(CNN) -- Stewart Copeland and Sting get along great. Really.



Stewart Copeland's background includes a wide range of musical influences, many of which emerged in the Police.



OK, the Police's drummer and bassist may have argued from time to time. Perhaps even ferociously. And Copeland finds Sting's attempts to be a drum arranger annoying. OK, maybe infuriating.



But, as he writes in his new book, "Strange Things Happen" (HarperStudio), "We have discovered that we can be good friends -- as long as no one mentions music."



Besides, Copeland adds in an interview, both Sting and guitarist Andy Summers "are crap at drums."  Watch Copeland dish on the band »



Copeland may be best known for the hitmaking musical trio, but he hasn't let the Police define him.



The son of a CIA officer, he grew up in the Middle East and has let his musical fascinations range widely. He's written operas and dozens of film and television scores and is currently working on a concerto for the Dallas Symphony. (He also plays polo.)



Copeland took some time to talk about his relationship with the Police, the importance of percussion and the social niceties of West L.A. private schools. The following is an edited version of the interview.



CNN: The pace of the book makes it seem like you've been living "A Hard Day's Night" for the last 30 or 35 years. Is it really that busy?



Stewart Copeland: Oh, it's pretty busy, but if it wasn't busy, I'd be stressed and anxious. In fact, this week I've got some down time, and I'm looking at the walls.



CNN: It's been inescapable that people are focusing on the part of the book involving you and your fellow Police members. You say that you have a great relationship with Sting until music gets involved.



Copeland: We get along in every way until it comes to music. ... [But] both of them are crap at drums, so at least I don't have that to deal with.



CNN: So Sting is not much of a drummer, despite the fact that he has all these ideas.



Copeland: Actually, he can play a bit of drums, but he's much better arranging drums than playing them. And I think I'd rather have him as a drummer than as an arranger of drums, even though he's quite brilliant at [arranging].



CNN: Has there always been that friction in the band?



Copeland: Yes. With Andy, there's no friction at all; we get along great. ... And by the way, he's not the man in the middle, either. He's not a mediator. He's his own little volcano. He's a very sharp point to the triangle.



But this conflict ... when we did the reunion tour, it was like everything was different, but nothing had changed. From the first 16 bars, we were straight back into where we left off.



CNN: With the Police, the friction seems -- for lack of a better term -- healthy.



Copeland: Well, it's that musical dichotomy that makes the band what it is. If we didn't have those beautiful, sensitive songs, we'd be lost. Those beautiful, sensitive songs have an extra kick to them because there's a madman in the group.



CNN: Does the madman change, or is it always Sting?



Copeland: Actually, all three of us have our moments.



CNN: You grew up in the Middle East. Do you see any reflections of that in the way you play the drums, in the way you feel the beat?



Copeland: Absolutely. I grew up surrounded by Arabic music. The central element of Arabic music is the baladi rhythm, which is just Arabic for "country." And it has that drop on the three-beat. And it has that use of negative space. And it also has the very ornate
What is the name of the book written by Stewart Copeland? Who does Copeland say he gets on fine with when music isnt involved? Where did Copeland grow up? What Copeland and Sting said? Who is the author of the book "Strange things happen"? Copeland grew Where?
"Strange Things Happen" Sting in the Middle East "We have discovered that we can be good friends Copeland the Middle East
question: What is the name of the book written by Stewart Copeland?, answer: "Strange Things Happen" | question: Who does Copeland say he gets on fine with when music isnt involved?, answer: Sting | question: Where did Copeland grow up?, answer: in the Middle East | question: What Copeland and Sting said?, answer: "We have discovered that we can be good friends | question: Who is the author of the book "Strange things happen"?, answer: Copeland | question: Copeland grew Where?, answer: the Middle East