Andy Summers

Andrew James Summers was born on December 31, 1942, in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England. His early life involved a move to Bournemouth, Hampshire, where he began playing guitar at age 10 after several years of piano lessons. Initially influenced by jazz guitarists like Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery, his musical journey started in the mid-1960s. He became the guitarist for Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, a British rhythm and blues group, which later transformed into the psychedelic act Dantalian’s Chariot. In September 1966, Summers met Jimi Hendrix upon his arrival in the UK. His early career also included brief stints with Soft Machine in the summer of 1968, touring the United States, and with Eric Burdon and The Animals, with whom he recorded the album ‘Love Is’ in 1968. This album notably featured an extended guitar solo by Summers on ‘Coloured Rain’. After these initial experiences, Summers spent five years in Los Angeles, furthering his musical education by studying classical guitar and composition at California State University, Northridge, graduating in 1972.

Returning to London in 1975, Summers resumed professional work, recording and touring with various artists such as Kevin Coyne, Jon Lord, Joan Armatrading, David Essex, and Neil Sedaka. A significant turning point came in 1977 when he was invited to join Strontium 90 by Mike Howlett. It was through this project that he connected with Sting and Stewart Copeland, who were looking for a guitarist for their band. Summers joined The Police in 1977, replacing original guitarist Henry Padovani, and established the band’s iconic power trio lineup. The Police rapidly achieved international fame, releasing hit songs such as “Message in a Bottle,” “Roxanne,” and “Every Breath You Take.” Summers’ distinctive guitar sound, often characterized by a chorus effect, became a hallmark of the band. He won two Grammy Awards for Best Rock Instrumental Performance during his tenure with The Police, for “Reggatta de Blanc” in 1981 and “Behind My Camel” in 1982. The band disbanded in early 1984 after seven years and approximately 80 million record sales.

In his post-Police career, Summers embarked on a diverse range of artistic endeavors. He released multiple solo albums, including ‘XYZ’ (1987), his only non-instrumental solo record, and collaborations such as ‘I Advance Masked’ (1982) and ‘Bewitched’ (1984) with Robert Fripp. Summers also composed film scores for movies like ‘Down and Out in Beverly Hills’ and ‘Weekend at Bernie’s,’ and has exhibited his photography globally in art galleries. He authored several books, including his memoir ‘One Train Later’ (2006), which was adapted into the 2012 documentary ‘Can’t Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police’. Summers was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Police in 2003, and the band reunited for a highly successful world tour from 2007 to 2008.