Stewart Copeland — legendary drummer of the English rock band The Police, known for his innovative style and kinetic rhythms — recently shared one of the most amusing and unexpected stories of his long career: a moment that left him both embarrassed and laughing in front of Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney.
In a candid interview, Copeland recounted how the cringe-worthy encounter unfolded at a Foo Fighters after-party at Wembley Stadium years ago. What should have been a casual social moment quickly turned awkward when Copeland reached for a joint that was actually being passed to McCartney himself.
“So I said, ‘OK, sure — just to be polite — I took the joint, and I looked over and I realised that the intended recipient… was none other than Paul McCartney,” Copeland recalled with characteristic dry humor. “I went to bed that night not quite sure whether I was mortally embarrassed or if that was kind of a cool brag.”
Copeland didn’t express any bitterness — far from it. In fact, he went on to praise McCartney as “the nicest rock star,” noting that McCartney had made a strong impression not just as a Beatle but as a grounded, approachable person offstage.
This anecdote comes as part of a broader conversation in which Copeland has been reflecting on his sprawling musical life — from his early days in Curved Air to founding The Police in 1977, teaming up with Sting and Andy Summers, and helping craft some of the band’s most enduring hits like “Message in a Bottle” and “Every Breath You Take.”
The story highlights a rare vulnerability from one of rock’s most confident drummers — a reminder that even rock legends have moments they can look back on and laugh about. In Copeland’s case, that moment involved rock royalty, an unintended faux pas, and a Beatles legend who, by all accounts, took it all in stride.
