play this album and take it all away. I will be as cutting edge as anybody. It is a full frontal assault when we play this shit. Just the track Earth + Sky alone is a killer live. I pull it off exactly like the record. It is tough to do but it is fun. We practiced and I like the challenge of being able to do it. Mentally being able to get on top of these pieces and get the sequences right is in your hand to be able to play. If you can get through it in a live performance you feel comfortable because it pushes you on. It helps you grow and that is what it is all about.
PC: I'm in Melbourne, Australia. Isn't this the city where the band broke up?
AS: Yeah it was. It was sort of the official end because we did get back together and do those six dates with the Amnesty tour in '86. We did like a covert appearance where we appeared two years later. It was sort of the end but it wasn't. I remember that gig very well. It was a poignant moment because we all knew we were breaking up but the audience didn't know.
[Paul Cashmere interview with Andy Summers]
PC: What was the quickest album you ever made?
AS: The second Police album Regatta D'Blanc was made in 10 days. The Police records were all really fast. We were such a playing band that we would start with the songs and have them together within the week. We didn't need to spend a huge amount of time on it because we were constantly performing so we were always ready. We were a working band. We knew our style. We didn't need 10 years to work things out. When they gave us 6 weeks to go to Montserrat and record Ghost in the Machine we were done in 10 days and would then just sit around. Personally I think people spend too long on records and try to make them too perfect. There is a certain rush of energy that you get. You shouldn't take too long because I think you get a better feeling on the record. People take too much time and detailing and it ends up sounding a bit dead I think.
PC: What about your old Police songs like 'Behind My Camel' or 'Omegaman', do you ever resurrect them live?
AS: No. I can't actually. We should leave them for the right moment.
PC: Would you like to take those old songs and reinvent them?
AS: Not particularly. I think that was an era then. I don't have a great nostalgia for the past. I am pretty embroiled in moving on and moving forward with music. We are about to play at Birdland in New York which is extremely tough and has some of the coolest musicians in the world. I am going to play this album and take it all away. I will be as cutting edge as anybody. It is a full frontal assault when we play this shit. Just the track Earth + Sky alone is a killer live. I pull it off exactly like the record. It is tough to do but it is fun. We practiced and I like the challenge of being able to do it. Mentally being able to get on top of these pieces and get the sequences right is in your hand to be able to play. If you can get through it in a live performance you feel comfortable because it pushes you on. It helps you grow and that is what it is all about.
PC: I'm in Melbourne, Australia. Isn't this the city where the band broke up?
AS: Yeah it was. It was sort of the official end because we did get back together and do those six dates with the Amnesty tour in '86. We did like a covert appearance where we appeared two years later. It was sort of the end but it wasn't. I remember that gig very well. It was a poignant moment because we all knew we were breaking up but the audience didn't know. [Paul Cashmere interview with Andy Summers]