The Police Split Again After Playing Final Show In New York - Is It Really The End?
August 8, 2008 by Dave Parrack
We knew it was going to happen, but now that it has, it’s kind of sad. The Police announced back in May that their last date on this current tour was going to be their final gig ever, and so it has come to pass. They played Madison Square Gardens last night, and that it is, it’s all over folks… maybe.
The Police originally split up rather acrimoniously in 1984 after the three of them got sick of arguing with each other. Tensions were said to be so bad that towards the end they hardly spoke. But last year saw the trio reunite for a massive world tour after 20 years had seemingly proved enough time to get over their differences.
They seem to have managed to have stayed civil this time around, which begs the question: why split up again? I know none of them need the money now, especially after this 150 date tour is said to have netted them £180 million, but still, wouldn’t it be good to stay together and write new material?
The band certainly seemed to indicate that this was their final show before once again going their separate ways. According to NME, Sting thanked his bandmates on stage at the end of the gig for their “musicianship, companionship and understanding”.
He then made an underhanded jibe at the tensions the group may have gone through by saying “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 [Summers] or Stewart’s [Copeland].”
The set included all of their big hits from the 1980s, as well as covers such as Jimi Hendrix’ Purple Haze, and Cream’s Sunshine Of Your Love. Sting also had his beard shaved off mid-set by a female stylist, which is rather bizarre to say the least.
The band finally left the stage for potentially the last time with Porky Pig’s That’s All Folks ringing out around the venue. If this reunion set a precedent then expect The Police to get back together again in 2031. By then, they’ll be even older than The Rolling Stones.
[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]
