At the beginning of ’77, ex-schoolteacher Gordon Sumner a.k.a. Sting (so named for his fondness for a black and yellow stripped jersey he constantly wore) and Stewart Copeland began The Police with guitarist Henri Padovani.
By mid-year The Police were producing demos and playing shows.
It was during a club gig that it was suggested guitarist Andy Summers (formerly with Eric Burdon & The Animals) play with them. It worked out and Summers joined providing The Police with a two-guitar line-up.
But Padovani left shortly thereafter and was not replaced. By the end of ’78 the band had recorded its debut album “Outlandos D’ Amour.”
That was followed by “Reggatta De Blanc” and “Zenyatta Mondatta” in ’80.
From ’82, “Ghost In The Machine,” with the infectious Reggae driven “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” was huge.
Even that success paled when compared their next effort “Synchronicity.”
“Wrapped Around Your Finger” and “King of Pain” were major hits but the path was blazed by the album’s first single, the minimalist “Every Breath You Take.” Combined with the stark black and white video that dominated MTV, the song was mega. You couldn’t escape it.
However, the best song on the album was the epic “Synchronicity II.”
When the band gathered to record a follow-up it was clear things had changed. Sting was far more interested in solo projects and pursuing an acting career. He’d already appeared in “Dune.” And you’d think that experience would have killed his acting desire. But except for a benefit concert, that was the end of the Police.
Sting went off to a successful solo career while Summers and Copeland occupied themselves with various projects. Of course, there were highly profitable reunions. How could there not be?
