Most wouldn’t describe Stewart Copeland as underrated. His career has been an incredible one, and his works with the likes of The Police, Curved Air, and video game companies and films are nothing to sneeze at. However, younger budding fans of Copeland may not know exactly how crazy the man is at the drums. Let’s look at a few Stewart Copeland drum tracks that should be considered essential listening for any fan!
Videos by American Songwriter
“Regatta De Blanc”
Why not start with a standout Police release? This band was always pushing boundaries, and Copeland knew how to make revolutionary styles of playing the drums sound easy. “Regatta De Blanc” is just one example. Not only is the drum track amazing, but the whole of the song is catchy as heck.
There are reggae elements there, but the whole of the song is unabashed rock. Copeland goes insane on the drums in this tune, and the isolated drum track is wild to hear. It almost sounds like a punk rock song, though Copeland manages to find control within the chaos.
“Red Rain”
Some of Copeland’s finest work has been contributed to other people’s music. This example comes from Peter Gabriel’s pop-focused solo record, So. Copeland might be best known for his time in The Police and through his work in film and other media, but this contribution deserves way more love.
He was the perfect prog drummer for this particular project. The drama on the drum track for “Red Rain” makes the whole thing so much more impressive.
“Synchronocity I”
This has to be one of the best Stewart Copeland drum tracks out there. “Synchronocity I” is one of the last songs that The Police would produce, and it’s an incredible piece of work.
Copeland is a madman on the drums. His skill is obvious, considering he is playing lightning-fast with an ability that heavy metal drummers could only dream of. The bulk of the song is in 7/4, but Copeland continues to play common time. That creative compositional choice lends this unnerving rhythmic energy to the song. It’s really unlike anything I’ve heard of from a pop-rock record.
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images
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