Jun 01, 1985
Stingtime in Paris - the Polce Chief sets himself free: It's ironic, the Police should be taking this sabbatical, or whatever it is, straight after making the best music of their career. I'd take side two of 'Synchronicity' ('Every Breath You Take', 'King Of Pain' etc) over anything else you did. "Yes, I would too. But the choice was, do we keep repeating that formula, become like The Rolling Stones? Or do we allow ourselves the time and space to think of something new? There is no plan whatever for the Police to work again. Nor is there a reason to say we've broken up..."
Jun 01, 1985
It's the real Sting - He's back, dreaming of turtles, forming bands, having babies, searching for the Yeti and trying to improve East/West relations. Sting looks like he hasn't slept for a week. His face carries the glazed expression of someone who's not only burnt the candle at both ends but had a good attempt at attacking the centre. He's ushered onto a podium, with the other six members of his new band - currently in the middle of a seven day session of dates at the Theatre Mogador, Paris - their European debut...
May 01, 1985
Paris in the Springtime - Have the Police split? After two nights in the maternity wards can Sting stand the paparazzi grilling? Hugh Fielder muscles in on the Fleet Street Party. "I haven't left the Police. The Police achieved everything we set out to do a hundred times over. I'm just exploring different areas with other musicians. And I'm having a ball..."
Feb 23, 1985
On a hot, cloudless Friday afternoon, a curious affair is being enacted on the top floor of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. In an end room commandeered from the cafeteria, hacks from all over Europe - of whom only the 25-strong British contingent is distinguished by its absence - are taking their seats facing an empty podium. This is performed to background music provided by Mr Sting, the pop star, whose new solo album is being featured. It is Sting, together with his four-month-old group, who will shortly appear on the podium...
Jan 23, 1985
'No victim of rock' - Sting finds success in acting career. "I was awake all night, worrying about everything from A to Z," says Sting, 33, his famous blond hair slicked back and tinted the color of tea. "I have a difficult scene with Meryl today. She shoots me..."
Dec 01, 1984
Police man's Peake - 'Weird and wonderful' is how superstar Sting describes the novels of Mervyn Peake. The cult writer's most famous fan plays the lead role in Radio 4's dramatisation of 'Titus Groan' and 'Gormenghast' Sting - the multimillionaire superstar - has, a horse called Steerpike. It's an unusual name but one that clearly has great significance for Sting because he has also given it to his pet dog and one of his business companies...
May 01, 1984
Fresh from conquering the world the 'Synchronicity' way, Sting, Stewart and Andy answer some hard questions about the recent past and near future. David Keeps handles the bright lights and rubber hoses. Policeman Stewart Copeland comes bounding into the A&M Records interview room, frighteningly larger than life. "Where's the other blond bombshell?" he asks Andy Summers...
Mar 01, 1984
The wind is gusting over 50 miles an hour, slamming torrential rain against the crusty, glistening stone of the medieval castle. The night is lit by a blazing bank of lights - 196 650-watt lamps - mounted in a giant steel frame that dangles from a cherry picker 100 yards from the Chateau des Cordes in Orcival in France's Massif Central. This "Wendy Light" rig, one of only three known to exist, looms over the chateau as director Franc Roddam's 1,100-amp moon. Until now the night had been gorgeously serene and clear, with a shiny sliver of real moon above, tiny in the starry heavens beyond the ferocious manufactured maelstrom. Roddam, in a long slicker and hat, yells "CUT." Then, another take. Cameras roll: A giant propeller in a square steel cage again whips up the "rain," which is shooting from three 20-foot-high tripods near the castle entrance...
Mar 01, 1984
Alone at the top - The Police took a solitary road to success in 1983. This, one imagines is gravy time for the members of the Police - time to loll about the mansion examining the newly acquired bric-a-brac, to drop by the occasional London soiree and be greeted like a foreign head of state, and yes, even to pick up the instrument now and then and mull over that solo project. Time indeed to enjoy their considerable accomplishments in 1983: millions in tour revenues and sales of their fifth LP 'Synchronicity', and the almost unquestioned status as rock & roll's best-loved active band...
Feb 01, 1984
The Police cop an attitude: A little over five years ago, the last week in 1978 to be precise, I received a phone call from the editor of a local newspaper for which I was writing. "Go and interview the Police," he said. "Which precinct," I asked, having no idea what he was babbling about. "No, dummy," he continued. "The Police. They're a new British band. And they're not at any police station, they're at CBGB's..."