FALLOUT: The Police Tribute Band REPORT: STEWART COPELANDS BIRTHDAY PARTY AT BACKSTAGE CAFE This past wednesday night, Backstage Cafe celebrated Stewart Copeland's Birthday with a rockin performance by FALLOUT: The Police Tribute Band and guest guitar player Bee from Stung. By extraordinary circumstances FALLOUT's guitarist Pat Cherry was unable to perform that night. Saving the day was Bee from Stung, a tribute band in San Francisco. Bee was a real trooper, flying the day of the gig and rehearsing with FALLOUT for a couple of hours before the gig. Things began getting interesting at the Backstage Cafe when, not only Stewart showed up, but MILES COPELAND, the most feared and respected manager in rock n roll made an appearence. FALLOUT launched into their set with the crowd getting rowdy fast. Bee was not only filling in superby but was providing frightingly good back up vocals, (because he sings all the Sting parts in his band), akin to Stings multi-tracked studio harmonies. FALLOUT began deviating from the normal "Police sets", to play some Copeland tunes, (Fallout and Contact). Before long Stewart was exchanging quips with the band, and suddenly made his way to the drumset. The place went nuts, the entire restaurant came upstairs and FALLOUT with Stewart on the kit launched into Driven To Tears. Typical of Stewarts genius and creativity he played it very different. Jazzy, funky, and super slow. It was a very greasy and hip that I don't believe has ever been played before. Then it was Roxanne. A blistering version. FALLOUT's arrangement of Roxanne includes at dropped time vocal solo at the end,(like the end of the live version of Beds Too Big), Stewart would have none of that nonsense and counted the band back into the tune! I can say it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had to see Sewarts wide eyed expression as he's playing....directed at me!!!!!!! I could go on and on about the rest of the party, but this too long already you just really, absolutley, ...HAD TO BE THERE. What a night. Thanks Bee, we owe you. Thanks Miles for not throwing tomatoes. Thanks Stewart for making a fan's and a musician's dream come true Thanks Ian for being so un-Hollywood, and a straight up guy. Thank you Sting for writing some of the coolest stuff a guy can sing and play. Dave Rasner FALLOUT: The Police Tribute Band _________________________________________________________________ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail