6/6/2008

Justin Zaremba

The Police push back final concert to play at a benefit for Public Broadcasting Services.

The Police have extended their final tour to include a benefit on August 7 at Madison Square Garden for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations in New York metropolitan area, namely WNET and WLIW. Originally, the trio's final concert of the tour, and of their careers was scheduled to end August 5 in Wantagh, NY.  
  
In conjunction with this benefit, a pledge drive for PBS will feature a chance to get tickets for the concert, instead of the usual mugs, books, and tote bags ordinarily given away. Pledge prizes range from VIP treatment with dinner, a party and sound check attendance for a $5,000 donation, while individual tickets for the concert will be priced at $75 each. At this time, the number of tickets for this event is unknown.  
  
During the day-long pledge drive leading up to the final concert, frontman Sting will be interviewed as concert footage is screened.  
  
According to Kathryn Schenker, Sting's manager, in an interview with the *New York Times*, the original ending of the tour on August 5 at Jones Beach seemed, "anti-climatic." Schenker added that, "We felt it was important to do something significant for one last show."  
  
In addition to the pledge drive, The Police are supporting the environment by donating $2 from each ticket sold to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Million Trees initiative.