- Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com
Sting’s former Police bandmates are suing the frontman for millions of pounds in missing royalties.
The singer, 73, was handed a High Court writ by the group’s guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland.
The ‘substantial’ damages claim comes after many years of bitter legal disputes.
A source told The Sun: ‘This has been coming for quite some time. Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate.
‘Andy and Stewart decided there was no alternative than court so pressed the button. They say they are owed millions in lost royalties.’
London‘s High Court lists the legal case under ‘general commercial contracts and arrangements’.
Sting is down as a defendant under his real name, Gordon Matthew Sumner, while his company Magnetic Publishing Limited is also listed as a defendant.
The star is believed to earn £550,000 a year in royalties from smash hit Every Breath You Take alone, the fifth best-selling song of the ’80s.
Sting’s former Police bandmates are suing the frontman, pictured in 2019, for millions of pounds in missing royalties
The singer, pictured left in 1983, was handed a High Court writ by the group’s guitarist Andy Summers, right, and drummer Stewart Copeland, centre
Bandmates Summers and Copeland, however, were not handed songwriting credits on the single.
The Daily Mail has approached Sting, Summers and Copeland for comment.
New wave band The Police were formed in London in 1977 and shot to stardom with their second album Reggatta De Blanc, the first of four albums on the spin to reach the top of the charts.
They bagged five UK number one singles and achieved a number one in the US with Every Breath You Take.
