Strange Things Happen – Stewart Copeland

(Note to reader: I’ve a SIGNED, copy of ‘Strange Things Happen: A Life with The Police, Polo and Pygmies’ by Stewart Copeland to give away and all details can be found at the end of this post)

Known as the legendary drummer with The Police, this memoir takes you before, within, beyond those years and into the intimate and honest thoughts of Stewart Copeland.

“They sold over 50 million records, won 2 Brits and 5 Grammys and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. When they reformed in 2007 they played to nearly 4 million fans on a record-breaking world tour which grossed over $400m. But his time with The Police is just a tiny part of his story. Growing up in Lebanon, unaware that his dad was a major US spy. Being best friends with Kim Philby’s son. Singing in the choir in Wells Cathedral. Performing arts college in San Diego. Drumming with prog-rock gods Curved Air. Appearing on TOTP as Klark Kent in full camouflage make-up. Filming experimental movies with a pygmy tribe. Playing polo against Prince Charles. Recording the score to Rumblefish with Francis Ford Coppola looking on. Composing operas. Reforming the band. Arguing with Sting. Embarking on one of the biggest tours of all time as he approaches sixty. These are just a few of the episodes covered in this revelatory autobiography.”

‘Strange Things Happen’ starts with a letter to a childhood friend, in which Copeland condenses his life. It’s a signal, a message to anyone who may think that this is merely a regurgitation of past accounts of The Police years. Instead, it marks the start of an engaging memoir where Copeland shows, through anecdote, that even the strangest things can happen to a person who has lapsed into country life and jumped off that ‘express train of fame’. It looks beyond the ‘chalice of music idolatry’, offers encouragement to budding musicians and speaks (as only a true musician could) of the beauty of music. This story, this life, is all about removing the disguise of that rock star from 20 years ago and looking to see just what an intelligent and interesting life has been led. Copeland questions who his public needs him to be as he indentifies the man that he has become. It isn’t at all pretentious or inaccessible, it’s (simply) a knowledgeable, a witty and an honest account of a life.

The blurb tells me that this is a must-read for Police fans and music enthusiasts. I doubt that any of his fans would be disappointed. But in my opinion, what makes this memoir quite so enjoyable and entertaining is that it is refreshingly well written. ‘Strange Things Happen’ is an intelligent and crafted account of a remarkable life. It doesn’t appear to be a commercial attempt to cash in on past success, this is about a life and a person who has something worthwhile to say. A must-read for any lover of music, but also for anyone who seeks to look beyond the façade of fame.

A punk rocking opera composing flogger of film scores, ‘Strange Things Happen’ is an extraordinary read.

You can buy ‘Strange Things happen’ here.

[Although, clearly (and this'll only make sense to my blogger-friends), after reading the memoir I am left with one burning question. Does Stewart Copeland, in any way, know Simon Cowell? If you ever meet Mr Copeland, could you ask him for me?]

And, Mr Pack at The Friday Project has agreed that I can give away a signed copy of ‘Strange Things Happen: A Life with The Police, Polo and Pygmies’ by Stewart Copeland. All you have to do is leave a ‘please pick me’ comment by 3pm (GMT) October 9, then I’ll pop all names in a mug and ask a small child to select a winner. This competition is open to all.