Copeland, again, is of the opinion that the sound of that guitar the police guitar was ruined that day, and it never truly sounded the same again. Andy summers talks about his new band, circa zero, and about his old band, the police shares guitarist andy summers and rob giles are circa zero, whose debut album was released in march. Andrew james somers born 31 december 1942, known professionally as andy summers. Since picking up a guitar at the age of thirteen, andy has made his mark as an essential component of the police, as a solo artist, and as a writer, photographer, composer, and producer. Andy summers on gear, being a wellrounded artist guitar. Oct, 2015 in his new documentary film, guitarist andy summers tells the story of the police from his own perspective. Andy concurs, detailing how songs like walking on the moon and when the world is running down. Police guitarist andy summers loves sting like a brother, but that doesnt mean he sugarcoats his feelings about his former bandmate in the.
Leica m monochrom signature by andy summers the police. The polices andy summers has avoided music by sting. Looking for andy summerspolice tones fractal audio. The polices andy summers on turning his memoir into a. The new york post there are many great rock moments that dazzle. The polices andy summers on turning his memoir into a documentary. Throughout his time in the police, andy summers most visible guitar was a 1961 fender telecaster with an alder body and maple neck, although he also played a fender stratocaster and a variety of hamers.
Andy summers books one train later and light strings. May 25, 2017 andy summers s latest solo album, triboluminescence, is out now. For most of their history the lineup consisted of primary songwriter sting lead vocals, bass guitar, andy summers guitar, and stewart copeland drums, percussion. Reviews of each of andys written works are featured on the website. Andy summers s latest solo album, triboluminescence, is out now. Wish that the police couldve retained the kind of purity that kings x has retained. The film, based on a book by hollywood producer robert evans. It is a oneoff gig with a pickup band and many guest vocalists, only 23 rehearsals and then a two hour show. When police guitarist andy summers first thought about turning his memoir. Sep 04, 2017 i started this thread as a single reference for discussion of tone, effects, arrangements and technique related to copping andy summers guitar sounds during his time with the police. Its a memoir a good one according to jim and greg about his years before and during the police era.
Summers says the title of the book succinctly sums up the quality in a photograph that opens the eyes wide and that these photographs constitute the mental and visual counterpart of his music, marked by a complex melodic search and harmonies of rather melancholic and even convulsive colors. His was an unusual style for a rocker, one that bypassed gratuitous fretboard flash and. This talented photographer also happened to be the bands guitarist, andy summers. Definetely andy was the precurssor of the 80s guitar sound that influence more than a decade a new fresh sound wth minimalistic and sonic atmospheras, plenty of colorful. Andy summers did more for that band than most people realize. The police was not only one of the biggest bands of the 80s but also one of the decades most internally contentious.
The guitar comes with a gigantic anvil case with stencils of andy summers written all over, also comes with andys book autographed a box set of the polices complete anthology, and a dvd with the history of the guitar from the man himself. One is a sprawling hall, the other a tiny north hollywood jazz club which. This week jim and greg sit down with andy summers, former guitarist for 1980s supergroup the police. Here, he reflects on his early days in swinging london, his years with the police, and the possibility of what lies ahead for sting and company. Those ninth chords in message in a bottle made that song. Andrew james somers, known professionally as andy summers, is an english singer and guitarist who was a member of the rock band the police. This is a stageside account of the birth, rise, and dissipation of the police. Andy summers rose to fame in the early 1980s as the guitarist with the multimillion record selling rock band the police.
Founded by stewart copeland in 1977, the police originally consisted of copeland, sting, and henry padovani on guitar. Andy summers reflects on his years with and before the. Getting the sound of the eh electric mistress is a challenge. Andy summers summers in 2015 background information birth nameandrew james somers born 31 december 1942 poultonlefylde, lancashire, englan. The author analyzes incisively the unique sound of the police, which benefitted greatly from his past forays into. Guitar world got the chance to ask summers a few questions about gear, his. The guitarist lifts the lid on acrimonious behindthescenes events with sting and stewart copeland. There is another general appreciation thread titled andy summers telecaster which i didnt want to hijack with detailed discussion of effects pedals and settings. The secrets behind andy summers guitar sound on the polices walking on the moon. Rock writer steve rosen details a few of his encounters with andy summers of the police events that didnt always go according to plan. Hes working on a film score, another book and a new album.
The police became globally popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He has followed his work with the police with a career that encompasses more than twelve solo albums, soundtracks, and collaborations in addition to concerts and exhibitions of his photography around the world. In my experience the electric mistress, and im sure the same could be said for most flangers, can cop all the swirliness found in chorus right through to vibe type pedals. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
Summers says nothing negative about his experience and feels the fights helped fuel the creativity of the band. Andy summers official site andy summers of the police. Greg reiterates that although several people over the years mistake the police as stings band, andy and stewart really shaped the sound. His books, one train later and light strings, have received acclaim from such sources as publishers weekly, kirkus, daily vault, and jazztimes. Andy was largely influenced by jazz growing up and firmly established himself as a professional musician well before he helped form the police. The bside of message in a bottle is landlord, one of the more obscure police tracks, which never appeared on a studio album. During the police years, andy summers played two 100watt marshall heads, acquired in the late 70s, with two 4x12 marshall speaker cabinets.
Andy summerss latest solo album, triboluminescence, is out now. Somewhere between photojournalism and an illustrated diary, this unique book follows the police on tour around the globe between 1980 and 1983 through. He was the drummer of the british rock band the police, has produced film and video game soundtracks and written various pieces of music for ballet, opera and orchestra according to musicradar, copelands distinctive drum sound and uniqueness of style has made him one of the most popular drummers to ever. Instead, summers impresses with his shimmering textures, inventive suspended chords and restraint, leaving plenty of room for the rhythm section to drive the groove. Surviving the police follows summers journey from his early days in the psychedelic 60s music scene, when he played with the animals, to chance encounters with drummer stewart copeland and bassist sting, which led to the formation of a punk trio, the police. The secrets behind andy summers guitar sound on the polices. In the early day he used a twin there are pictures of it in one train later.
Its hard to tell which of them exactly as they both look the same. Since 1986, when the police left the stage as the biggest rock band in the world, andy summers has followed his own muse. Not to sound like some andy summers knowitall but, i recently finished reading his new book one train later and there was never a mention of using chorus. Guitarist andy summers soared to fame in the early eighties when the police became one of the worlds favorite rock bands. Inside the police, 198083 taschen artists edition english, german and french edition. The polices andy summers on his songs, sting, and being ripped.
We caught up with the police guitarist and rock and roll hall of fame inductee to talk about some specific scenes in the film, his lifelong relationship with the guitar, and the police song he thinks deserves a second chance at success. It was very early days, because i just got into the band, andy summers remembers of the song. Inside the police, 198083 taschen artists edition english, german and french edition summers, andy on. We were so desirable to girls but i paid heavy price. December 31st born andy summers, our guitar hero, the stereo sound of our lovely band, the one that ever surprise us with his projects and music. He tells ed power about his love of photography and his current exhibition at ucc andy summers is. As guitarist for the police, andy summers bridged the gap between. Andy summers was born on december 31, 1942 in poultonlefylde, lancashire, england as andrew james somers. The origins of this guitar are a bit confusing two sources tell two different stories. As a member of the police, summers created a trademark guitar sound, which relied heavily on a chorus effect.
The police were an english rock band formed in london in 1977. As of 2017 he has recorded 14 solo albums, headlined constantly at music festivals around the world and collaborated with many other musical artists including robert fripp, john etheridge, benjamin verdery, victor biglione, robert menescal and fernanda takai. They may be just across the 101 freeway from each other, within spitting distance, but theres a world of difference between the universal amphitheater and the beloved holeinthewall called the baked potato. The stage of the former village hall became the control room, the emptied auditorium became the. Sound design andy summers inspired pedalboard youtube. He installed a 16track alice desk and an ampex mm 16track tape machine. Andy summers is a grammy award winner and an inductee in both the rock and roll hall of fame and the guitar player hall of fame. Fender limited edition andy summers tribute telecaster. Download the the police andy summers flanged sound patch for all marshall code amplifiers created by madmarky. How did reggae find its way into the police s sound.
Apr 22, 2014 andy summers talks about his new band, circa zero, and about his old band, the police shares guitarist andy summers and rob giles are circa zero, whose debut album was released in march. Andy summers first picked up a camera during his touring days with the police. Last year i did the gig with my absolutely unandy summers guitar rig pure vintage analog, non tech. At the very beginning of the birth of the police, andy summers rig was rather sparse. The police andy summers flanged sound patch for marshall code.
Based on the acclaimed memoir by renowned guitarist andy summers, cant stand losing you follows summers journey from his early days in psychedelic 60s music scene, when he played with the animals, to chance encounters with drummer stewart copeland and bassist sting, which led to the formation of a punk trio, the police. The sound of the police in a guitar built by a master. Andy is honest and frank in the book, and it comes across in the interview. How to sound like andy summers of the police using. Sep 23, 2019 created in collaboration with andy summers, an accomplished photographer, former member of the grammy awardwinning, rock and roll hall of fameinducted band the police and one of the greatest guitarists in the world, the leica m monochrom signature by andy summers camera represents a striking synergy of music and photography. He was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame as a member of the band in 2003. Andy summers andy summers playing on this early hit by the police is a perfect example of how a player doesnt need to blast or fill every space to make an impression. Surviving the police, an updated adaptation of his 2006 memoir.
Constant friction between bassistfrontman sting and drummer stewart copeland often left guitarist andy summers searching for an outlet. As guitarist for the police, andy summers bridged the gap between the immediacy of punk and the intricacy of prog, blurring the lines with his shimmering, echoy, immediately. Summers contribution to the band is often identified as his atmospheric depth of sound, utilizing numerous effects of modulation, delay, and his highly customized trademark fender telecaster. We consider beds too big without you, message in a bottle and tea in the sahara were the top songs with great impro in the middle of the songs, unfortunately those were not included on this transmision. It was a unique sound, and we didnt really want to sound like any of the punk. As guitarist for the police, andy summers bridged the gap between the immediacy of punk and the intricacy of prog, blurring the lines with his shimmering, echoy, immediately recognizable sound. Review of the andy summers telecaster telecaster guitar. Andy summers, post police, has enjoyed a diverse and celebrated career. See more ideas about andy summers, police and music photo. The police in happier times at the neve console in air studios, montserrat.
Apr 01, 2019 however, the strangest thing about the police s story will always be the fact that they disbanded at the peak of their success in 1984. Live streaming of the amazing concert andy summers music perform in lima peru. Our hosts start things off by asking andy about the origins of the band and the police s distinctive sound. Andy summers newest book of photography, a certain strangeness is now available. Ill be watching you inside the police andy summers. So i started writing the book, this big 800page thing, and i showed it to a. Andy summers of the police youtube chordplay the chords of andy summers duration. Stewart armstrong copeland born july 16, 1952 is an american musician and composer.
The stage of the former village hall became the control room, the emptied auditorium became the recording space for the bands. Combining controlled energy and evocative melodies, sting, stewart copeland and andy summers played with the improvisational instincts of a jazz trio and the raw. The police on tour photographed by guitarist andy summers in the early 1980s, the police went on tour accompanied by a photographer who documented the band behind the scenes in a series of candid and striking black and white photos. His autobiography one train later 2006 was voted music book of the year by mojo and was turned into the 2012. One of the first gigs ill play with my new axe 3 is a police tribute. Ebet robertsredfernsgetty images finding out what gear guitarists use isnt a problem. While the band was at its peak, summers in his free time dove headlong into photography. While the electric trio of sting, andy summers, and stewart copeland were always known for squabbling, and this messiness was probably the very thing that powered their creativity, the revelation that sting was moving on from the band to pursue a solo career. Jan 21, 20 yeah, summers tone was never about the marshalls. As onethird of the police, andy summers was a huge part of one of the biggest bands of all time. Most players will gladly recite a list of their favorite guitars and equipment when asked. Last week we debuted a clip from andy summers new documentary, cant stand losing you.
A disarming, surprising literary memoir by the expolice guitaris. This foto was published in summers first book throb, released in. I started this thread as a single reference for discussion of tone, effects, arrangements and technique related to copping andy summers guitar sounds during his time with the police. Over the years andy has given countless interviews with the biggest publications in the business. The police were the number one band of the time and dominated the music scene. The film, based on a book by hollywood producer robert evans, mostly comprised shots. It certainly seems that way, as the onetime police guitarist is experiencing a latecareer renaissance, having recently dropped a diverse instrumental album, metal dog flickering shado, and narrated an acclaimed documentary about his former band, cant stand losing you. Andy was in town promoting his latest tome, one train later. Andy summers has enthralled music fans with his unique talent since entering the music scene in the late 1960s. As for his compliments to kings x, wellandy just moved a whole lot of notches in my book.
May 27, 2010 does anyone know of or have any good andy summers patches, specifically from the police years. Those amps either could be the marshall jmp 1959 super lead, or 1992 super bass. He is an actor, known for copycat 1995, the medallion. Andy summers on his oneman sonic and filmic synchronicity. From their early beginnings, the police were hailed as a maverick live band a group that galvanized an already impressive studio sound into something otherworldly when performing. How to sound like andy summers of the police using guitar. His memoir, one train later, is the rare rock autobiography worth reading for how its written and not just to see who dishes on whom.
Oct 08, 2015 is it fair to say everything little thing andy summers does is magic. The guitar was heavily modified when summers bought it in the early 70s. As for his compliments to kings x, well andy just moved a whole lot of notches in my book. The polices andy summers on doc cant stand losing you. Summers leaning the tele against a wall or pipes containing a type of material which, by the sound of it, resulted in the guitars electronics being negatively affected. A british trio composed of stewart copeland drums, andy summers guitar, and sting vocals, bass, the police mixed elements of punk, new wave and reggae to create quite an original sound. Andy summers on police deep cuts, loving the guitar and.
Based on the acclaimed memoir one train later by rock guitarist andy summers, cant stand losing you. Stream tracks and playlists from andysummersmusic on your desktop or mobile device. The police official website archival interview 1979 with andy. The marshalls were jmp series model 1959 superleads, nonmaster volume, and were modded by pete cornish with 6550s.
Andy summers 1961 telecaster was the driving force behind many of the classic police songs of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The secrets behind andy summers guitar sound on the polices walking on the moon by chris gill 27 november 2017. In 1974 nigel gray cheaply rented the rooms of a vacant village hall to create surrey sound studios. Andy summers on his oneman sonic and filmic synchronicity mike mettler oct 8, 2015 it certainly seems that way, as the onetime police guitarist is experiencing a latecareer renaissance, having recently dropped a diverse instrumental album, metal dog flickering shado, and narrated an acclaimed documentary about his former band, cant stand.
Overall, theres this real heavy punk sound out there with real thrashing chords, and we just dont sound like that. Police guitarist andy summers clarifies his feelings for. The secrets behind andy summers guitar sound on the. When the police gained worldwide fame in the late 1970s, guitar aficionados began talking about andy summers.
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