The Police

English rock band, The Police, emerged from London and gained popularity across the globe during the latter years of the 1970s and the mid-1980s.

This band’s style could not be classified into one genre of music as they combined a blend of rock, jazz, reggae with a style of punk and very unusual instrumentals and effects attached to their sound.

Formed in 1977, the group was not just famous for their name which could be easily mistaken for the security organization, but through the demonstration of their unique pop spirit.

They took advantage of the new era of music that was emerging in their time, experimenting with different genres of music until they discovered which sound worked best for them. 

 With a hardly changing line-up, the band boasted of a consistent trio of world-class musicians.

The classic line-up for the band included Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner also known as Sting (Primary songwriter, lead vocalist and bassist), Andrew James Somers popularly referred to as Andy Summers (guitarist & backing vocals) and Stewart Armstrong Copeland (drummer & percussionist).

Achievements

They are considerably one of the best-selling artists of all time with about 75 million records sold They have been ranked as number 70 and number 40 on Rolling Stone Magazine as well as VH1’s list of 100 Greatest Artist of All-Time.

Four of their albums, namely Ghost in the Machine, Regatta de Blanc, Outlandos d’Amour and Synchronicity, made it among the 2003 list of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

The Police have a laid-out descriptive catalog of 5 studio albums, 2 Live albums, 10 Video albums, 7 compilation albums, 18 Music Videos, 1 EP, 26 Single releases, and 4 Soundtrack albums. These albums and songs have pulled the group into earning 3 nominations and 5 Grammy awards for Best Rock Instrumental Performance (won twice) and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (won three times).

In 1982 and 1985, they won Brit Awards for Best British Group and Outstanding Contribution to Music respectively.

They also won Juno Awards International Album of the Year and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Reunion Tour in 2008.

During their first year of eligibility in 2003, they were inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Interesting Facts

The trio had some very fascinating truths about them, some outspoken and benign factors that contributed to making them who they are.

To be considered one of the most successful rock bands in history, the band, and its members have had events that their fan base may have never heard of. Some of these interesting facts are raised below.

• The band members’ signature blonde hair was not a plot formed for their brand. The members were once hired to be in a gum commercial in 1977 and were required to have their hair dyed blonde. Though the commercial never aired, the group adopted the fashion right after and made it their trademark.
• The band members had a slightly malfunctioned relationship. Despite the success The Police made as a group, some of the band members had issues with lead vocalist Sting, whom the group described as excessively controlling. This was as a result of the high recognition Sting got for the band’s performances and the ego that came with it.
• Their third album, Zenyatta Mondatta had no special meaning or interpretation.
• The trio’s hit song, Roxanne was first played by Sting to Andy Summers while he was in bed with his wife.
• Though Sting was recognized as the principal songwriter of the group, most of the band’s songs were written separately by each member.
• The group disbanded in 1984 but reunited in 1986 until their last breakup in 2008.
• The band members had secret animosity towards each other. It was discovered after the band had broken up the second time in 2008 that they described themselves as a family that fought all the time yet played well together.
• While an active member of The Police, Copeland was usually heard reminiscing his experiences from his past, his former bands, and his life away before becoming a part of the group. This was one of the reasons he didn’t get along so well with the other bandmates because they found it overbearing.
• Sting’s departure was not as a result of lack of fame or the interpersonal issues he had with his bandmates but the lack of happiness and depression he fell into after years of success.
• Sting earned twice the fame, success, and popularity post-the police than he did as the groups lead vocalist and writer.
• One of the reunions of the band occurred at Sting’s wedding reception in Wiltshire England. He invited his old bandmates and to his surprise, the guests pushed them on stage for a performance.

Brief Conclusion

For the 29 active years as a band, they have succeeded in remaining in the books of history and the hearts of many music lovers for generations.

They broke through the limitations of regular and similar music style that was emerging at their time with their impressive sound and became one of the most preferred in the late 1990s.

The band has reunited briefly for some music projects, but hardly as the solid team, they once were. One of their last appearances together since their break-up was at the premiere of their new documentary “Can’t Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police”.

Top Songs from The Police

• “Bring on the Night”
• “Can’t Stand Losing You”
• “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da”
• “Don’t Stand So Close to Me“
• “Every Breath You Take“
• “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic“
• “Fall Out”
• “Invisible Sun“
• “King of Pain“
• “Message in a Bottle“
• “Roxanne“
• “Secret Journey”
• “So Lonely”
• “Spirits in the Material World“
• “Synchronicity II”
• “The Bed’s Too Big Without You”
• “Walking on the Moon“
• “When the World Is Running Down”
• “Wrapped Around Your Finger“