Zenyatta Mondatta: 1980/81

The opening act, The Photos, already had their hands full with the acoustics of this hall, which is different on every square meter. But one would have expected a bit more from professionals like The Police. Especially during the first half hour, one couldn't shake the impression that the band was using this concert as a sound check and rehearsal for their upcoming performance on Rockpalast night. A chaotic cacophony of noise, lacking cohesion and any sense of rhythm or structure, thundered down upon blindly devoted fans who didn't want their idol to be disappointed. 

Sting initially sang frantically, erratically, uncontrolled, almost irritatedly; guitarist Andy Summers got bogged down in heavy metal solos that were completely out of place in the songs; and drummer Stuart Copeland lost himself in his dub effects. Later, things improved; the sound and the band's interplay became more transparent and harmonious. They took their time to meticulously craft the pieces, and Sting's phrasing was finally as one would expect from the records.

However, while the new songs sounded rather thin and fragmented without the studio effects of the album, the versions of 'Roxanne' and 'I Can't Stand Losing You' compensated for much of what was sloppy that evening. Nevertheless, the unpleasant impression remained that celebrated superstars were simply fulfilling their quota and considered their popularity unlimited. That's not the case, at least not for me.

(c) Musik Week