Vinnie out with 60 year-old bass player

[Brandon Burr]

Is there anyone in the Dallas area who's going, tomorrow night?

[willyz]

Look- I'm just going to throw this out there (and I'm sure that it's been said before and that I'd hope the majority of you cats agree with me), but as hip as it is (and always has been) to see Vinnie rock the Police catalog... he's got nothing on good 'ol Stewart Copeland.

I hope that the statement above isn't a dirty and dangerous comment... we're all smarter than that, right?

[DSOP]

I loved Stewart in his hey-day, but no way would I rather hear him over Vinnie.

[willyz]

I loved Stewart in his hey-day, but no way would I rather hear him over Vinnie.

I'm really just meaning Police tunes- I just think they sound the best when played by the Police. Sting's solo material- well, there's a reason why Stew didn't get that phone call!

[Rodge]

While I'm a huge Stewart fan, I think that today on The Police's music, Vinnie plays ala Stewart's style way better than Stewart himself.

[Brandon Burr]

....apples and oranges, willyz.

That said, it doesn't get much better than this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A154OavghI

[bored at work]

I saw Th e Police reunion in London in September 2007. Stewart's playing left me less than inspired, it was like he was out of shape, he kept stopping and starting.

You know what I'd prefer? Vinnie from 20 years ago playing Police tunes!

[baht habit]

Look- I'm just going to throw this out there (and I'm sure that it's been said before and that I'd hope the majority of you cats agree with me), but as hip as it is (and always has been) to see Vinnie rock the Police catalog... he's got nothing on good 'ol Stewart Copeland.

I hope that the statement above isn't a dirty and dangerous comment... we're all smarter than that, right?

Is your last sentence designed to decrease the amount of debate over your observation? You'll probably not think I am all that smart, but what the heck...

I'll tell you what I've noticed that Colaiuta has got on Copeland: attention to detail and precision regarding exactly how he approaches his instrument, solid tempos from start to finish of a song, and the willingness and discipline to play within the context of the composition. Copeland was definitely an exciting drummer in his time, but it was obvious to me that he wanted to be noticed more than he wanted to contribute a strong foundation. And from what was evident of The Police Reunion Tour, Stewart Copeland hasn't evolved much as a player. He still exudes such an adolescent attitude and yet can no longer compensate for that with powerhouse banging on the drums anymore.

Just watch how Sting reacted to this particular display of amateurish drumming:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UL_rhTjsQ8

And when you really break it down, there hasn't been all that many tracks written by Sting while in the Police that Colaiuta has been tasked to perform throughout the years: Roxanne, Next To You, Message In A Bottle, Walking On The Moon, Bring On The Night / When The World Is Running Down, Driven To Tears, Spirits In The Material World, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Demolition Man, Synchronicity II, Every Breath You Take, King Of Pain, Wrapped Around Your Finger and Tea In The Sahara. He's been able to perform them all with great competence and in my opinion, actually improved upon a good number of them - for he rarely settles for merely copying Copeland's parts such as Josh Freese or Abraham Laboriel Jr have done when their turns came to play that stuff. If a listener requires hearing those parts or actually reveres that style of playing, I suppose I could comprehend how they would claim that Colaiuta's playing doesn't measure up to Copeland's playing....but after the numerous Sting gigs I've attended over the years and witnessing some world class drumming, I can't help but view Copeland's style as mere child's play.

[amoergosum]

I can't help but view Copeland's style as mere child's play.

[Lucas Ives]

Twisted Blues Vol. 1 is out:

http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Blues-1-O ... 876&sr=8-1