ThePolice.com . What's New

Fan Club DVDs have started shipping...

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:02:15 -0500

Legacy members will be pleased to know that the fan club DVD has started shipping and the first members are reporting receipt. If you're a legacy member keep an eye out for your mail...

The Fan Club DVD contains performance and behind-the-scenes footage from some of the finest moments of the tour captured by Director of Photography Jordan Copeland, as well as bonus material including discussions with the tour manager, the lighting designer and others who helped make The Police tour such a great success. Also featured are cameos from the Foo Fighters, Eddie Vedder and Ziggy Marley. For a taste of what you can expect, check out the trailer.

Not sure if you're a legacy member? Go to My Account to check your status.

Once all legacy members have received the DVD we will also announce how interested non-legacy members can upgrade their membership to receive a copy.

'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... The Police' premieres in the UK/Ireland on December 3, Channel 4 at 9pm...

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:00:01 -0500

Channel 4 will premiere 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... The Police' in the UK and Ireland on December 3 at 9pm.

The show will air in the USA on January 7 at 9pm on the Sundance Channel.

Details of the Canadian broadcast will follow shortly.

Guests to include Diana Krall, James Taylor, Rufus Wainwright, Norah Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Herbie Hancock and Renée Fleming...

'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...' has announced the final set of guests for the new talk/performance series' debut season. The series is set to premiere later this year on Sundance Channel in the U.S., CTV in Canada and Channel 4 in the U.K., with FremantleMedia Enterprises launching the series for international sale at MIPCOM in Cannes, France, in October 2008.

Confirmed guests of 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...' episodes to tape in September at Harlem's world famous Apollo Theater in New York City are: iconic American singer-songwriter James Taylor; jazz legend and winner of this year's Grammy Award for Album of the Year Herbie Hancock; one of the most acclaimed new artists of the past decade, Rufus Wainwright; the brilliant singer-songwriter Roseanne Cash; actor/singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson; international jazz sensation Diana Krall; recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Mellencamp; singer-songwriter Jakob Dylan; the indie duo She & Him (formed by actress Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward); international sensation Norah Jones; singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis; and from the world of opera, the great American soprano Renée Fleming.

As previously announced, the Canada/United Kingdom co-production will also feature The Police, President Bill Clinton, Tony Bennett, Lou Reed, Smokey Robinson, and Sir Elton John, who is also one of the program's Executive Producers.

The series of 13 one-hour episodes will feature everything from intimate one-on-one interviews with legendary performers and notable newcomers to unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime musical performances and collaborations.

Consistent with Sir Elton John's long-standing commitment to philanthropy and music, the series producers have struck an exciting association with the (Product) RED (www.joinred.com) campaign created to raise awareness and money for the Global Fund (www.theglobalfund.org) to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa. Select program excerpts and performances will be distributed in a variety of new media and conventional platforms, with a portion of the profits directed to the Global Fund.

Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... is produced by Rocket Pictures, SpyBox Pictures, Prospero Pictures and reinvention entertainment, in association with Sundance Channel, CTV, Channel 4 and FremantleMedia Enterprises. Executive Producers are Sir Elton John, Elvis Costello, David Furnish, Steve Hamilton-Shaw, Jordan Jacobs, Martin Katz and Stephen Warden. Co-Executive Producer is Alex Coletti.

'The Police: Certifiable' DVD now in stores!

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:59:32 -0500

Police fans, get ready to relive all the sights and sounds of The Police world tour. "The Police: Certifiable," DVD featuring the band's entire performance from one especially hot night of music in Buenos Aires, Argentina is out now.

Fans in the United States can purchase "The Police: Certifiable" exclusively at Best Buy retail locations and BestBuy.com. For The Police fans in the UK, stop by The Police UK Store to pre-order your copy today - fans outside of the US & UK, head to The Police International Store to buy yours now.

In addition to the entire concert from Riverplate Stadium in Buenos Aires, "The Police: Certifiable" includes a 50-minute bonus feature, "Better Than Therapy," directed by Jordan Copeland. The feature details the entire historic run of The Police, complete with behind-the-scenes interviews with the band and crew, and a pair of photo galleries of The Police on tour, one by guitarist/photographer Andy Summers, and one by famed rock photographer Danny Clinch.

Get your copy in one of a number of different formats so that all fans can choose their favorite and enjoy "The Police: Certifiable" as it was meant to be played. The DVD Edition features the entire concert and the behind-the-scenes featurette on two DVDs, and the full double CD of the new live album from Buenos Aires.

For the fans who want the best concert experience possible in their own homes, choose the Blu-Ray Edition - enjoy the concert footage and featurette presented in stunning 1080 HD picture quality, plus Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital surround and stereo sound, and receive the 2-CD live album as well.

Or, for the fans who prefer hearing The Police on their turntables, get the full album on vinyl - 3 pieces of heavy weight, 180-gram vinyl, a wine spine gatefold jacket, and even an insert redeemable for a free mp3 download of the album.

Whichever way you choose to enjoy "The Police: Certifiable," be sure to order your copy today.

Win 'Certifiable' goodies in our new contest!

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:08 -0500

Vote for The Police in the Billboard Awards!

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:43:31 -0400

Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and the Police are among the finalists for the 2008 Billboard Touring Awards, set for Nov. 20 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.

All three of those tours are finalists for the top tour and top draw awards, which recognize the topgrossing and top ticket sellers, respectively. The awards are based on data reported to Billboard Boxscore from Oct. 1,2007, through Sept. 30, 2008.

Other finalists include Kenny Chesney's Poets & Pirates tour, Journey/Heart/Cheap Trick, and Mary J. BligelJay-Z with the-Dream for top package and Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and Michael Buble for breakthrough artist. The latter award acknowledges the top-grossing act that breaks into the top 25 tours for the first time.

Top festival finalists are Coachella in Indio, Calif.; Lollapalooza in Chicago; and Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn. The top boxscore finalists -for the top-grossing engagement -are Spice Girls at the 02 in London, Madonna at Stade de France in Paris and Celine Dion at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

On the industry side, Live Nation, AEG Live and 3A Entertainment are finalists for the top promoter award, and the William Morris Agency, Creative Artists Agency and Artists Group International are the three finalists for top agency. Top manager finalists are Jon Landau Management, Bon Jovi Management and Front Line Management. Venue finalists in various categories include Madison Square Garden, the Wa Mu Theater at MSG and Radio City Music Hall - all in New York - along with the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the 02, Bell Centre, Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Performing Arts Center and the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Top club and top amphitheater will also be awarded.

Special award winners this year include Widespread Panic for the Road Warrior award, Jon Bon Jovi and the Philadelphia Soul arena football team for the Humanitarian award, "Walking With Dinosaurs" for the Creative Content award and the Allman Brothers Band for the Legend of Live award. The awards wrap the Nov. 19-20 conference.

For a complete listing offinalists, go to billboard.biz.

Watch 'Message In A Bottle' from the upcoming 'Certifiable' release!

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:11:28 -0400

Go to MTV or VH1 from today to watch the live video of 'Message In A Bottle' from from the upcoming release 'Certifiable' (Cherrytree/A&M).

'Certifiable' is released in the USA on November 11 exclusively through Best Buy and contains the band's entire concert from Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the US, this special piece - along with Blu-Ray version and three-LP, premium 180-gram vinyl set with MP3 file key. In the rest of the world, the album and DVD will be released via all retail outlets internationally on November 10. The United Kingdom release date for the DVD and Blu-Ray formats is November 24.

To pre-order 'Certifiable' from Best Buy visit http://www.bestbuy.com/thepolice.

'The Police: Certifiable': Exclusive recordings from The Police reunion tour - New live DVD and CD set to be released this November....

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:00:01 -0400

Thirty years after they first stormed the music scene, legendary rock band The Police, bassist/vocalist Sting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers, embarked on a reunion tour on May 28, 2007. This highly successful world tour visited five continents, played to nearly 3.7 million fans and garnered numerous accolades from Billboard, Pollstar, as well as The People's Choice award for Favorite Reunion Tour. It also went down in history as the third highest grossing tour of all-time. Now, following their much heralded 14-month reunion tour, The Police commemorate the culmination of the tour with a special release.

On November 11, The Police will release a 4-disc set (2 CD's and 2 DVD's) entitled "The Police: Certifiable," which contains the band's entire concert from Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the US, this special piece - along with Blu-Ray version and three-LP, premium 180-gram vinyl set with MP3 file key - will be released exclusively through Best Buy where pre-orders are already available. In the rest of the world, the album and DVD will be released via all retail outlets internationally on November 10. The United Kingdom release date for the DVD and Blu-Ray formats is November 24.

A massive European media launch of the Blu-Ray format, in association with Sony, Dolby and the Blu-Ray Association, will take place prior to the European release and will be attended by Stewart Copeland of The Police.

"The Police: Certifiable" is produced and directed by the award-winning Graying & Balding, Inc. team of Ann Kim and Jim Gable, whose film credits include the Rolling Stones, Sting, Keith Urban and Chris Botti.

In the U.S. specifically, the STANDARD set will contain 2-DVD's and 2-CD's that include the following:

* DVD with a 109-minute wide-screen concert presented in Dolby Surround and Stereo

* DVD with 50-minute bonus feature, "Better Than Therapy, " directed by Jordan Copeland detailing The Police's historic reunion with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews from the band and road crew, plus 2 photo galleries of The Police on tour; one shot by guitarist and photographer Andy Summers and one by photographer Danny Clinch.

* 2 CD's with The Police's new live album from Riverplate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, including all of the band's classics such as "Message in a Bottle," "Walking on the Moon" and "Every Breath You Take."

The Blu-Ray format will contain:

* The 109-minute 1080 HD (High Definition) concert presented in Surround and Stereo, in Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital

* The special 50-minute bonus feature, "Better Than Therapy" in HD, and the Summers and Clinch photo galleries in HD.

* 2 CD's of Buenos Aires concert

As well as full album on VINYL, featuring:

*Wide spine gatefold jacket, contains 3 pieces of heavy weight (180 gram vinyl), plus insert for downloading MP3's of the album.

UK Release details: 'The Police: Certifiable' CD and DVD...

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:34:23 -0400

'The Police: Certifiable' CD & DVD, a live concert from The Police's reunion tour, is set to be released in the UK on 24 November by Cherrytree/A&M Records.

Featuring the band's entire concert at the famous Riverplate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, The Police: Certifiable includes the bands classics 'Message in a Bottle,' 'Walking on the Moon' and 'Every Breath You Take.' The concert video is produced and directed by Ann Kim and Jim Gable (Rolling Stones, Sting, Keith Urban, Chris Botti).

The Police Tour began in May last year, visited five continents and played to nearly 3.7 million people over fourteen months.

The Police: Certifiable also includes a 50 min bonus feature 'Better Than Therapy', detailing the bands reunion tour. Directed by Jordan Copeland, this bonus footage includes behind the scenes interviews from the band and road crew, plus photo galleries of The Police on tour by Danny Clinch and Andy Summers.

The Police: Certifiable is the first large issue release available in Blu Ray through Universal music, and Stewart Copeland will attend a European media launch ahead of the release. The concert will also be available in standard and deluxe CD/DVD formats - full tracklisting and format info below.

TRACKLISTING AND FORMAT INFO:

Standard format:

- DVD with a 109 minute concert at Buenos Aires presented in Dolby Surround and Stereo. Tracklist: Message In A Bottle; Synchronicity II; Walking On The Moon; Voices Inside My Head / When The World Is Running Down; Don't Stand So Close To Me; Driven To Tears; Hole In My Life; Truth Hits Everybody; Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; Wrapped Around Your Finger; De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da; Invisible Sun; Walking in Your Footsteps; Can't Stand Losing You/Regatta De Blanc; Roxanne; King Of Pain; So Lonely; Every Breath You Take; Next To You

- CD of live audio highlights from Buenos Aires. Tracklist: Message In A Bottle; Synchronicity II; Walking On The Moon; Don't Stand So Close To Me; Driven To Tears; Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da; Walking in Your Footsteps; Can't Stand Losing You/Regatta De Blanc; Roxanne; King Of Pain; So Lonely; Every Breath You Take; Next To You

Deluxe format:

- DVD with Buenos Aires live concert as per the standard format.

- DVD with bonus material: Better Than Therapy feature directed by Jordan Copeland with behind the scenes interviews from the band and road crew; Andy Summers photo gallery; Danny Clinch photo gallery

- Double CD of the new live album from Buenos Aires. Tracklisting: Disc 1 - Message In A Bottle; Synchronicity II; Walking On The Moon; Voices Inside My Head / When The World Is Running Down; Don't Stand So Close To Me; Driven To Tears; Hole In My Life; Truth Hits Everybody; Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; Wrapped Around Your Finger; Disc 2 - De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da; Invisible Sun; Walking in Your Footsteps; Can't Stand Losing You/Regatta De Blanc; Roxanne; King Of Pain; So Lonely; Every Breath You Take; Next To You

Blu Ray format:

- BD50 featuring HD concert presented in Surround and Stereo, in Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital, and bonus material. Tracklist as per the deluxe format.

- Double CD of the new live album from Buenos Aires, tracklist as per the deluxe format.

Multi-Grammy Award-Winning Artists Sting and Tool to Rock in Guitar Hero® World Tour...

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:00:01 -0400

Police Frontman/Bassist Sting to Lend Voice and Likeness; Rockers Tool Bring Three Popular Tracks and Band-Designed Venue to the Game.

Rock and roll legend Sting and progressive metal pioneers Tool are making their video game debuts, contributing more than just music, in Activision Publishing, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero® World Tour.

In what will be the largest collection of artists ever to appear in a Guitar Hero game, singer-songwriter, actor, author, activist and lead singer/bassist of The Police, Sting will add his voice and likeness as an in-game character. Aspiring frontmen can take the stage as Sting throughout their vocal career or play alongside him as he performs one of The Police classics, "Demolition Man".

Hugely popular alternative metal band Tool, known for their epic, intense musical arrangements and killer visual arts, will also soon be known for their contribution to the upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour. Guitar Hero fans from all over the world will be able to rock out to "Parabola" and Grammy-award winning "Schism" from Tool's critically-acclaimed 2001 album Lateralus in addition to "Vicarious" from their 2006 Grammy-award winning album 10,000 Days. The game will also feature an all-new venue designed in collaboration with the band and highlighting the art style that has become a staple in their music videos, live shows and album artwork.

When the house lights go down this fall, a new generation of guitarists, drummers and fearless frontmen will come together and rock with Guitar Hero World Tour. The latest installment in the #1 best-selling video game franchise of 2007, Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero's signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player "Battle of the Bands", which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online for the first time ever. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock 'n' roll anthems. Music creators will also be able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunesSM where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version is being developed by Vicarious Visions. The PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system version is being developed by Budcat. The game is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit www.guitarhero.com.

Check out this "making of" video...

About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision Publishing and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Activision Publishing generally uses words such as "outlook", "will," "could," "would," "might," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes", "may", "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimate," future," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to," "upcoming" and similar expressions to help identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales of Activision Publishing's titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision Publishing's ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Publishing's products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, litigation against Activision Publishing, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, vendors and third-party developers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates, integration of recent acquisitions and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, Activision Blizzard's success in integrating the operations of Activision Publishing and Vivendi Games in a timely manner, or at all, and the combined company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction to the extent, or in the timeframe, anticipated. Other such factors include additional risk factors identified in Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

*Online gameplay is only available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ and may require an additional subscription.

© 2008 Activision Publishing, Inc. Guitar Hero, Activision and RedOctane are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

"PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION" and "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Used with Permission. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Wii and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo.

Billboard: Every Pledge You Take - New York Public TV Buoyed by Police Tour Finale...

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:40:48 -0400

New York public TV tapped into the final date on the Police reunion tour at Madison Square Garden in a unique fund-raising effort that may serve as a template for stations seeking to broaden PBS' demographics through live music.

About one-third of the tickets for the Police finale were offered as "rewards" for donations to New York public TV sister stations WNET and WLlW, launching their Public Television Rocks marketing initiative and raising some $3 million in funds for the networks.

The deal was orchestrated by the stations' reps; Entertainment Marketing Communications International founder/CEO Jay Coleman and RZO Productions partner Bill Zysblat, co-producers of the Police tour; and Police/Sting manager Kathy Schenker. Tour co-producer Live Nation and the Garden also were involved in marketing and promoting the program.

Coleman says the way tickets were distributed opened up a "new paradigm" that could be used again. About two-thirds of the tickets were sold through Ticketmaster (which donated much of its service charges to Police charities), and one-third of the house was distributed over the air and online to serve as rewards for New York PBS pledges.

The first row alone generated $140,000 via an online auction, which Coleman thinks might be the highest-grossing first row for a concert.

WNET deputy general counsel of program business affairs Ranfi Rivera says the stations wanted to connect with potential donors beyond just over the airwaves. "We put our thinking caps on to come up with other ways that we could draw attention to what we were doing, to reach people who ordinarily don't seek us out," Rivera says. "One of the ways we were able to reach folks was to launch a twowave eBay auction."

In the first wave, front-row seats averaged about $4,200 each as a donation to New York public TV, with such perks as a band meet-and-greet and sound check rounding out the "experience" package. "It's a contribution and obviously people get tax benefits from that, but it was a nice package for a Police fan and it also supported a great cause," Coleman says. Beyond the auction, other price points for pledges ranged from $750 to $100 per pair of tickets for donations.

The second wave, launched after the concert, was an eBay auction of signed Police instruments that raised another $50,000. Throughout the promotion, the two stations served up plenty of Police content on the air.

"It worked, it was great, and it gave [the stations] an outreach to a whole new audience," Coleman says.

"I'm talking to them now about lots of new opportunities for next year. Rather than do this once in a great while, what we can do is take this platform and use it in a way that will engage younger viewers with continuity."

Rivera says the success of the Police promotion will be followed by more music events as part of the stations' Public Television Rocks campaign, though details have not yet been finalized.

Coleman points out that with a dearth of broadcast TV opportunities for live music, bands are seeking TV exposure. "Public television is a fabulous outlet for this," he says. "They are very interested in reaching out to this audience who loves music and would love to see it without commercial interruption.

I believe public television is going to become a very attractive place and as this continues, they'll do more and more music. What needs to be done is figure out the economic model of how to fund it, and that's what I've been working on."

© Billboard by Ray Waddell

''The Police: Certifiable'' - Available for pre-order at Best Buy due for release 11 November...

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:31:57 -0400

Best Buy Announces the Release and Presale of the Live Double DVD/CD Collectors Set, "The Police: Certifiable" available for pre-order now at Best Buy due for release 11 November 2008...

To pre-order visit Best Buy 'Certifiable' Preorder Page.

Introducing 'The Police TV'...

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:35:28 -0400

Add The Police to your page

The Reunion Tour may be over, but we're happy to announce a new tool to help you relive some of the moments from the road. With The Police TV, you can enjoy all kinds of videos from the tour vault, including footage of great performances, candid backstage moments with the band, plus clips from Tokyo to the finale in New York City and everywhere between. We will add a different clip to The Police TV each week so check back often!

As great as the action on stage was, the memories from in the crowds and the parking lots will last just as long. That's why we're calling on all The Police fans out there to submit their own content. Tell us about your favourite memory from the tour, or reminisce about the first time you ever saw a Police concert. Upload your own photos and videos, or even audio messages to the band. Please note: there will be a lag time between when your content is uploaded and when it may appear in The Police TV player. All footage will be monitored and subject to approval before posting.

You can also grab the player and add it to your own Facebook or Myspace page, your blog, or anywhere else. Spread the word - send The Police TV to your friends so they can enjoy all the great content, and put their own stamp on The Police TV.

Billboard: Reggatta De Banc - Blockbuster Police Tour 'Played Out Perfectly'...

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:15:59 -0400

The numbers, even without the context of touring economics or music history, are pretty staggering: $358,825,665 gross, 3,300,912 tickets sold. The tour most thought would never happen ended up logging 146 headlining shows, plus appearances at five festivals.

The Police reunion tour hit the finish line Aug. 7 at Madison Square Garden in New York as a phenomenal triumph. The $358 million mark makes the 16-month outing the third highest-grossing tour of all time, following the Rolling Stones' 2005-07 Bigger Bang tour ($558 million) and U2's 2005-07 Vertigo tour ($389 million), and ahead of the Stones' 1994-95 Voodoo Lounge tour ($320 million), according to Billboard Boxscore.

The tour was produced by Live Nation global touring chairman Arthur Fogel and RZO Productions partner Bill Zysblat. Calling from the Garden just prior to that final show, Fogel shared his thoughts on the final Police action from Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summer. "It's somewhat surreal," he said. "It's hard to believe 16 months have blown past this quickly."

Fogel is no stranger to global megatours, having produced the last several Madonna and U2 treks (and their next ones) and cutting his teeth with Michael Cohl on Stones extravaganzas dating back to 1989.

But the Police tour ranks high in Fogel's portfolio. "I have a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment on this one," he said. "Clearly, they're one of the biggest bands of all time, and this tour has just proven how strong an act they are around the world. They weren't together that long, and so much time has passed, yet the music has endured."

When Sting announced, "We're the Police and we're back," from the Staples Center stage at the 2007 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, he heralded a tour that had long been a dream for music fans and the concert industry alike.

In terms of its setup, launch and execution, the Police trek was an exercise in strategic routing and flexibility. After leaping from the gates May 28, 2007, in Vancouver, the tour played arenas; legendary outdoor venues like Fenway Park in Boston and Churchill Downs in Lexington, Ky.; key festivals like Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn., and the Virgin Mobile Fest in Baltimore; and stadiums worldwide, including in the United Kingdom, Mexico, South America and Japan. As a victory lap, the Police made a run through North American amphitheaters with Elvis Costello.

"Rarely do you say, 'I think it's as it should have been,' as opposed to, 'I should have done it this or that way,'" Fogel said. "I really feel that it played out perfectly."

The buzz around this one was as big as any in recent memory. A post Grammys press event at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, Calif., at which the band showcased its remarkable onstage alchemy with live performances of several songs, stoked the flames. "And to keep that kind of momentum going for 16 months is a challenge, but clearly a sense of urgency kicked in for people after the first go-round that this would be the last," Fogel said.

As a trio, with relatively spare production and no backup singers, horns, strings or sidemen, Fogel imagined that for the band "it was tough after so many years putting the parts back together... but they absolutely evolved into a pretty seamless music machine."

While numbers like these would probably be enough to coax almost any band into reuniting, the prevailing consensus is that it's highly doubtful these guys will launch another tour, given a variety of factors, not the least of which is Sting's success as a solo touring artist. Another set here and there at a global event like Live Aid? Maybe.

Meanwhile, the Police reunion knocks off one of the "big three" reunion tours that fans are most clamoring for, the other two being Pink Floyd (most meaningfully with Roger Waters) and Led Zeppelin. Either could potentially happen, and more records would fall. And overall, reunion tours remain a solid bet, proved on a smaller scale by the New Kids on the Block reunion this year.

Nostalgia trumps plenty and, for many, legend trumps all. Bring on AC/DC.

© Billboard by Ray Waddell

Your last chance to win a photograph of The Police, signed by the band, taken by Lawrence Impey is drawing near...

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:43:58 -0400

To stand a chance of winning the signed print all you have to do is purchase any print from the Rock Archive website www.rockarchive.com. The draw is going to be made on the September 1st, so there is only a couple of weeks to get your name in the hat!

Police wind up reunion concerts...

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:48:09 -0400

Rock band The Police have performed the final concert of their reunion tour in New York's Madison Square Garden.

In what is thought to have been their farewell show, frontman Sting thanked his bandmates for their "musicianship, companionship and understanding".

It was the 150th show of their reunion tour which has lasted 14 months and was the top-earning tour of 2007.

The band scored a string of hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s and played their first US concert in New York.

The band played at the far smaller CBGB's nightclub in 1978.

Sting told the crowd: "The real triumph of this tour is that we haven't strangled each other.

"Not to say it hasn't crossed my mind - or Andy's or Stewart's," he added.

After playing a set that included covers of Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze' and 'Sunshine of Your Love' by Cream, the trio walked off stage to the cartoon signature tune, That's All, Folks.

During the show, Sting removed his shirt and had his greying beard shaved off by some female stylists and was kissed by drummer Stewart Copeland.

The singer was also joined on stage by three of his daughters at one point during the set, while New York City's police band also performed with the group.

The tour, during which the band are estimated to have played to more than three million people, has made 0m (£181m).

© BBC News

To Sting, Stewart & Andy - Thanks for the memories boys!

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:59:11 -0400

Earlier this evening The Police played their final concert at a packed Madison Square Garden - a fitting end to a record breaking tour. If you have an end of tour message you'd like to send the band visit thepolice.com/members/goodBye/ and leave it for them to read!

Madison Square Garden event t-shirts now available from the Police store...

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:03:44 -0400

In the store from today you will find a selection of t-shirts celebrating The Police's final show at Madison Square Garden on August 7, 2008.

Please note that the 40% off sale does not apply to the items in this department.

Some of the items in this department are for PRE-ORDER.
The Toast In The Machine t-shirts and Police w/ The B-52's t-shirt will be shipped to you on or around August 11, 2008. Due to the nature of pre-orders, cancelations or modifications to your order will not be accepted. Any additional items in your order along with the Toast In The Machine t-shirts or Police w/ The B-52's t-shirt will be shipped on or around August 11, 2008. If you would like to receive your non-pre-order items sooner, please place two separate orders.

The Police tape 'Spectacle -Elvis Costello with...' in New York...

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:03:51 -0400

The Police made the first television performance of their reunion tour on August 6 when the band taped an episode of 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with The Police' in Haarlem's historic and very intimate Apollo Theatre.

Over 160 fan club members were lucky enough to be in the audience to see Sting, Andy and Stewart be individually interviewed (as well as together) by Elvis Costello - in addition to some interesting and raucous performances.

Among the songs performed were Elvis Costello and Andy Summer's take on Charlie Mingus' 'Weird Nightmare', Sting and Elvis on both Alison and John Dowland's 'Flow My Tears' (with Sting on lute), Elvis performing 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic'. Elvis Costello was an articulate and intelligent interviewer and 'Spectacle' should prove to be a stimulating and welcome addition to music television, ranking alongside the BBC's flagship music programme 'Later with Jools Holland'.

The final part of the show was mesmerising - The Police together with Elvis Costello and the Imposters performing Cream's 'Sunshine of Your Love', Hendrix's 'Purple Haze', 'Watching The Detectives' and 'Walking on The Moon'.

While The Police may have saved their one television performance of their record breaking reunion tour for the eve of the final concert at Madison Square Garden, happily viewers have a real treat to look forward to later this year when 'Spectacle' airs.

Finally, a huge thanks to all the fan club members who managed to attend and create such a great atmosphere in the venue. It seems like a great time was enjoyed by all!

Best Buy Presents The Police Encore Performance from Madison Square Garden Live on Best Buy.com on August 7, 2008...

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:44:00 -0400

Announces the Release and Presale of the Live Double DVD/CD Collectors Set, "The Police: Certifiable" Available Only At Best Buy...

Thirty years after their first American tour, one of the biggest bands in rock history, The Police will play their final show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on August 7. Fans unable to obtain coveted final performance tickets will now have the opportunity to be a part of this historic evening thanks to an exclusive webcast presented by Best Buy. Fans are invited to share the band's final moments on stage, live from the comfort of their own homes.

After fifteen months of touring, The Police will take to the stage one last time in New York on August 7, 2008 as a benefit for New York Public Television. Best Buy will be on-site to document the band's historic final moments on stage and will exclusively stream live footage of their final encore on BestBuy.com hosted by pop culture correspondent Lauren Scala. To view the live footage, fans should log on to www.BestBuy.com/ThePolice at 10:45 PM EST.

"At Best Buy we understand how passionate our consumers are about music and we are thrilled to be able to share these once in a lifetime moments with those who do not have the opportunity to be at the concert in-person" said Gary Arnold, senior entertainment officer for Best Buy.

In addition to the live webcast, which includes three of the last four songs in the encore, Best Buy will begin the presale of an exclusive DVD/CD set, "The Police: Certifiable". The set features the band's entire concert from Buenos Aires as well as bonus footage, available in a 2 DVD/2CD standard format or a 1 DVD/2CD Blu-ray format. Also available is a three LP premium vinyl set with an MP3 file key (a one-time free download of entire album).

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) operates a global portfolio of brands with a commitment to growth and innovation. Our employees strive to provide customers around the world with superior experiences by responding to their unique needs and aspirations. We sell consumer electronics, home-office products, entertainment software, appliances and related services through more than 1,150 retail stores across the United States, throughout Canada and in China. Our multi-channel operations include: Best Buy (BestBuy.com, BestBuy.ca and BestBuy.com.cn), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (GeekSquad.com and GeekSquad.ca), Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers (PacificSales.com), Magnolia Audio Video (Magnoliaav.com) and Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co. (Five-Star.cn). Best Buy supports the communities in which its employees work and live through volunteerism and grants that benefit children and education.

New video clip online - Stewart the self kept rock star...

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:02:57 -0400

Members can check out video clips from the tour in the Virtual Ticket section of the site. The latest clip to go online is an older one, and catches Stewart preparing backstage in Monterrey last year.

Other recent clips include footage from the soundcheck party at the Gorge, as well as clips from West Palm Beach, Phoenix and Buffalo, from Honolulu and Tokyo, Andy in Monterrey, Sting in London, and the band in Turin as we catch up with the drama of the band missing their onstage time, and other footage of Sting backstage and thanking fan club members for his birthday messages, the Fenway Park soundcheck, a tour of Stewart's amazing kit with Jeff Seitz, the band relaxing before taking the stage in Stockholm, footage from the Giants Stadium show, Las Vegas show ('Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' and 'Voices Inside My Head') and the Tampa concert, Stewart's birthday party, the band performing in Louisville, the band backstage preparing for the opening night of the tour in Vancouver and clip featuring Tour Production Director Charlie Hernandez talking about the logistics of putting the stage show together and Fiction Plane.

Great clips with more to come!