Reunited rockers the Police begin tour in Canada

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 29 (Reuters) Anglo-American rock trio the Police returned to the touring circuit for the first time in more than 20 years, kicking off their world tour for 20,000 fans in Canada.

Singer/bass player Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland dusted off old favorites such as ''Message in a Bottle,'' ''Spirits in the Material World'' and ''Don't Stand So Close to Me'' during the early stages of the sold-out show at GM Place.

''I'd like to introduce the band. Andy, this is Stewart,'' Sting jokingly told the crowd, which included such famous fans as actress Penelope Cruz, and Pearl Jam rock singer Eddie Vedder.

The tour unofficially kicked off the night before when the band played a dress rehearsal for about 4,000 members of its fan club yesterday. The Police have been rehearsing for about four months, after Sting decided the time was right for a reunion and called up his old bandmates.

The band broke up amid clashing egos in 1984, after the last date of its Synchronicity world tour in Australia, but it reunited for a handful of dates benefiting Amnesty International in 1986.

Sting went on to even greater fame and fortune as an eclectic solo artist, while Copeland focused on composing for film and television, and Summers explored his jazz roots with various projects.

The world tour is scheduled to end early next year, following two North American legs, a European tour, and dates throughout Latin America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

The band's plans beyond that are the subject of some internal disagreement. Summers recently told Guitar Player magazine that the ''obvious thing'' to do would be to make another album and then return to the road.

But Copeland told Reuters last week that he had no desire right now to do those things, and was simply looking forward to having ''a blast for one year.'' Reuters SBC GC1048