Formed in London in 1977, English rock band The Police rose to prominence in the late 20th century as one of the most successful and iconic bands. The Police were comprised of Sting (Gordon Sumner) on vocals and bass, guitarist Andy Summers, and drummer Stewart Copeland. The Police were unique in that they combined elements of punk, reggae, jazz, and new wave into a polished pop- and rock-sound. With a distinctive voice and Sting’s extraordinary vocals, the band was a league above their contemporaries.
The band originated when Stewart Copeland, former drummer in progressive rock band Curved Air, met Sting, who performed in jazz fusion group Last Exit. They formed a band called The Police along with guitarist Henry Padovani. Their creativity stemmed from a blend of punk, and the raw fervor that it exudes. However, Padovani’s limitations as a guitarist began hindering the band’s progress. This led to the now legendary lineup of The Police being formed with Andy Summers, who was known for his work with Eric Burdon and the Animals, replacing Padovani.
The Police tracked their first ever album ‘Outlandos d’Amour’ in 1978, which was recorded independently and financed by Stewart Copeland’s brother, Miles. He would go on to land them a deal with A&M Records. The single ‘Roxanne’ would later go on to become a massive hit in the UK, but it was a chart flop initially. It did, however, become a ticket to success once it got re-released in 1979. The band also showcased their trademark reggae-rock fusion with ‘So Lonely’ and ‘Can’t Stand Losing You.’
The Police shot up to international fame and stardom after this. Their second album ‘Reggatta de Blanc’ released in 1979 further strengthened their hold on the UK as it had two No. 1 singles: ‘Message in a Bottle’ and ‘Walking on the Moon.’ The album also bagged them their very first Grammy award for ‘Best Rock Instrumental Performance’. The telephone towers at this time were far from the state of sophistication and power that the band’s music reached, as they developed a sound that was easy on the ears and meticulously crafted at the same time.
‘Zenyatta Mondatta,’ released in 1980, also followed the trend with chart-toppers ‘De Do Do Do De Da Da Da’ and ‘Don’t Stand So Close To Me.’ While the album received mixed reviews and was completed in a rushed manner, it did best commercially, peaking at 5 in the US and winning two Grammy’s. The band embarked on groundbreaking tours around the globe, performing in places like Egypt and India, which only amplified their appeal.
Ghost in the Machine, released in 1981, marked the introduction of a more synthesized and dense sound developed through saxophones and synthesizers. The album gained tremendous success in singles with “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.” The song peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 3 in the US. Strain began to grow in the band, especially between Sting and Copeland. This was due to Sting’s creative control of the project as the years went by.
The year 1983 rolled around and The Police released their new album Synchronicity, which had the most commercial success. “Every Breath You Take” was on the album too and is the most well-known and awarded song in the Police’s discography. It was a global No. 1 hit and awarded multiple times including winning Song of the Year in the Grammys. Other songs including “King of Pain,” “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” and “Synchronicity II” also gained tremendous US and UK chart success. Their world tour that accompanied the album included a notable concert at Shea Stadium. This marked the height of their popularity as they were at the time the biggest band in the world.
In 1984, the band was done with their tours and sidelined for a while. They started working on their own projects leading to them unofficially “breaking up.” Sting’s work as a solo performer gained attention; Summers worked with Robert Fripp, and Copeland scored film soundtracks. Summers and Sting had a shared vision of completing the album which only led to an end in 1986 “Don’t Stand So Close To Me ‘86”. This was after Copeland got injured and sting had lost desire to work on it.
The Police were finally able to work again but only when it came to meeting and celebrating their own milestones. They did World tours in 20007 as well as 2008 and celebrated their 30th anniversary while doing so. They went on to gross $350 Million on the tour which solidified it as one of the highest grossing tours of all time.
While on track to winning the record for most sold albums as a group working, The police had already gained super fame and were one of the best-selling groups out there, having sold 75 million records across the globe.
Top Songs
- Roxanne – A genre-defining mix of reggae and rock, this song introduced The Police to a global audience.
- Every Breath You Take – Their signature hit and one of the most performed songs of all time.
- Message in a Bottle – An anthemic track that topped charts and defined their early success.
- Don’t Stand So Close to Me – A narrative-driven song that became the UK’s best-selling single of 1980.
- Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – A bright, layered pop hit that showcased the band’s evolving sound.
- Walking on the Moon – Fused reggae rhythms with spacey atmospheres to great acclaim.
- King of Pain – A haunting ballad reflecting Sting’s introspective lyricism.
- So Lonely – A punk-reggae fusion that remains a fan favorite.
Discography (Studio Albums)
- Outlandos d’Amour (1978)
- Reggatta de Blanc (1979)
- Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
- Ghost in the Machine (1981)
- Synchronicity (1983)
Top Albums
- Synchronicity – Their final and most successful album, featuring “Every Breath You Take.”
- Reggatta de Blanc – A Grammy-winning album with two UK No. 1 singles.
- Ghost in the Machine – A mature, sonically expansive work that showed the band’s evolution.
- Outlandos d’Amour – Their raw and energetic debut, introducing their unique reggae-punk sound.
Awards
- Grammy Awards (6 wins)
- Best Rock Instrumental Performance (1981, 1982)
- Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (1982, 1984)
- Song of the Year – “Every Breath You Take” (1984)
- Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (1984)
- Brit Awards
- Best British Group (1982)
- Outstanding Contribution to Music (1985)
- Juno Award
- International Album of the Year – Synchronicity (1984)
- People’s Choice Award
- Favorite Reunion Tour (2008)
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Inducted in 2003
- Other Honors
- Ranked No. 70 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time
- Ranked No. 40 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time
All Singles by The Police
Here is a complete list of all officially released singles by The Police, in chronological order.
- Fall Out (1977)
- Roxanne (1978)
- Can’t Stand Losing You (1978)
- So Lonely (1978)
- Message in a Bottle (1979)
- Walking on the Moon (1979)
- The Bed’s Too Big Without You (released as part of the Six Pack) (1980)
- Don’t Stand So Close to Me (1980)
- De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (1980)
- Invisible Sun (1981)
- Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (1981)
- Spirits in the Material World (1981)
- Secret Journey (1982) (U.S. only)
- Every Breath You Take (1983)
- Wrapped Around Your Finger (1983)
- Synchronicity II (1983)
- King of Pain (1984) (U.S. and Canada only)
- Don’t Stand So Close to Me ’86 (1986)