Few musicians in rock history can claim a career as wild, wide-ranging, and colourful as Stewart Copeland’s. As the powerhouse drummer and co-founder of The Police, Copeland helped drive one of the most influential bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Alongside Sting and Andy Summers, he played to millions around the world and created songs that continue to define generations. But Copeland’s story has always extended far beyond the drum kit.
In January 2026, Stewart Copeland will return to Australia and New Zealand with a unique spoken word tour – part memoir, part storytelling, part music history lesson. Fans will hear first-hand tales of his journey: from growing up in Beirut as the son of a CIA agent, to chasing giraffes in Africa, clashing and creating with Sting, scoring Hollywood films, and discovering his lifelong love affair with orchestral music.
Copeland’s career has taken him everywhere, from rock arenas to opera houses, from playing on Peter Gabriel’s So album to working with Francis Ford Coppola on the acclaimed soundtrack for Rumble Fish. He has even had a brief brush with pop stardom under the alter-ego Klark Kent, whose chart flirtation opened the door for The Police’s first record deal.
Now, with decades of stories at the ready, Copeland is set to share the “best bits”, unfiltered and uncensored. Expect reflections on Outlandos d’Amour and Synchronicity, memories of The Police’s infamous tensions and triumphant reunion, and anecdotes about the worlds of rock, film, and classical music.
Noise11’s Paul Cashmere sat down with Stewart Copeland ahead of the tour to discuss his multifaceted career, the origins of his solo material, his forays into film scoring, and why he thinks Australians are ready for all the tales he’s about to tell.
🎟 Australia & New Zealand Tour – January 2026
Sun 11 Jan – Regal Theatre, Perth
Wed 14 Jan – Forum 2, Melbourne
Fri 16 Jan – State Theatre, Sydney
Sat 17 Jan – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Tue 20 Jan – Opera House, Wellington
Wed 21 Jan – Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland
👉 Tickets & Info: www.birdsrobe.com
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