Copeland - Strange Things Happen

Strange Things Happen

A Letter to a Childhood Friend (2009)

Wardrobe (Late 1980s)

Lebanon (195767)

Music (1968)

Curved Air (1975)

Tagging London (1977)

Klark Kent (1978)

A Quick History of the Police (197678)

Police Rule (197984)

Learning to be Normal

Congo (1984)

Horses (1987)

Opera: Holy Blood, Crescent Moon (1989)

Bake-Off in Fort Worth (1990)

Horse Opera (1992)

Still Not Normal

Oysterhead (April 2001)

Hall of Fame (March 2003)

La Notte Della Taranta (August 2004)

Incubus: the Hybrid (December 2004)

Dancing with the (Poll)Stars (February 2004)

Scoring with Anjelica (March 2005)

Foo Flying with the Fly Foos (June 2005)

Gizmo (2005)

Judge Hard Place and the BBC (2006)

The Grateful Dad (2007)

Sundance (2006)

Abnormal Again

Lock Up your Mothers: Were Back (February 2007)

Will this Fly? (2007)

Eberhard Sets Us Free (1978)

A Mighty Wind in the Magic Stingdom (May 2007)

The Disaster Gig (May 2007)

Angry in Edmonton (June 2007)

Conquering Heroes (June 2007)

Malibu Fey Choir (June 2007)

How Big is My Amp! (June 2007)

Aftershow Ritual (July 2007)

Tuba in Turin (October 2007)

Four Beers and the President (October 2007)

Raging Kumbaya (January 2008)

Slav on a Slab (June 2008)

Burning the Golden Goose (1984)

Singapore Showdown (February 2008)

Toast in the Machine (August 2008)

Elvis is Leaving the Building (August 2008)

The Green Flag (2009)

Who

What

Tarazi, Lennie, me, Aragoosie (1965)

Tarazi with UN bunker (1998)

2009

Dear Iskandar,

A lot has happened since we broke that branch off of old Abu Tannouss olive tree, behind the Tarazi Palace. Do you remember our little town in the Lebanese hills overlooking Beirut? That was back in 1965. The Russians had just made it into outer space and I was playing in my first band. I wonder what you and your mom are up to now.

We parted rather suddenly when my dad evacuated us after his CIA cover was blown. Do you remember that English kid, Harry Philby? Well, his dads cover was blown, tooas a double agent for Russia!

So we got pulled out of the American Community School in Beirut, and I was packed off to boarding school in England. Out in the misty wilds of Somerset, at Millfield School, I kept on blasting on the drums whenever I could. It was difficult because of the noise they made. Wherever I could find a cellar or an attic, or a distant outbuilding I would drag in my four big heavy cases, unpack my kit, and blaze away like fury. It never lasted. Someone was always annoyed by my art, and I would be cast out again.

But I got pretty good at it. By the time I left college, I could get into a semifamous group, and pretty soon I could break out with a little band of my own. We were called The Police and ended up playing huge stadiums. Our songs were glued to the charts. It was a blast! We struggled for two years, surged for four years, and then just sat there at the top of the world for another two years before walking away.

So now Ive got a real job, a real family, and a real life! I write and record the music you hear in Hollywood movies. I have seven kids! No idea how that happened. Life is pretty settled now, but I keep having these strange adventures. Odd opportunities are attracted to celebrity, even when its much faded.

As I write this Lebanon is rebuilding. Again! Last time I checked, the old palace was still standing. But that was one war ago. If you get a chance, could you check it out for me? Youre probably a banker in Dubai by now.

Best wishes,

Stewart