Andy Summers: His Career With The Police and Iconic Guitar Style

I cannot believe how lucky we are to have this series of interviews, Rick. It’s absolutely unfathomable how many times you’ve been able to get the HEROES of our musical experience to come to your home, talk about their musical journeys and perform and pick them apart, and for the most part- piece by piece show us how to make magic. It’s an incredibly powerful and beautiful tool. Thank you so much for sharing this with your fans.

Andy will be 81 next week, and still sharp as a tack. Being a musician keeps you young and keeps your brain healthy. Why are we constantly cutting the Arts from education like it's some form of amusement and nothing more. Music is life, music is culture, music is the greatest ambassador. Great interview. Thank you both.

Dear Rick, this is Michele from Italy, huge fan of the Police and Italian translator of all three of their memoirs. I don't know how to thank you for your amazing job, your interviews to Sting and Andy Summers are by far the best and most thrilling I've ever seen. Which begs the question: are we in for a Stewart Copeland interview? 🙂

I'm a Brazilian guitarist and I was living in London back in 78, recording with a rock band in some top studios, getting to know some interesting people and everything seemed to be going just fine when suddenly I heard being Roxxane played on somebody's radio and I immediately thought what a nice reggae band, different from everything I had heard before and for obvious reasons, I imagined a bunch o Jamaican brilliant musicians and a wonderful singer behind that. I was amazed by the whole production... some days later, watching a famous TV Show which could have been either the Top of the Pops or The Old Grey Whistle Test, they announced this new sensation called The Police and suddenly these three good-looking blond guys came onstage and started playing that Roxxane song.... I was shocked and years and years later..... still am. They are three geniuses !!! Thank you so much Rick for this wonderful interview. You are another genius.

I had the pleasure of meeting Andy around 18 years ago. Went to his show, and met him afterwards. I had been trying to learn the challenging intro to "Bring On The Night" and asked him how he played it. He took out his Tele and showed me how to fingerpick it, line by line. A genuinely sweet guy and one of the guitar greats!

I saw Andy play at a club and some drunk kept yelling "play Roxanne". Eventually that guy was removed...and that instant Andy played Roxanne.

These three interviews - Sting, Andy, and Stewart - are a brilliant triptych of insights into not only the Police but their entire era of music. Thank you Rick!

Have we ever seen an interviewer who is confident enough, and savvy enough, to let HIS GUESTS TALK. By subtly guiding them, nudging them, and letting them tell their full stories, we hear virtually everything we want to know about their lives and music. Have watched all three of the Police interviews. So well done...

It’s incredible that it’s taken this long for someone to invent this format - that is, rock musicians being interviewed by musicians about music, instead of asking their favourite colour or their politics. Hats off to Rick!

Can hardly articulate how excited I am to watch this interview, Rick. The Police mean so much to me and seeing them live in Boston in summer '07 was a dream come true. Stewart Copeland is my favorite drummer and as a guitar player, Andy is a real inspiration. I can only imagine the immense respect these titans have for your knowledge and passion! Please interview Mr. Copeland next!

No way could I believe Andy is 81! I was a big fan of The Police as a young man (now 58) and I loved hearing his stories and hearing about the genesis of some of their biggest songs. Thank you Rick and Thank you Andy. Great video.

This is the real rolling stone magazine, this is real music journalism. Thank you Rick Beato.

This is the best "interview" I've ever seen! You let the guest talk, no agenda, no ridiculous sound bite questions that insult the guest, just pure music history and inside stories. AND a focus on the music not posing and love affairs. Your interjections are also spot on. Wish the rest of the media could do this.

When Andy shows us the chord... I nearly wept. I keep being overwhelmed by the magic of hearing the stories behind the scenes of the music that meant so much to me all my life. I can't express the depths of my gratitude for bringing us this phenomenal interview. ❤

Can't believe he's 81, looks and feels so young. Amazing musician😍

...I recall as a teenager watching "The Police Live 1980 Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" and being blown away by how 3 talented individuals could captivate and produce such amazing music...they remain my favorite band...!

Andy's playing is masterfully understated. He lets the music breathe so naturally and blends perfectly with Stewart's intricate rhythms and Sting's awesome bass and vocals. They really showed how big a trio could be using space as the fourth player.

This is perhaps the best musician interview I’ve ever seen. I LOVED the Police as a kid. Sting has given a bazillion interviews. To hear Andy Summers telling stories and playing with the chords and stacks. So good.

Andy is true storyteller. Modest guy. Thx of this.

As if we needed being reminded how original and creative Andy Summers is, both musically and non-musically. Very well done, like a good movie.