Ep.#1 Behind the scenes with Stewart Copeland: Why dumb shit makes me happy
The Backstage with Robert Emery Podcast
Stewart Copeland & Robert Emery (picture: Benno Hunziker)
In this inaugural episode of the new ‘Backstage with Robert Emery’ podcast, RDCE talks to Stewart Copeland, the founder and drummer of the British rock band 'The Police'. Stewart talks about why he attributes studying 'Mass Communication & Public Policy' to becoming one of the worlds most famous drummers, why one of his balls is called Ben Hur, and how he grew up not knowing his Father was a spy.
Stewart is an American musician and composer. Apart from his most famous role as a rockstar, over the years he has produced film and video game soundtracks, written music for ballets, operas and orchestras, and in 2003 was inducted into the 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame'.
This whistle-stop tour of his life takes us through his nine years in The Police with Sting and Andy Summers, his solo projects as a composer, and his predictions of the status of orchestral and rock music in twenty years.
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SHOW NOTES
Stewart's Father, Miles Copeland Jr., is a spy [03.51]
Key points from Stewart’s childhood [04:45]
His father’s best buddy was Kim Philby, a double-agent. [07:20]
Stewart took up drums partly because he was a late bloomer. [10:03]
Why he believes that music is part of the procreative process of the human being. [12:07]
When his father spotted his talent, Stewart was signed up for drum lessons. [14:00]
The Police was modelled as a punk band and enjoyed huge success after Shea Stadium. [17:02]
A grand aspiration: Stewart would love to conduct a large orchestra. [22:00]
Stewart and Robert strike a deal for the next Tyrant’s Crush performance. [24:04]
The biggest leap from drummer to composer happened when Stewart got a phone call from Francis Ford Coppola. [29:15]
How he failed to get into the music school at University of California, Berkeley. [35:19]
A lesson in Stewart’s philosophy of the dumb shit and the dumb ass. [36:10]
Stewart’s prediction for the music industry in 20 years’ time. [42:16]
Another theory: without rock music, there will not be sex. [44:06]
If the only reason humans pro-create is Vivaldi, we would all be fucked. [47:03]
Stewart has no desire for an empire. [51:10]
Selected links from the episode
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Books, Music and Videos that feature Stewart Copeland
Strange Things Happen: A life with The Police, polo and pygmies - an autobiography from Stewart covering everything you need to know
Dare to Drum - a story of the rock star composer teaming up with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Ben Hur live by Stewart Copeland - a CD performed by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra
Orchestralli (+ bonus) - a 2 disk set of Copeland performing in concert with a select group of classical musicians on tour in Italy
Gizmodrome - a record of Copeland’s latest band, featuring Mark King (Level 42), Adrian Belew (ex King Crimson, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Talking Heads) and Vittorio Cosma (PFM and Elio e le Storie Tese).
The Police: Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out - DVD filmed on Super-8 giving an insider’s view of the band’s rise to fame and eventual split.