The Police
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. They also added guitarist Andy Summers.
But Padovani left shortly thereafter and was not replaced. By the end of ’78 the band, a trio again, had recorded its debut album “Outlandos D’ Amour,” featuring their breakthrough single, “Roxanne.”
Roxanne
The “Reggatta De Blanc” and “Zenyatta Mondatta” albums followed in ’80.
“Reggatta De Blanc’s” title loosely translates in French to “White Reggae”
“We finished the album (“Zenyatta Mondatta”) at 4 a.m. on the day we were starting our next world tour. We went to bed for a few hours and then traveled down to Belgium for the first gig. It was cutting it very fine.”
Zenyatta Mondatta
’82’s “Ghost In The Machine,” with the infectious Reggae driven “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” was huge.
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Synchronicity.
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.
Every Breath You Take.
However, the best song on the album was the epic “Synchronicity II.”
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 impulse. But except for a benefit concert, that was pretty much 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?
###
