Ghost In The Machine: 1981/82

18,000 see Police pounce at Coliseum...

It was a case of love at first note when the Police moved in on the Coliseum.

Many of the 18,000 fans were on their feet before the lights came on and they could see who was playing. The Police, based in London, are singer/bassist Gordon Sumner, known only as Sting: drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers. Only three, but they sounded like a 12- pack up there on the stage.

"All I remember of Cleveland is the Agora Ballroom," said Sting, referring to the group's first gig here.

Sting is a blond with short hair who somehow reminds you of Huckleberry Finn. Maybe because he squints when he sings. There's a certain boyishness about it, but he is the main show.

Copeland showed why he is known as one of the world's top drummers, keeping up a strong beat, then suddenly bursting out in little staccato riffs.

Summers, who grew up on the Memphis blues, played a furious guitar beat, but somehow all eyes are on Sting.

Sting can rock with the audience enough to keep up a rapport, but not enough to bore. He ate a piece of bread, picked up a cassette given to him by the Surrealists and said he would have to listen to it another time. He then invited the audience to help him out with the songs.

The crowd sang, 'One World Is Enough for All of Us', from the song, 'One World (Not Three)'. This had a delightful Jamaican swing.

If you remember the Police from the Agora gig, you can see how much it has changed. Not only is the band tighter and crisper, but is emphasizing rock more than reggae. In fact, its last album, 'Ghost in the Machine', is more rough edged and rocky than the previous ones.

Two of the most effective numbers last night were ones banned by the BBC 'The Invisible Sun', because of its political overtones and 'Roxanne', about a French prostitute.

Enhancing the show was a New York horn trio known as Chops. It was a delightful show. Not as crazy and raucous as some, but one that appeals to the mind as well as the spirit.

The crowd loved the opening band, The Go-Go's, so much it clapped them back heavily for an encore. It even forgave lead singer Belinda Carlisle from addressing them as if she thought she were in Cincinnati.

This is a Los Angeles female quartet, the best such group in the business that plays music as serious musicians.

Carlisle, whose face resembles a young Ann-Margret, has a strong soprano voice and is ably blended with contralto Jane Wiedlin.

Some day Carlisle will have to use a hand mike and move away more from the standing mike.

The drums came through more strongly than the guitars, but the band had a joyousness that was contagious.

When you say Go-Go's, you don't think of sexy little girls dancing in little white boots anymore.

(c) The Plain Dealer by Jane Scott

'Police' sing happy songs at Coliseum...

It's just amazing how far talented people can go in a short time.

Three years ago, the Police were three lanky, blond-haired guys from England with a hot single called Roxanne off their debut album,' Outlandos d'Amour'. Today they're the third-hottest-selling musical group in the world. At the Coliseum on Friday, they showed a sell-out crowd why that is.

They gave the audience 90 minutes of beautiful songs, exquisite melodies and intelligent lyrics. They did it all, from reggae to primeval boogie.

Two of the selections, 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' and 'De Do Do Do', are about the happiest songs you are likely to hear anywhere by anybody.

And if you like your music to be optimistic, hopeful and inspiring, you could listen to 'One World Is Enough for All of Us' and 'Spirits in the Material World'.

Their music was born in the Third-World communities of England where the three Anglo-Saxons found their musical soul and first audiences.

The Police don't bowl you over when they come out on stage. Mostly what they do is walk up to their microphones and just play, but they also get the audience involved with them.
 
Friday night they had sing-a-long going with 20,000 people.

They are really engaging guys. They dance around on stage all the time.

Probably the most engaging is the bass player. His name is Sting. His real name is Warren Hollanden, but he doesn't like people to know that maybe because it takes away from his mystique.

Guitarist Andy Summers isn't bad either at dancing around all the time.

And drummer Stewart Copeland - well, he's dancing around all the time on the drums anyway.

It's amazing how far talented people can go in a short time.

(c) The Akron Beacon Journal by Dennis McEaneney