The Police rock Vancouver to launch reunion tour

Last Updated: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 | 9:52 AM ET

CBC Arts

Legendary rock trio the Police delivered a crowd-pleasing, high-energy performance in Vancouver during the kickoff Monday night of their reunion tour.

Lead singer and bassist Sting performs during The Police concert in Vancouver Monday.
(Chuck Stoody/Canadian Press)

Singer and bassist Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland belted out hit song after hit song, delighting 20,000 fans at General Motors Place for more than two hours.

Celebrity fans such as actress Penelope Cruz and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder were among the audience, ranging from fans who weren't even born when the Police split in 1984, to nostalgic 50-somethings who last saw the group in the early 1980s.

A collective roar of approval met many of the band's tunes, including concert opener Message in a Bottle and crowd pleaser Roxanne. Though many songs were slightly rearranged by the consummate trio, the audience warmly welcomed the entire set.

The Police guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland perform in Vancouver on Monday, the kickoff to their world tour.
(Chuck Stoody/Canadian Press)

Sting, Summers and Copeland — whose relationship has been rocky over the years — also appeared to enjoy themselves while performing against the stage's simple backdrop and set.

After a second Vancouver concert on Wednesday, the band will proceed with the first North American leg of its tour before heading to Europe in the late summer and fall. The Police are also expected to add dates in South America, Japan and Australia by early 2008.

It's the trio's first tour since 1984, when they broke up following the final Australian date of the Synchronicity world tour.

Over the years, the three musicians have occasionally reunited for one-off performances. They reunited at the Grammy Awards in February, where they announced this current tour.