The Police To Perform At Madison Square Garden

The always philanthropic Sting has found a way for his band The Police to retire on a high note. After a year of trotting the globe on its much hyped reunion tour, the reggae-rock trio has added one more show. On August 7 the group will play its final concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. However, after becoming the past years biggest ticket sellers, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will not do this gig for their own profit.

The always philanthropic Sting has found a way for his band The Police to retire on a high note. After a year of trotting the globe on its much hyped reunion tour, the reggae-rock trio has added one more show. On August 7 the group will play its final concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. However, after becoming the past years biggest ticket sellers, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will not do this gig for their own profit. While rocking for their fans one last time, The Police will also be raising money for public television. On June 14 public television stations WNET and WLIW out of New York will hold a special one day pledge drive during which fans can make donations in exchange for tickets and other prizes. While $150 will get you and a friend into the show, a $5000 donation will award you tickets plus VIP status which includes dinner, a party, and entrance to the ever exclusive sound check.

Longtime Police manager Kathryn Schenker said the rock icons felt the original final show scheduled August 5 in Long Island would have been anticlimactic. “We felt it was important to do something significant for one last show,” Schenker said. While the idea was purely that of The Police it coincides perfectly with public television’s push to reach out to a younger audience. Before you question the appeal of The Police to the kids, Nielsen Research Media reports that 60 percent of New York public television viewers are over the age of 65, so for public television a younger audience means the baby boomer generation.

Partnership with The Police will be the centerpiece of Public Television Rocks, a marketing push to keep the interest of the middle aged through classic rock. Other notable ventures by public television into the world of rock include a similar pledge drive for The Clash merchandise and sponsorship of Martin Scorsese’s Bob Dylan documentary No Direction Home.

Members of The Police admitted their fondness for public television to the New York Times. While Sting enjoys its similarities to the BBC back home, guitarist Andy Summers admires that it is television “untainted by commercialism.” Perhaps next in line for the retired veterans of rock will be guest spots on Masterpiece Theater.