Andy Summers from The Police talks "Every Breath You Take", Punk, The Exorcist and Telecasters
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- The Jeremy White Show welcomes Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and "The Most Heard Guitarist Of All Time", Andy Summers from The Police!
We talk all about how he got into playing punk/new wave after being a "jazz player", how he found the Fender Telecaster, 80's guitarists and Eddie Van Halen, being the "most heard guitarist of all time" as Every Breath You Take is the most played song in radio history!
We also talk about how "Every Breath You Take" almost ended up in the trash and how he saved it with his guitar lick! Why wasn't he given song writing credit? Could he be suing Sting soon?
2:20 - Eddie Van Halen and not listening to music
4:30 - how the sound of “The Police” was born
6:09 - Fender Telecaster
8:41 - creating his guitar tone and how special his “tele” is
11:45 - guitar tone on “Every Breath You Take”
14:18 - Def Leppard “Hysteria” homage
16:15 - not getting writing credit on “Every Breath You Take” and possibly suing Sting?
18:08 - how The Exorcist was responsible for forming The Police
22:50 - where the band’s sound would’ve gone had they kept going “sting wanted to do it on his own”
25:00 - solo tour
27:00 - bands playing to tracks in 2023
PLEASE LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE!
The Jeremy White Show is FREE and ON DEMAND, stream now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts and tell your Smart Speaker "Play The Jeremy White Show".
For BOOKINGS and ENQUIRIES:
Show Producer: Joe Cristiano - joe@jeremywhiteshow.com
Management: GARBER IMC. - angela@garberimc.com
Follow on Twitter: / jeremywhitemtl
Follow on Instagram: / jeremywhitemtl
Subscribe on TH-cam: / jeremywhiteshow
Subscribe to The Jeremy White Show for exclusive content and interviews.
© 2023. Jeremy White. All Rights Reserved.
Andy is 80 years old !!! The music keeps him young no doubt.
Timeless music.
you retire you expire
👍
Andy Summers is a force on guitar. His insight into protecting your music space is priceless
He's a giant. So insightful. He just gets it. Hate to say he has a point about the whole TH-cam thing.
Been watching Police interviews for years and have to say Andy was the most professional and concise of the three.
As great as Sting is he was better surrounded by Andy and Stewart. The Police were untouchable, every little thing they do is magic…
Can't agree. "Bring On The Night" and subsequent albums, he surrounds himself with the cream of musicians from across the field: Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Darryl Jones, Omar Hakim, Vinnie Colaiuta, David Sancious et al. I mean, doesn't get much better, surely...
@@AngeloBetrulas Don't call me shirley...Yes, that is indeed the top tier musician list, really dig every one that you listed But, imo Sumners solo albums are not in the same league as the Police. The music those guys do on the Sting solo stuff is top notch but i could catch a show at the Blue Note on any old day and see equally excellent music. Finding some band as unique as The Police on the other hand isn't as easy. Just because Sting could afford the very best in class doesn't make it the best in class music (i prefer the Summers/Fripp stuff). It is a bit of apples to oranges comparison though. Jazz vs Rock. And once again it is Just IMO. All great music.added: I think maybe the OP meant Sting, alone. Lastly i am not implying that Copeland and Summers are better than that A list crew, just that the combination of the three is more interesting to me than Sting with those great players.
Total agreement. A unique creative synergy where less is more.
I agree, there is NOTHING like Andy,Stewart and Sting!!!
@@AngeloBetrulas
No Andy and Stewart, no Sting.
No way Sting would’ve broke out of England, and been known in the states, if it wasn’t for Andy and Stewart’s magic. And a credit to Stewart’s brother Miles for introducing them to the states.
His guitar tone was unique and incredible. Clean and sophisticated. No one else sounds like the Police.
Andy’s autobiography “One Train Later” is really great if you can get a copy. When I heard the guitar sounds from their third album on the radio in 1980, I was hooked for life
Zenyatta is my favorite album 👍
@@hunterkarr5618 If somebody unfamiliar with the Police asked me where to start, I'd say Zenyatta. I think it's THE quintessential Police album, and my favorite by a long shot.
Andy Summers, when he speaks, we listen. Top guy who tells it how it is.
Fabulous interview. Summers is incredible, he spins pure magic with his strings!
It’s quite refreshing hearing someone like Andy refer to himself as “a great guitar player”.
The great musicians basically never acknowledge their own accomplishments, even when it’s totally justifiable.
His music has been SO influential, it would be disingenuous to pretend otherwise.
Great interview!
Now that i am older and wiser, I can hear how Andy took good songs and made them great.
I love this guy even more after this interview. Open, honest and justifiably proud without being arrogant.
Lol. He's pretty arrogant
Very good interview. Regards from Buenos Aires Argentina
Born in 1971 loved the police all my life still play the best off nearly every day .👌
The most underrated rock guitarist of the genre ever. I f*cking love Andy Summers!
I don't think he's under rated. People know how great he was.
@@guitarexpert2245 The smart ones do. Everyone else thinks Clapton or Eddie Van Halen is the greatest.
One of the greatest musicians to ever walk the Earth.
The coolest 80 year old in rock.
He looks 40 for crying out loud
@@hammill444
Well, more like 60-something, but still.
How awesome Andy 80s year old and gets to recall and share moments of his/band apex. Listening to Sting is okay. Listening to Stuart is colorful.
But I could listen to Andy's perspective and memories all day long. Watched almost all of his Police history videos. Very good illustrations.
I got back into Stewart Copeland during COVID i started listening to a Police album and of course it starts appearing as suggestions and the boom suggestions for Andy Summers start I follow in on Twitter and You Tube. I saw an documentary about him and he was respected in small circles and had he not met the Stewart it all catapulted them to success. I admire Stewart and Andy because they are 10 and 20 years my senior and for them to still be flourishing and active gives me hope. ❤
This man is a genius on guitar and he is 80 years old! He does not look like he is that old!
81 but looks 60.
He obviously missed the drugs part of sex drugs and rock and roll
Def looks in his 60s
@@conshea7382he definitely didn’t miss that part.
The Police officially has the title of “members who have aged the best”
Ugghhh Def Leppard would like a word 😅
No I vote rolling stones........ ummm...... wait on a 2nd thought... NAH!😂😂😂😂
Andy is the oldest,youngest looking police member
Stewart Copeland has aged best And is the best musician of the three in my humble opinion
who ?
We just saw Andy in concert here in St. Paul. He was gracious, self-effacing and magnificent on the guitar. Thank you, Andy!
I saw Paul McCartney 2 weeks ago in Oz and I relate to this as I’d like to have seen Andy play too. 😇
any guitarist out there, play that every breath you take chord sequence, its absolute torture! those stretches?? I can do it, badly, but not for very long! He truly does speak a lot of wisdom, and has a huge amount of technical knowledge, as well as theoretical, I never quite goy the link between that and hysteria! But that's probably one of the reasons I, like it! RESPECT TO YOU MR SUMMERS!
The Police without Andy would be never be The Police we know. The guitar riff are so unusual that made the police so unique band. About the riff of EBYT, it sounds catchy and relaxing at the same time.
Stellar interview of Andy Summers. Thank you for sharing.
This is definitely one of my favorite interviews. I saw them at The Stadium and at The Spectrum I was like 14 years old. Also the reunion tour. I had just started playing guitar and although I ended up in a hair metal band, Andy Summers is still my favorite. Up there with Jimmy Page and a few others. Saw him last Friday in Montreal. Just mesmerizing! Keep them coming! 🔥❤️
My sister and I got to hang out with sting on Friday and then was on stage with him on Saturday in Canada we got to meet everyone the trumpet player and everybody and we have the photos autographs and everything also I got to help Sting's son from fiction plane and hung out with them for about an hour I was a concert promoter for years and I got to meet so many people I'm 56 so all of the police and sting and everything I have experienced it and love it Selma is weird kind of Adventures into crazy music is a little odd even my sister went to Tuscany and hung out in the village where his castle is I even bought her a two bottles of wine that was like total of 230 dollars
Instead of Selma I'm at some of and that wine was Sister Moon
Astounding to actually see the Police. Yowza.
this is an excellent interview - some fantastic reflections by Andy Summers. Although i am a Police-fan for decades i learnt a lot new details and facts.
I could listen to this man talk all day. On my annual Police obsession trip seeking out new content and you dont dissapoint!
What an inspired individual, who has been true to his craft over decades. Great interview. Very interesting about his Telecaster
great interview.. Andy's looking real good for his age .. very open
So enjoyable to listen to this great interview! Andy is brilliant
Glad you enjoyed it!
Immense Andy!!! His guitar riffs are legendary!!!
Total genius player - one of the greatest ever. His hormanic/arpeggio work on what were essentially pop songs are what got me to pick up a guitar. Thanks Andy!
Great interview Jeremy
That was a great interview, lots of interesting insights.
Excellent interview guys. Thanks. I have been falling straight up the Andy Summers (and Police) rabbit hole(s) the last couple of days on TH-cam and loving it! I have only seen Andy once live in concert in London, Ontario back in the mid-80s after The Police. Andy and his band performed perfectly. I think he is a pioneer on several levels. Especially that guitar sound and his approach to finding chord voicings in and around Sting & Stewart. He is brilliant. Thanks for this. I liked and subscribed. Cheers snd regards from Stratford, Ontario, Canada. 😎✌🎸
Some Kid Sold Him His Tele For $ 200 And That Was The Guitar On All The Police Albums Wow Dude
This was really cool listening to Andy. One of my favorite bands. I was 25. Synchronicity.
Andy Summers has musical chops that most people had no idea about at the time...I've played for years...and Andy's left hand fretwork is still incredibly difficult for me
Mr Summers is aging like a fine wine (can't believe he's 80?!). Great interview, thanks.
The Police toured so often back when I was a kid; so I had to see them live. Great band. I like Andy's comment about the sound engineer messing up his sound. I recorded some sax parts for a friend; the rough mix was fine, but he added across the board effects, ruining the sound I had perfected over the years. He explained why, and I just lived with it; it was his record anyway. I prefer my true sound & timbre.
[I love listening to legendary stories about the Telecaster.]
Great interview. Really interesting x
Always generous with his take on everything,.
Andy, what an amazing musician.
I think Andy Summers is one of the most underrated guitarists ever.
Amazing that he was 35 when he joined The Police. What a career move .
Thanks for this great interview ! Love Andy, Stewart & Sting !
I always wondered why Summers wasn’t credited enough for EBYT. An amazing song and that arpeggio is its signature.
I’m a daft Sting (see profile pic) fan but for this issue I’m in Andy’s corner.
Because that's the difference between composing a song (writing the melody and lyrics) and arranging a song (creating the guitar riffs, bass lines, rhythmic elements and other accoutrements that transform a SONG into a RECORD. Sting most likely brought in "Every Breath You Take" as a complete compositional entity and Andy's instantly classic guitar figure was the icing on the musical cake that took it to that next level. In other words, Andy came up with a great ARRANGEMENT.
@@derricbert1366 the chord progression is as generic as it comes.
I hope Andy gets his fair share
@rossv69 I'm sure Andy had gotten his fair share of artist royalties from the sales of the single and album, but by most accounts he did not write the song. He did significantly contributed to.its arramgement, for which he deserves ALL the credit due him.
@@derricbert1366 nah, he deserves more credit. It’s his arpeggio on it. It’s what makes the song.
I hope he succeeds legally.
@@rossydv Well, if you want to split hairs, Jerry Leiber and the estates of Mike Stoller and Ben E. King could also argue that they have a claim on the song since the chord progression of that guitar arpeggio you infuse with such preciousness is nearly a note-for-note lift from King's "Stand by Me"-by Andy's own admission!
Just watched Andy playing on "Every Breath you Take" in concert on YT and through a good set of headphones, wonderful and amazing playing and sound.
Thanks for this fabulous interview with Andy, absolutely unforgettable chat and unbeatable tunesmith.
Good interview. Well suited for historical documentation. Relaxed and informative
Andys work with Fripp is SO bewitchingly good ! and i must confess i ONLY listened to The Police , from 86 to 87 - THEN the Mighty Crim hit me like a ton of bricks -
love Andy's playing, still listen to so much Police- timeless!
What a down to earth bloke no EGO just a casual conversation.
"No EGO", except for the few times he refers to himself as a 'great guitar player'...that's 'EGO'. Not denying it, just pointing out that there was quite a bit of ego in his statements...
@@meanderer06513 No he had a talent that the world embraced if thats EGO thats cool .
@@meanderer06513You're actually being pretty kind. He was rather full of himself. Considering how many people praise him, it's not too appealing (to me at least) to listen to him praise himself.
@@I_Fight_Instacart well, yeah - it's alright if other people say you're great, but if you come out and say "I'm great", that's ego. Let other people sing your praises, but don't be the main voice in those praises. Stay humble.
As he said .. he’s a great guitarist .. and amazingly he needs to say it because amazingly he’s underrated .. like Ritchie Blackmore .. amazingly.
Andy Summers. Beast of a guitarist. Octopus (5 fingers playing 8 notes). Hero
I hope he gets proper recognition for his work
Wonderful interview Jeremy. Very insightful. Love Andy's tone (and so did Alex Lifeson)
Nice interview. And everyone saying, “oh my god, he paid $200 for the tele!” This was in the early to mid 70’s. That would be like $1400 or so nowadays and Andy was practically broke at the time.
They put out 5 Great Albums and they kept changing and growing with each album just like the Beatles did. They were the best band of the Eighties.
Hmmm? The last lp came out in 83..
@@philwheal192Yet they made more albums in the eighties than the seventies
Definitely better than U2. U2’s albums got progressively worse, unlike the Police.
Andy’s contribution to popular music is unique and legendary. He took guitar playing to another level.
Andy's new show is great! Saw him in Saint Paul. Try to catch it if you can.
Still can't believe Andy is in his 80's now !!!!!!
Great interview.
Great interview, thanks
Hes a class act. Love listening to him.
another great 1!!!!!!
I seen his solo show last month. It was a great evening.
It's incredible how Andy is still on top form at 80 yrs-old. He continues recording and touring, regularly. One of my favorite guitarists of all time along Rush's Alex Lifeson, Yes' Steve Howe, Van Halen's Eddie Van Halen and many more. Thanks, Andy for the great music you've been performing.
Great interview
Andy is a lovely person!
A legend, the guy who shape the guitar sound at 80's... tha'ts all!
Hysteria was recorded with the “Rockman” pocket amp. Designed with Boston’s Tom Scholz. Had a clean chorus and delay sound with some compression and a another channel, a more driven sound. That’s the sound of that record.
Great subject.
Just to make a factual point. First I am all for Mr. Summers being awarded a writing credit for Every Breathe You Take..HOWEVER, historically a song as written is considered to be the MELODY , which is the “tune” usually the vocal melody unless it’s an instrumental and the LYRICS everything else is considered to be ARRANGEMENT. So as can be proven many times STING can sit alone with nO INSTRUMENTS AND SING THAT MELODY AND LYRICS and it is still EBYT , NO guitar lines or arrangement needed. In the case of that particular song ANDY SUMMERS arpeggios are iconic and you would recognize the song or you should anyway if he played it without a vocal at all! However it’s a sticky point . Obviously STING had the entire song first but the arrangement made it a hit record. That’s my opinion and it’s many years after the song came out which makes it even trickier to claim a credit for AS. Now it’s in the hand of lawyers….
Whiter Shade of Pale?
What amazes me is the sound that came out of this three-piece band. I'm actually trying to find a decent biography about this band.
There are 3 or 4 superb bio documentaries about them here at TH-cam
Big thanks. I appreciate that. I'm actually looking for a book. Books usually go into more detail, though, thanks again for the recommendation.@@DJFalkoHannover
Andy what a legend 🎸.....
I think Andy is correct. Everything, all at once is good to learn anyone else but you might lose the self. Age, illness, or all this access has made me worse than the innocent self. I was so much more creative when I just heard what my heart wanted to hear next.
Andy complimenting Eddie Van Halen was so nice to hear Jeremy. Interesting how he wasn’t credited for every breath you take… really hope they fix that. Cheers - R
People typically don't get credited for contributing to arrangements. Steve Gadd's drumming on Steely Dan's _Aja_ is legendary, but he's not listed as a songwriter for it. If Summers wanted to make bank on songwriting, perhaps he should have brought more than _Behind My Camel_ and _Mother_ to the table. Or should Sting be out griping because he's not credited for helping write those?
He didn't just 'contribute' to an 'arrangement', he provided the iconic, memorable guitar work that made the song come alive. He was also an actual member of a three piece band. Steely Dan were two guys who used innumerable session musicians to bring very complex compositions to fruition. Steve Gadd is a great session drummer who has been hired to play for many artists, and as good as his drumming was on Aja there is a whole lot of other brilliant stuff going on as well. @@I_Fight_Instacart
@@I_Fight_InstacartLike Andy said in the interview, Sting was going to tank the song, until Andy actually made it into something. To not give Andy credit is a crime.
@@drummer5799 "Like Andy said."
@@drummer5799 Your first three words are significant.
It’s a shame that after all this time, they still have bitterness and acrimony. It seems to have been there from very early on. But they were legitimately one of the best bands of all time, and should be held in the same category as the Beatles and other bands like that.
There's no bitterness & acrimony...It really is just big $$$ business & Andy rightfully wants a bit more of the $10,000+ figure sum Sting receives daily for his sole The Police song writing credits...
They still have the camoradetie & bond between them.
@@_Ben4810Not quite sure how you would know either way. Regardless, Andy is suing Sting. I would imagine that kills comaredre
Sounds like being in a band to me. Once you get signed and the money is coming in it’s a business. A lot to be said there.
Even the possibilty that Sting may owe hundreds of millions in unshared royalties for EBYT is a paradigm shattering concept. I hope Stewart and Andy get their proper shares. Reminds me of the situation Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke had obtaining fair Smith's royalty shares owed them, where Morrissey and Johnny Marr split 80 percent and left the rhythm section 20 percent.
I am happy 😊 that Andy Summers liked the late Eddie van Halen. 2 legends 🙌 . And Def Leppard. 🐆 🐆 🐆 🐆 🐆.
Credit to their producers Hugh Padghem, Mutt Lange and Ted Templeman.
I did see Andy Summers in my home area, the San Francisco Bay Area 🌉 in the 2000s. He had some funny 😆 stories.
He graduated 🎓 from San Fernando Valley State University (later renamed as California State University, Northridge) 50+ years ago. About 10 years later, Diane Warren graduated 🎓 from there. Opinion. I would like to hear 👂 them collaborate.
Good 👍 episode 👏
Can't believe he's 80, he looks so young.
Andy Summers is obviously a legendary guitarist, and I'm certainly a fan, but it seems like he may be letting his imagination and ego run away a bit now if he's saying that "Every Breath You Take" was "going in the trash" before he played that guitar riff on it. Because that's not what the other people involved in the recording have said about it. This is from a Classic Pop Magazine interview a few years back:
“We knew it was a hit as soon as we first heard Sting’s platinum demo,” raves Stewart (Copeland). Hugh (Padgham) remembers being told by Miles (Copeland) at the playback: “There’s a goddamn hit if I ever heard one! Don’t fuck it up, Hugh!” The producer admits it would have been hard to fuck it up, noting: “I really think if my pet dog had produced Every Breath You Take, it would have been a hit.” (lol)
Here's another Padgham interview where he seems to suggest that Sting had more or less played the riff on organ/keyboard in the demo, and that Summers just translated it to the guitar:
th-cam.com/video/9y78QT_VNS0/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared&t=2073
It would be interesting to hear the original demo. I wonder if it even still exists, or if it will ever be made public. Seems unfortunate that interviewers like this guy have maybe wound Summers up and baited him into potentially embarrassing himself trying to claim songwriting credit all these years later.
Edit: apparently Sting confirmed just a few months ago that a "Synchronicity" box set is on the way which is going to include the demos. So I guess everyone will be able to judge for themselves whenever that is released.
And Roxanne would’ve been a hit no matter what….right!
@@drummer5799 Well I'm sure you know better than the Copeland brothers and Hugh Padgham, all of whom were actually there when the "Every Breath You Take" demo was first played in front of the band. Btw since you brought up Roxanne, here's Andy talking about the first time he heard Sting play it:
Andy Summers: Sting stayed with me and my wife in our flat. One night, we heard him strumming and singing a song. The lyrics became “Roxanne.” The first time I heard it, I thought, Oh yeah. My wife turned to me in bed and said, “That’s really good.”......and yes I'm aware that Andy and Stewart transformed it into a reggae/rock thing, and even then it didn't become a hit right away - different song, different circumstances. Last I checked though Andy didn't have a writing credit on Roxanne either. He's obviously a great guitarist and he did some great things with Sting's songs, but writing is writing and arranging is arranging. But I'll be happy to revise my opinion if the Every Breath You Take demo comes out and convinces me otherwise.
@@adamrisch Sting would’ve been playing jazz in small venues in England if it weren’t for Andy and Stewart.
Sting’s version of Roxanne would’ve been some slow jazzy crap and gone nowhere.
@@drummer5799 I'm not trying to diminish Andy or Stewart's contributions to the Police, but the fact is, Sting wrote Roxanne and Every Breath You Take, and it doesn't matter where you think Sting would be today if he hadn't met Andy and Stewart. That's not relevant. Btw Andy and Stewart are both extremely wealthy in large part thanks to songs Sting wrote, so you don't need to cry for either of them, I think they're doing ok lol.
Great band full of great musicians mi
Saw them with the fixx back in 83
Guys like Andy Summers don’t need to watch videos of other guitarists. He literally wrote the rule books on this art.
Sting got songwriter credits for only adding the 'I want my MTV' intro to the hugely succesful Dire Straits song 'Money for nothing'. And then refusing Andy his credits for the timeless licks/ guitarparts in 'Every breath you take'... it's a shame...(interview 16:15)
(Source: 'My life in Dire Straits' - John Illsley, Bantam press, page 242))
Legend....
"Harmonically Evolved!" - Love it.
Ps good interview 😊
It's very funny to think of Andy Summers playing "punk" music. The so-called punk groups had just begun to play and write, whereas Andy had been a professional musician for a decade, having played with Kevin Coyne, The Animals, Neil Sedaka, & the bloody Soft Machine. I would expect his "punk period" lasted for all of five minutes! (Tho I reckon he would have been terrific as a guest player on The Clash's Sandinista album, as The Clash were going in 36 musical directions at the time). P.s., if you haven't read Andy's book of short stories, grab a copy pronto),
Though.
@@kiereluurs1243 Dear Correction Fluid On The Brain, "Tho" is an oft-used abbreviation for "though." This is news to you?
Look at Ted Berrigan's "Whitman In Black": "and tho the cases get solved..." In the midst of a discussion about the breadth of Andy's experience as a musician, you felt compelled to "correct" an abbreviation? You're a pedantic pipsqueak, poor sod!
Have you heard Hysteria by Def Leppard? No...
Police level of badass :D
1:51 It may sound arrogant... but he won his place in music history. We need to hear you, Andy, not the other way around.
EBYT sounds so much like a sibling of Summers/Fripp's Painting and Dance. If only Summers, Fripp and Belew could do some improv studios sessions. Maybe throw Copeland and Levin in there.
_ALWAYS_ struck me as odd how the Goth/punk Joy Division fans I grew up around hated The Police and couldn't appreciate Andy's talent and yet _A Forest_ by The Cure got me to like that stuff 'cause the guitar vibe is a carbon copy of Andy's sound. Pure snobbery from total fashion victim hypocrites!
Hope Andy comes to Australia!
Looking good.
Andy should have gotten writing creds for it, anytime something is added to a song its part of the writing process
Nicely done…great interview but again, nobody asked THE question I always wanted the answer to….Every Breath is published in A but sounds in Ab on the record so, was the song slowed down to one pitch lower or was it performed in Ab in the studio? Maybe Jeremy can ask Andy?
Either recorded with with tape at a different speed, or with the guitar fingered in A but tuned down a half-step. Andy fingered it in A when playing live.
I just checked in The Complete Transcription by Hal Leonard and it says « tune down guitar down half step » key of A. We will never know I guess. I wonder if Rick Beato would know?@@liamfarris5360
It's not uncommon for people to tune guitars down 1/2 step.
Dear interviewer, if you dont hear people talk about Andy Summers, you may be need to listen a little better ;).
Andy Summers is a very well respected guitarist (especially among guitarists)
I was specifically referring to “best guitarist lists”, I’m well aware Andy is well respected by fellow musicians… just not in the trade mags.