The Police (band)

The Police (band)
Distributed by A&M Records · Public domain · source
Name	The Police
Caption	The Police in 1979: Sting (musician), Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland
Background	group_or_band
Origin	London, England
Genres	New wave, post-punk, reggae rock
Years active	1977–1986, 2007–2008
Labels	A&M Records, IRS Records
Associated acts	Sting solo career, Strontium 90, Curved Air, The Police and Sting

The Police (band) were an English rock band formed in London in 1977, consisting of singer-bassist Sting (musician), guitarist Andy Summers, and drummer Stewart Copeland. Combining elements of punk rock, reggae, and jazz, they achieved international success with albums such as Outlandos d'Amour, Reggatta de Blanc, and Synchronicity, producing hit singles including "Roxanne", "Message in a Bottle", and "Every Breath You Take". They influenced contemporaries across new wave music and later generations, received multiple Grammy Awards, and embarked on a widely publicized reunion tour in 2007–2008.

History

Formed in May 1977 after line-up changes involving Sumner and early members like Henry Padovani, the group crystallized when Andy Summers replaced Padovani following connections to Curved Air and sessions with Strontium 90. Their debut Outlandos d'Amour (1978) built momentum through airplay on BBC Radio 1 and exposure via New York City punk and CBGB-era clubs, while management ties to figures associated with A&M Records and IRS Records facilitated international distribution. Successive albums—Reggatta de Blanc (1979), Zenyatta Mondatta (1980), Ghost in the Machine (1981), and Synchronicity (1983)—featured escalating chart performance on the UK Singles Chart and Billboard 200, collaborations with producers linked to Nigel Gray and studio engineers who worked on projects for The Jam and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Tensions among Sting (musician), Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland increased during the Synchronicity era, contributing to the band's hiatus in 1986 and subsequent solo careers, notably Sting's work with Sting solo career and Copeland's ventures into film scoring and Orchestral projects. A reunion tour was announced in 2007 with dates at venues such as Madison Square Garden and festivals including Live Earth, concluding in 2008.

Musical style and influences

The trio's sound fused rhythmic elements from reggae and ska associated with Jamaican artists, melodic sensibilities influenced by The Beatles, and the abrasive energy of punk rock bands like The Clash. Sting's background in jazz and folk informed bass lines and vocal phrasing that echoed performers from the Greenwich Village singer-songwriter scene, while Summers brought textures from jazz fusion and progressive rock—links to John McLaughlin and Robert Fripp are often noted—using effects pedals and layered guitars. Copeland's drumming drew on progressive rock drummers and African rhythmic structures encountered in recordings by Fela Kuti and Caribbean percussionists, creating a tight interplay that critics compared to contemporaneous outfits such as Talking Heads and Blondie. Production choices on albums connected to engineers and studios associated with Abbey Road Studios and producers who worked with The Police and other new wave acts shaped the polished yet rhythmic aesthetic.

Band members

- Sting (musician) (Gordon Sumner) – lead vocals, bass, primary songwriter; later solo artist collaborating with Madonna, Eric Clapton, and Miles Davis-influenced jazz musicians. - Andy Summers – guitar, backing vocals; former member of The Animal Race and The Police-era collaborator with progressive and jazz musicians. - Stewart Copeland – drums, percussion, backing vocals; after The Police he composed for film and formed projects including Klark Kent.

Former touring and early members included Henry Padovani (guitar) and session contributors who worked with Bryan Ferry-adjacent musicians and studio personnel from A&M Records sessions.

Discography

Studio albums: - Outlandos d'Amour (1978) — includes "Roxanne", "Can't Stand Losing You" - Reggatta de Blanc (1979) — includes "Message in a Bottle", "Walking on the Moon" - Zenyatta Mondatta (1980) — includes "Don't Stand So Close to Me", "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" - Ghost in the Machine (1981) — includes "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", "Invisible Sun" - Synchronicity (1983) — includes "Every Breath You Take", "King of Pain"

Compilations and live albums include collections released by A&M Records and box sets that charted on the Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart.

Tours and live performances

Early tours promoted releases in the UK and US, with notable performances at venues like CBGB, Hammersmith Odeon, and arenas including Madison Square Garden. The band's 1981–1984 tours supported Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity, featuring stage designs and multimedia elements influenced by contemporaneous acts such as Genesis (band) and Pink Floyd. Their 2007–2008 Reunion Tour visited stadiums and festivals across North America, Europe, Australia, and South America, generating box-office records akin to tours by U2 and The Rolling Stones.

Awards and recognition

The Police won multiple Grammy Awards, including accolades for recordings from Reggatta de Blanc and Synchronicity, and received Brit Award nominations and wins. "Every Breath You Take" earned honors from organizations tracking songwriting and publishing such as ASCAP and led to inductions and acknowledgments from institutions including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Legacy and influence

Their concise trio format and cross-genre synthesis influenced bands spanning alternative rock, pop rock, and indie rock scenes; artists citing influence include The Police (influenced)-era contemporaries and later acts like R.E.M., No Doubt, The Killers, and The Strokes. The group's integration of reggae rhythms into mainstream new wave music helped popularize worldbeat elements later adopted by performers such as Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel. Scholarship on late-20th-century popular music references The Police in studies alongside punk rock, new wave, and the commercialization of post-punk, and their recordings continue to be reissued by labels including A&M Records.

Category:English rock music groups Category:Musical trios Category:New wave groups