24 years on, Police deliver the goods...

"The question is my Australian mates, are you ready to sing tonight?" asked a tanned and fit Sting at the first of two reunion concerts by The Police at Members Equity Stadium last night.

All 25,000 fans were ready to sing along with the three erstwhile blonde boys who have put aside personal acrimony to reunite after 24 years for a money-spinning world tour, kicking off in Canada last May.

One of the many highlights of last night's performance was 'Don't Stand So Close to Me', which saw support act Fergie, who found fame with the Black Eyed Peas, join the band on stage. The other support act was Sting's son Joe Sumner's band Fiction Plane, who opened proceedings before Fergie, who sang her chart-busting single 'Big Girls Don't Cry'.

The Police's arresting performance began with their first No. 1 single, 'Message in a Bottle', and was soon followed by their second, 'Walking on the Moon'. While Sting's vocals and Andy Summers' slippery guitar lines were front and centre, Stewart Copeland reminded fans why he is considered one of the world's greatest drummers.

The crowd copped a fizzy fusion of punk, jazz and white-boy reggae, with The Police delivering a dynamic sound without augmenting their three piece line-up with extra musicians. The band finished their main set with probably their most famous song Roxanne, which they released exactly 30 years ago.

© The West Australian by Simon Collins

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