Bring On the Reunion

It was announced today that the legendary 80's rock group and G's Spot favorite the Police plan to reunite to perform at next month's Grammy awards. Despite their huge success and five Grammy wins, the performance at the February 11th show in Los Angeles marks the first time the group - singer Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland - have played on the Grammy stage. It is also their first performace together since the band's 2003 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=aee0902e-eeac-469b-a7be-120b06183ef2

This news comes on the heels of reports that the band has been holed up in Vancouver rehearsing not only for the Grammy performance but for a full blown world tour. It is just a matter of when and not if they announce 2007 tour dates. All I can say is it's about damn time. Not that any of these guys need the money but come on. If the Stones can roll their bones out on stage in their 60's then certainly Sting, Andy and Stewart can get that band back together again for one last blowout tour.

My last memory of the Police performing live was of their set at the Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope tour at Giants Stadium in 1986, broadcast on MTV back when music was more than filler between episodes of "Laguna Beach." This was in fact a reunion as well, as they had already broken up the previous year. Midway through their performance of "Invisible Sun" Sting was joined by U2's Bono on vocals, and after its conclusion each member of the Police handed their instrument off to their U2 counterpart. Two of my favorite singers of all-time and hands down my favorite two bands of all-time on stage together. Wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvGpWksgEI8

It was a symbolic changing of the guard, as U2 was less than a year away from the release of their seminal album "The Joshua Tree" and megastardom. The supergroup of the late 70's/early 80's passed the torch to what would be the supergroup of the 80's and early 90's. Why this concert has not been released on DVD is one of life's great mysteries. The Live Aid show from 1985 is out but not this? Come on now. In addition to the Police and U2 the concert featured a typically mesmerizing set by Peter Gabriel and too many other great performances to list here. Thanks to YouTube you can do a search and check it out.

In the 20+ years that have passed since this performance, I have had to satisfy my live Police jones by seeing Sting perform various Police songs during his solo tours. It would not be hyperbole for me to say that this is the one band left that I wanted to see perform live in my lifetime, having been a little young in their heyday. Well, it looks like I will finally have my chance. Whoo Hoo!