Claim of missed earnings on royalties: Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland filed a lawsuit against Sting over lost royalties from their iconic Police hit song.
In a surprising turn of events, former Police bandmates Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland find themselves embroiled in a legal dispute over the mega-hit "Every Breath You Take."
Sting, whose real name is Gordon Matthew Sumner, is being sued by his bandmates over lost royalties from the song. According to court documents, the lawsuit is listed in the London High Court's database under "general commercial contracts and arrangements."
The iconic riff of "Every Breath You Take" was created by Andy Summers during the recording of the band's album, Synchronicity. In an interview with Guitarist in 2022, Summers described the riff as a "kind of immortal guitar part" that all guitar players have to learn.
However, the song initially faced disagreements between Sting and Stewart Copeland over the bass and drums. It was even considered for discard, but Sting allowed Summers to keep working on it, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The song went straight to No. 1 in America after its release, and it has since become one of the most recognisable tracks in music history. Despite its success, Sting's bandmates have found it challenging to perform, with Dominic Miller, who has accompanied Sting and Copeland since 1991, stating that it is the most challenging song in the Police's catalog to nail.
The lawsuit alleges that Sting is the sole composer and author of the track, as shown by PRS for Music records. His firm, Magnetic Publishing Limited, is also listed as a defendant. Copeland and Summers claim they are owed millions in lost royalties, but the specific figures have not been disclosed.
In a statement, Summers clarified that he did not boast about the riff but focused on keeping his bandmates happy. He also noted that the song's riff is a difficult one to execute.
The lawyers attempted an out-of-court settlement, but they reached a stalemate, leading to the lawsuit. The source claims that the bandmates are seeking "substantial" damages following years of legal disputes.
Sting's current bandmates in The Police are Andy Summers (guitarist) and Stewart Copeland (drummer). The band has not commented on the lawsuit, but it is clear that the legal battle will have significant implications for the future of the band and the music industry as a whole.
