Vinnie out with 60 year-old bass player

[willyz]

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

Looks like the quote thing got mixed up... I did not say that.

Look guys, Vinnie sounds great wtih Sting. So does Stewy.

No need to riot- I'll refrain from any further tongue in cheek comments going forward.

Cheers.

[Clint Hopkins]

I like Stewart's take on the original material and I like what Vinnie has done with it over the years. I guess I'm in the apples and oranges camp.

[Rene]

OMFG - Vinnie - "driven to tears" - 1990:

[S.P]

OMFG - Vinnie - "driven to tears" - 1990:

This WHOLE show is absolutely burning...this is was Vinnie's first ever gig with Sting if I remember correctly.

[circh bustom]

In my opinion, willyz is right on this. Stewart was there for the inception of those songs. He played them like a hungry drummer in a 3 piece rock band. Vinnie has had years to examine these songs and parts, as we all have. Vinnie plays the songs a bit more refined yes, but leaves out some impressive stuff. Take for instance, the Demolition Man EP with live tracks from Italy. King of Pain is not the same without that wacky flam into the second verse when Stewart comes in.
I saw the Police twice in 2007 on the first leg of the tour. Monday night at Fenway in Boston and Fri night at MSG in NYC. Mon was impressive because the band and especially Sting's voice was very "on". but Fri, wow. that was the Police show i was waiting for. Yeah of course the tempos were fast. Yes, Stewart would have a miss hit here or there, he was hitting so hard that by 2/3 of the way thru you could hear how much his snare had detuned. But it was one of the best concerts Ive seen. Sting himself has always said he has had a problem with the Police material since they were a 3 piece with punk roots, and Sting has different things in mind sometimes, but, the thing that bothered Sting is what a good portion of the fans loved. Now I have not personally seen Vinnie with Sting, onkly videos and such. But I did see Sting with Manu Katche when they did a small theater tour in '99 for Brand New Day, it was good, and we had a great time in a small venue, but the stuff recorded by Vinne, we longed for Vinnie and the stuff originally recorded by Stewart we longed for him. Same as with KISS, Eric Singer is a better drummer technically than Peter Criss, but when Peter got back in the band, the feel of those songs just exploded out of the PA. Something about having the guys who originally did the songs I guess.

[baht habit]

OMFG - Vinnie - "driven to tears" - 1990:

This WHOLE show is absolutely burning...this is was Vinnie's first ever gig with Sting if I remember correctly.

This was the second concert, performed in Chile. Uruguay was the first show. The gigs were both part of the Amnesty Tour. And don't hold me to this, but I think that the first gig was also filmed.
With very little rehearsal, Colaiuta sure played like a beast unleashed at these first initial concerts backing Sting. By the time they went on tour to support Soul Cages the following year, Sting had restrained the beast... but only to a small degree.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VF41DONE

[amoergosum]

...fantastic energy >>>

Sting - Children's Crusade (DVD Amnesty Internacional Chile 1990):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3w_XaBxqqw#t=2m12s

[amoergosum]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VF41DONE

Thanks a lot!!!

[Rene]

That Vinnie (Amnesty concert, driven to tears) played more or less the same way as he played with FZ. Full of energy and with no restraints, compared to his "back to bass" performances. But Vinnie shows that he actually has fun again performing with Sting. The Vinnie during the mercury falling tour, was a bored Vinnie, as it appeared to me. It was the first and only time that I saw Vinnie live. Also I watched on youtube two performances with SC on drums; from the 80's and their last tour. The creativity from SC from way back in the 80's gave me much fun, basically inspired to steal some of his ideas.

Rene

[baht habit]

The Vinnie during the mercury falling tour, was a bored Vinnie, as it appeared to me. It was the first and only time that I saw Vinnie live.
Rene

You're right. Colaiuta became disenchanted during that tour. During an interview with an Italian drumming publication, he even stated that he had wanted to bail out on the tour but Sting's management was firmly holding him to the contract he signed, so he basically could be considered a disgruntled employee. He stated that he felt as if his chops were suffering due to the combination of constant travel and then only performing Sting's songs in the subdued manner that Sting was requiring at that time.
For some reason, Sting wanted plain and simple drumming at that point and during rehearsals even told Colaiuta that he didn't want to hear any ''f*cking baroque fol-di-rol'' playing on his songs. So it just escalated from there. Colaiuta started openly showing his disinterest by sometimes lighting up a cigarette while playing a simple pattern or breaking out into 'air cymbals' during an extensive rest within the song. He was frustrated and couldn't wait for the tour to conclude.