Watch the video: https://lifeminute.tv/music/video/stewart-copeland-enjoying-life-and-music-his-own-terms
When you ask Stewart Copeland about his drumming, he says he likes to “bang stuff.” Well his art of “banging stuff” has made him one of the most important and influential drummers and artists of all time.
He’s a composer, an innovator, and a musical force who helped redefine what a rock drummer could do — and on this episode of Joann Butler In Studio With…, we sat down with the seven-time Grammy winner to talk about all of it.
Copeland walks us through how The Police came together, what first drew him to Sting, why he was convinced the band had to stay a three-piece, and how those early instincts shaped one of rock’s most iconic groups. He also gets candid about where he is now, telling us he considers himself “kind of retired from show business” — still making music, still performing, but only for the projects that genuinely excite him.
Life beyond The Police: The “Have I Said Too Much” tour
Stepping back from the traditional grind of the industry hasn’t stopped Copeland from connecting with audiences — it’s just changed the format.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is bringing his first North American spoken-word tour, “Have I Said Too Much – The Police, Hollywood, and Other Adventures,” to cities across the country.
Expect personal stories, photos, video, and live audience Q&A — a genuine behind-the-scenes look at a career that spans from the formation of The Police to his adventures well beyond music.
How Stewart Copeland formed The Police
One of our favorite moments in the conversation is Copeland’s own account of how The Police came to be. We asked him what caught his attention about Sting, why he pushed for a three-piece lineup, and how guitarist Andy Summers completed the chemistry that defined the band’s sound. His answer is part strategy, part instinct — a mix of practical thinking and the musical influences that shaped one of rock’s greatest bands.
The Police album that means the most to him
When we asked Copeland which Police record means the most to him, he didn’t hesitate: Reggatta de Blanc. He tells us why that era marked a creative high point for the band, and why the album still holds a special place for him decades later.
A childhood in the Middle East that shaped his music
Copeland’s path into music started early — and unusually. Raised in the Middle East by a father who worked for the CIA and moonlighted as a musician, he tells us music was simply part of the air he breathed growing up.
He remembers just wanting to “bang stuff” as a kid, and shares the surprising story of his first drum teacher — an experience that left a permanent mark on his playing.
From Neil Peart and Taylor Hawkins to Buddy Rich: Stories from a legendary career
We couldn’t resist asking about the drummers who shaped him and the ones he’s shaped in turn. Copeland shares memories of jamming with Neil Peart and Taylor Hawkins, and tells us one of his proudest career stories: the time jazz legend Buddy Rich asked him for an autograph.
He also reveals the origin of his signature technique — the “orthodox grip” he still uses today, taught to him by his first drum teacher, a drummer from an Armenian strip club in Beirut.
The legacy of one of rock’s most innovative drummers
Across the whole conversation, Copeland brings the humor, honesty, and hard-won wisdom of a decades-long career — giving us an inside look at the music, friendships, and choices that built his legacy.
Watch the full interview with Stewart Copeland on Joann Butler In Studio With..., for more info on his speaking tour “Have I Said Too Much” visit StewartCopeland.net.
