No one on planet Earth was happier than Stewart Copeland on Sunday night. And it showed.

It was probably no accident that the first close-up of the Grammys Sunday night featured Copeland pounding out the beginning of "Roxanne," the smile on his face as wide as could be.

The drummer of the newly reunited Police has been waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting ... for Sting to get done making adult contemporary music, saving the rain forests and doing whatever it is that Sting does (we've been barred by our bosses from using the word "tantric" anywhere in this story) and get back to Police business. The business that made them all famous.

And that's what the Police - Sting, Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers - did Sunday night at the Grammys, and, though painfully short, it worked beautifully. On the eve of launching a tour tied to the 30th anniversary of their hit "Roxanne," they opened the 49th annual Grammys in Los Angeles by playing a solid version of, of course, "Roxanne."

Then, after three glorious minutes that even featured Mr. Serious Sting smiling widely and having fun, we had to watch the rest of the Grammies.

Oh, well. The Police got their plug in for the big summer tour that should dwarf the money-making capabilities of the Pacific Rim nations put together. The band has scheduled a press conference for Monday, at which it is widely rumored that they'll announce dates for a U.S. and European tour.

The trio on Sunday also, somehow, looked like they still belong together. Like maybe it hasn't been more than two decades since they disbanded.

Still, it's early yet. Give Copeland some time to get on Sting's nerves.

But everything was gravy Sunday. They were happy and clearly excited to be playing together. Wearing a sleeveless vest and looking like he's been doing plenty of working out, Sting was energized onstage. And they sounded tight, if not a bit slower than in the '80s, when the band ruled rock. Sting can still hit the high notes, though he did go down an octave on the chorus. There was an unnecessary jam in the middle of the song, but maybe the old boys needed to string the performance out a bit. Perhaps it was Sting's mellow jazz fascination coming through.

We'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Until this summer. But judging how entertaining (not!) the Grammys usually are, the Police should have given their fans a couple more songs.

© The Contra Costs Times by Tony Hicks