That’s gotta sting.
Sting has been slapped with a hefty lawsuit by his former Police bandmates over missing royalties, The Post can confirm.
The British musician, 73, was sued in London by the group’s guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland over their hit 1983 song “Every Breath You Take.”
Sting has been slapped with a hefty lawsuit by his former Police bandmates over missing royalties. Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty ImagesSting is said to earn a staggering $740,000 a year in royalties from the hit track, which became the fifth-best-selling song of the 1980s.
However, his bandmates claim they were not handed songwriting credits on the single, and have not seen a dime from the song’s commercial success.
London High Court’s database lists the documents, viewed by The Post, as “general commercial contracts and arrangements.”
The documents list the “Roxanne” singer as a defendant under his real name, Gordon Matthew Sumner. His company, Magnetic Publishing Limited, is also listed as a defendant.
The British musician, 73, was handed a High Court writ by the group’s guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland over their hit 1983 song “Every Breath You Take.” Best Image / BACKGRID“This has been coming for quite some time. Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate,” a source told the Sun.
“Andy and Stewart decided there was no alternative than court so pressed the button. They say they are owed millions in lost royalties.”
The Post has reached out to reps for Sting, Summers and Copeland for comment.
Sting is said to earn a staggering $740,000 a year in royalties from the hit track, which became the fifth-best-selling song of the 1980s. RedfernsThe Police was formed by Copeland in London in 1977 and almost immediately shot to global stardom with the release of their 1979 album, “Reggatta de Blanc.”
The group racked up a total of 5 UK No. 1 singles and earned the top spot in the US charts with the release of “Every Breath You Take” — which still remains a classic.
But internally, the members weren’t seeing eye to eye, causing the band to split shortly after the conclusion of their 1984 tour.
A constant power struggle was to blame for the rocky dynamics between the members, with Sting telling the New York Times in 2007, “We didn’t go to school together or grow up in the same neighborhood. We were never a tribe.”
After the band split up, Sting went on to launch a successful solo career that boasts hits like “Fields of Gold,” “Shape of My Heart” and “Englishman in New York.” Redferns“We care passionately about the music and we’re all strong characters and nobody would be pushed around. We fought over everything,” he added.
After the band fell apart, Sting went on to launch a successful solo career. The singer released hits like “Fields of Gold,” “Shape of My Heart,” “We’ll Be Together” and “Englishman in New York.”
