In ‘95, I took my first staff job, moving from San Francisco to LA to work at Disney Interactive. Despite seeing Stewart perform live several times I had yet to meet him. I knew he lived in LA but was baffled by the credits on his solo records and soundtracks listing his studio as The Worried Rabbit, Nineveh Assyria. I knew he had spent his youth in Beirut and Cairo so I thought, maybe he spends part of the year over there? I finally looked it up to find that Nineveh was an ancient Mesopotamian city – in other words it was bullshit!

Digging further I found the name Kinetic Studios in Culver City. I mailed a color copy of my Stewart portrait from my Journal with a letter. A young guy my age, Ryan, called and invited me to Stewart’s studio! The next day I walked into Kinetic Studios, MTV Music Awards strewn on the floor. I don’t have a story for Stewart. He was at a computer working on a film score. Smiling and friendly he stopped to talk to me and sign the portrait. I gave him a framed painting which I imagine he stuck in a closet immediately (an attractive piece with nice colors but seeing as it collaged multiple figures of Stewart hanging from a noose - from the sleeve art of the “Can’t Stand Losing You” single - it was not the cheeriest image). Stupidly, I didn’t bring a camera!

From ’95 to The Police Reunion in ’07 I saw every Stewart and/or Andy gig in LA I could possibly make. When Stewart and Andy were rumored to be appearing at the sold out The Police Rock en Español gig at the House of Blues Sunset, I went down there and scored a ticket. When they played with Incubus at the KROQ Acoustic Christmas, I was there (thanks to my good friend Mike McLaughlin for that one). George Martin presenting Beatles music at the Hollywood Bowl (Stewart on drums, and Andy a last minute addition on guitar), I was there. I had tickets to see Stewart play with The Doors (The Cult’s Ian Astbury on vocals) at the Universal Ampitheatre - was disappointed when Stewart had to cancel. Oysterhead at the Palladium. Andy at tiny jazz club The Baked Potato. 

The greatest of these little Hollywood gigs, was of course, when as one of Stewart’s “Nutters” I got in to the Whisky A Go Go for The Police Rehearsals / Press Conference. It was unreal - by that point I had long since given up on The Police reuniting! I’m being redundant but it’s worth saying, I fucking love that band!