You want a story from Andy's XYZ tour? Okay, here's one... I was in the front row for both of Andy's 1987 XYZ shows at The Ritz in New York City. During soundcheck, before the first show, a roadie walked out on stage with an additional mic/stand. He planted the mic firmly at the front of the stage and said into it: "Check Sting-O's mic." Not everybody heard it but some did. Those of us who did hear it were stunned. After that, they took the mic off the stage. So, for the entire show (which was great by the way) I was expecting Sting to walk out on stage during a Police number. It was only later, after the show ended that I figured out why things didn't work out. After the show, I waited downstairs by the exit in the hopes of meeting Andy. I waited a few minutes, and then who should walk down the stairs all by himself but Sting. He was completely alone. And so was I. No one else was there for a few moments. Just him and me on the street in front of The Ritz. But it wasn't just Sting. It was Drunk Sting. And when I say drunk, I mean stumbling, disoriented, slurring words drunk. Since I was in teenage awe at the time, all I could think to do was ask him to sign my XYZ tour shirt. He kindly obliged but had some trouble writing the signature on cloth. After scribbling out a messy "S" with a line trailing off, he exclaimed with a little defeat in his voice "I hate signing these things" (meaning T-shirts). I thanked him anyway and he shook my hand and then started walking east on 11th Street. It was then that the crowd discovered him and started to swarm around. Some girl who knew him showed up (clearly on the verge of panic), grabbed him by the arm like a mother would a child, pulled him in the opposite direction on 11th Street, pushed him into a cab and they rode off. So I figure that's why Sting never jammed with Andy at the NYC XYZ show. Sure there could have been any number of reasons why he didn't walk out on stage that night ('It was Andy's night/Didn't want to hog the spotlight' kinda stuff), but I quite enjoy the "Too Drunk To Sing" explanation. I did end up meeting Andy that night too. When he came outside, he pointed to me and said: "Hey, you were in the front row" and then shook my hand. A couple people tried to get him to go out for a drink with them but he graciously declined. At the time I felt a little bad for Andy since the street mob for Sting was much bigger than the half dozen or so people who gathered to talk to Andy. But I'm sure he was used to that by then. http://driventotears.com/TicketStubs/FAndy'87.JPG http://driventotears.com/TicketStubs/GAndy'87.JPG
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From: Christopher Simar <casimar@yahoo.com> Reply-To: casimar@yahoo.com To: police@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Police] Andy Summers "XYZ" Tour Shows? Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 19:55:00 -0800 (PST)
Does anyone have any shows from Andy's XYZ vocal tour they'd be willing to trade? I've been looking for one for ages. Let me know if you're interested and I can send my list.
(Or if you know any good stories, please post. I remember reading some Vic Gabraini article at the time that described Sting backstage at Andy's debut concert, watching him, and saying something about how Andy just wasn't a lead singer. True, granted, but mean...)
Christopher
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