Andy Summers in California From The Police to Never Playing It Safe | Life in Six Strings

Andy Summers in California

From The Police to Never Playing It Safe | Life in Six Strings

Join Kylie Olsson as she visits legendary guitarist Andy Summers in California. From his sanctuary in Santa Monica to his vibrant studio in Venice Beach, they discuss his iconic time with The Police, his passion for photography, and the hybrid Telecaster that changed his life. Watch the full episode on Life in Six Strings.

Episode Overview

In this fascinating episode of Life in Six Strings, host Kylie Olsson travels along the stunning Pacific coastline to meet with British rock legend Andy Summers. Known worldwide as the atmospheric and innovative guitarist for The Police, Andy opens the doors to his creative spaces.

The episode explores Andy's dual passions for music and photography, revealing how stepping behind the camera lens helped him survive the intense madness and hedonism of touring with one of the biggest bands in the world.

Explore California's Coastal Culture

This episode highlights the distinct vibes of two iconic coastal California locations that Andy calls home:

• ■ Santa Monica Sanctuary: Andy shows off his "scruffy little house" at the end of his garden in Santa Monica. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this "man cave" filled with books, pedals, and old cassettes serves as his tranquil starting point for writing new music.
• ■ Venice Beach Studio: The tour moves to Andy's sprawling studio in the artsy hub of Venice Beach. Built in the early '80s, the building has an incredible history—Jean-Michel Basquiat and Madonna even lived there for six months before Andy purchased it!
• ■ A Rooftop Lesson: Taking full advantage of the stunning California weather and scenery, Andy takes Kylie up to the roof to teach her how to play the classic Police track, "So Lonely."

Episode Highlights

• Photography as Escapism Andy explains how photography became a vital tool for his mental health during the height of The Police's fame. It allowed him to step outside the bubble of fan adoration and the "rock and roll circus" to view the world from a different, grounded perspective.
• The Iconic Hybrid Telecaster Andy introduces the guitar he played almost exclusively throughout his time with The Police. Originally purchased from a kid for $200, the heavily modified Fender Telecaster features a front humbucker and custom overdrive switches.
• The $400 Red Stratocaster Alongside the Telecaster, Andy shows off his 1962 Red Stratocaster—the guitar he's been primarily known for playing in recent years. He bought it during an early Police tour at a local music shop in Austin, Texas, for a mere $400.
• The Power of the Trio Reflecting on why The Police never added a fourth member, Andy jokingly says "we needed the money," before explaining the true magic of the trio. He loves the vast amount of harmonic space it provides, forcing the guitarist to cover all the bases while allowing ultimate creative freedom.