‘We Get Along Just Fine’: The Police’s Stewart Copeland on His Relationship With Sting, Band Dynamics, and Being ‘Fully Retired’ From Music

During his current North American spoken-word tour, Stewart Copeland has been candid about his relationship with his former bandmates, Sting and Andy Summers. Despite ongoing legal disputes regarding royalties, the drummer insists that the trio remains on good terms.

“We get along just fine,” Copeland tells Billboard. Regarding the current litigation over songwriting royalties, he adds, “We aren’t the ones in court; the bean counters in London are. I just wait to hear how it turns out.”

The legal friction stems from a claim filed in the U.K. High Court, where Copeland and Summers argue that original 1977 agreements entitle them to a larger share of royalties—specifically highlighting the classic hit “Every Breath You Take.” While records indicate Sting has already distributed $870,000 to his former partners, the pair is seeking the remaining balance of their $2 million claim.

Copeland emphasizes that these professional disputes don’t diminish their personal history. “Our musical universes overlapped, and we created something incredible together,” he reflects. “We get along perfectly well, provided we aren’t trying to record music together.”

Reflecting on The Police’s legacy—which included five studio albums and the massive success of Synchronicity—Copeland notes that their 2007-2008 reunion tour was only made possible through professional intervention. “We had experts come in to straighten us out—essentially marriage counseling for rock stars. It worked so well that we extended the tour by six months.”

Now fully embracing a post-commercial music career, Copeland remains prolific in other creative spheres, including film scoring, opera composition, and his upcoming documentary, Copeland. He is also penning a book detailing the peculiar realities of fame, featuring insights from peers like Gene Simmons and Carly Simon.

Ultimately, the drummer is finding a new rhythm in performance. “I’m sharing these stories with rooms full of people rather than just at a dinner table,” he says. “I never expected stand-up comedy to be part of my career path, but I’m genuinely having a blast.”

Upcoming Dates for Have I Said Too Much?

June 18 — San Juan Capistrano, CA | June 20 — San Francisco, CA | June 25 — Vancouver, BC | June 27 — Portland, OR | June 28 — Seattle, WA
[Full tour schedule continues through November 2025]