What do you all make of Stewarts comments about backing vocals for the police tour.
Well, on the Synchronicity Tour, the backup singers were not a unanimous agreement within the band. As I recall, Sting wanted them, Andy and Stewart resisted.
If you recall at the press conf he listed 3 choices as follows: (1) the 2 of them (meaning Stew and Andy); (2) three backing singers (some girls and he had a phrase for it)
"Do Wop backup singers" I think was the phrase he used.
and (3) The Samples. The crowd clearly went for just the band which I am all for it.
I am all for just Andy and Stewart doing vocals as well, but I realize that *my* response to this is an emotional "Police purist" response born of my desire to see just the three of them on stage. This is similar to the way U2 perform to this day. However, what's best for me as a fan may not be best for the band over, say, 80 shows. (1) Backup singers make it easier on Sting. They make it easier for him to remember all of the lyrics, set his vocal pitch, and rest his voice at various points during the 2+ hours of a show. (2) Andy and Stewart aren't great singers. Sorry, it's true. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with them not being great... look at Bob Dylan after all. It's Rock and Roll... you just have to mean it. (3) I think it would be tough (particularly for Stewart) to play drums and do backups for the entire show. I think a drummer should be free to move around and hit things... not worry about where the mic is located. (4) Synchronicity Tour. It's already been done that way. It worked, though it was less "punk" than the earlier shows. So having said all of that, I hope it ends up being just the three of them on stage. However, if they use samples and/or backup singers. I will understand and won't hold it against them. I also wouldn't be surprised if this decision changes once they transition from Arenas to Stadiums. Dan