Frank Zappa & Sting - Murder By Numbers (full-length unedited version), Chicago, IL, March 3, 1988

Sting wrote this song with Police guitarist Andy Summers. It was used as the B-side of "Every Breath You Take" but was omitted from the vinyl copy of the 1983 album Synchronicity because there wasn't room for it. It appeared as a bonus track on the cassette edition and later on the CD. The only time FZ performed it, he happened to meet Sting in the lobby of the hotel both men were staying at. Since Sting and the rest of the Police had been attacked by televangelist Jimmy Swaggart (fresh from being caught with a street hooker at a cheap motel three miles from his own church), and he had watched Zappa roast Swaggart during the first part of his show, the decision to do the impromptu cover of the song (coming out of a more organized version of Oliver Nelson’s “Stolen Moments”) – and add some of Sting’s own verbal coals to the fire – was made. The edited version was released as bonus track on the CD version of "Broadway The Hard Way" in May 1989. Recorded at the Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL, March 3, 1988 Frank Zappa - lead guitar, vocals Ike Willis - guitar, vocals Mike Keneally - guitar, synth, vocals Bobby Martin - keyboards, vocals Walt Fowler - trumpet Bruce Fowler - trombone Paul Carman - alto sax Albert Wing - tenor sax Kurt McGettrick - baritone sax Ed Mann - percussion Scott Thunes - bass Chad Wackerman - drums Special guest: Sting - lead vocals Photo taken at the show The Black Page - The Zappa Page   / zblackpage