There was a period when I'd just come out of college where I'd been playing classical guitar and I suddenly realised that it wasn't what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

In 2008 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Bournemouth University. In 2003 along with his band mates Sting and Stewart Copeland he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1977 Summers was invited by ex-Gong bassist Mike Howlett to join his band Strontium 90 along with future Police mates Sting and Stewart Copeland.

Best known as the guitarist for rock band The Police he has also recorded twelve solo albums collaborated with many other artists toured extensively under his own name publiAndy Summersd several books and composed several film scores.