These interviews, aired in late 1982, chronicle the band as they were beginning a sabbatical for the members to pursue individual interests. However, these conversations also make it clear that there were other reasons for the hiatus.
Lisa Robinson talks with Andy, Stewart, and Sting individually, but asks similar questions about fame, songwriting, and the possibilities of breaking up. Taken as a whole, these interviews provide a snapshot of the ego clashes and fatalism that would eventually cause the disbanding of The Police.
Andy Summers
00:00 - Possibility of moving to NYC
01:36 - Enjoying success
02:26 - Drawbacks to being successful (hoping for it to be over)
04:00 - Potential for a long career for The Police
04:58 - Who has gotten crazy after the stardom
05:17 - Keeping a level head to sustain the band's existence
06:12 - Playing songs by Sting / sharing songwriting responsibility
07:21 - Defining the sound of The Police
08:36 - The "master plan" of The Police
09:58 - The 4th member of the band (Miles Copeland III)
10:31 - Larger tradition of music vs. being a guitarist in a pop band
11:12 - The "guitar hero pose"
11:58 - Working with Robert Fripp
Stewart Copeland
00:00 - Life at his country home vs. life on the road
01:33 - Definition of fame
01:52 - Benefits of success
02:18 - Anonymity as an unnatural state and motivator
03:15 - First inkling of major success / what kept the band together
03:48 - Why The Police is successful
05:01 - The practice routine
05:57 - Playing punk / closet heavy metal freak
07:41 - Making reggae popular
08:41 - Fighting in the band
09:53 - Playing songs by Sting
11:03 - Will the group break up?
12:03 - Being bored on tour / off-nights
13:37 - Other jobs in the music industry
13:50 - The Copeland family
15:24 - Roles of the members of The Police
Sting
00:06 - Acting in Brimstone and Treacle / convincing others he wasn't a rock star
01:55 - Enjoying the challenge of acting
02:55 - Looking at one's watch / off-nights on tour
04:31 - Doesn't really like rock music
04:55 - The most pleasing thing about songwriting
05:36 - Songwriting as a chore
06:56 - What each band member does best
07:45 - An accident of large proportion / nothing in common with the others
09:26 - Not easy being in The Police
09:55 - Non-extravagance
10:22 - Self-motivation / avoiding a big head
11:55 - Learning from the casualties of rock and roll
12:40 - Not being able to do anything but rock n' roll
12:58 - Past jobs
13:29 - No one can else can really be Sting
14:35 - Likes being a misfit