Original Police guitarist Henry Padovani clarified in a recent chat with Guitar World whether Andy Summers demanded Sting dismiss a member of the Police.
When the interviewer asked the musician if Andy gave an ultimatum stating that either he or Padovani had to leave the band, he replied by saying:
“Perhaps he did, perhaps he didn’t. But the split cannot be boiled down to a problem between Andy and me. Those three became the biggest band in the world, and so whatever happened was the right thing to happen.”
Padovani’s Role And Departure From The Police
He continued, explaining how the Police was a result of everything that happened, including his departure:
“All that happened is part of that success. I always felt I was part of it in a positive way, but all I know is what Sting told me that night after the John Cale session. Andy brought something to the table: money was to be made, and Sting told me the concept. I got it right away and went back to see my family.”
Padovani’s View On The Police’s Journey
Henry added, revealing he doesn’t hold any resentment towards the other Police members:
“If there was an ultimatum, it wasn’t made to me. But maybe Andy didn’t want to confront me. Maybe it wasn’t for him to do. I never held resentment. With the Police, Andy found a great sound that he never had before.”
Speculating On An Alternate History With The Police
Another question asked whether Henry ever wonders about what could have happened to the Police if they had remained a member of the band. Padovani isn’t sure if the band would have been as successful with him. He respects the success they had without him and thinks each band member needs to develop their own music style, which he hadn’t done yet at that time. He went on to say:
“And when I did find my sound and my signature, it was something completely different from theirs. If I had found my sound with the Police, things might have been different. Maybe me and Andy could have worked together, but we’ll never know.”
In 2007, during the Police Reunion Tour, Padovani played with the band on stage for the last part of their Paris concert on September 29. They performed ‘Next to You’ from their first album as a four-member group.
