The Police announce 2007 reunion tour

The Police performance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 11th, wiped out any doubt as to whether they'll announce any plans. Indeed, on Monday (February 12th) The Police confirmed one of the music world's most eagerly anticipated comebacks, a 30th anniversary reunion and world tour in 2007.

As the Grammy telecast began, singer-bassist Sting yelled out, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are the Police, and we're BACK!" as the band ripped into a version of "Roxanne" that brought the crowd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to its feet.

Sting, guitarist Andy Summers, and drummer Stewart Copeland held a press conference on Monday at 11 a.m. PT at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, at which time they officially revealed their plans for the year.
The tour, which kicks off in Vancouver, British Columbia, on May 28, will be "simple but spectacular" according to Sting, eschewing backup singers, additional musicians and his solo tunes.

Just 13 cities have been announced for North America so far, including the Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee on June 16, Boston's Fenway Park on July 28, and two nights at New York's Madison Square Garden on Aug. 1 and 3. Ticket prices in most North American markets will be $225, $90 and $50. The opening band, Fiction Plane, includes Sting's son, Joe Sumner.

After North America the tour will take in Europe, South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Summers told us that he and his mates have always had a great relationship, and that people never understood what their internal conflicts were about: "We had an incredible time, and there was a great camaraderie. We're all very good friends still, but you know, any band that's worth anything, I think, there's tension. You know, it's just goes with the territory. We weren't -- we're not three mellow, laid-back guys, you know? We were three fighters, and, you know, we fought about our music, but just to get the best possible music we could."

Thirty years ago today, the Police -- Sting, Stewart Copeland, and original guitarist Henri Padovani -- recorded their debut single, "Fall Out" b/w "Nothing Achieving." The session cost 150 British pounds.