The Police

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The Police
The Police performing live on 1 August 2007 at Madison Square Garden, New York.
The Police performing live on 1 August 2007 at Madison Square Garden, New York.
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresNew wave, pop rock ska
Years active1977–1986,
2003 2007–2008

LabelsA&M, Polydor, Universal Music Group
MembersSting
Andy Summers
Stewart Copeland
Henry Padovani
WebsiteOfficial website

The Police were a British rock band who played a style of rock that was influenced by jazz, punk and reggae music. As of 2008, The Police are one of the most successful bands in the world having sold over 40,000,000 records worldwide.[1] The Police, along with The Clash, are notable for using reggae as a major part of their musical form.

Rolling Stone ranked The Police number 70 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[2]

The Police were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 10 March 2003.[3]

History[change | change source]

The Police formed with Stewart Copeland in late 1976 as drummer, Sting as the singer-bassist and Henry Padovani as the guitarist. In early 1977 they recorded their first single, "Fall Out"/"Nothing Achieving,".

Band members[change | change source]

Line-ups[change | change source]

(December 1976–July 1977)
  • Sting - bass, lead vocals
  • Henry Padovani - guitar
  • Stewart Copeland - drums, percussion, backing vocals
(July 1977–August 1977)
  • Sting - bass, lead vocals
  • Henry Padovani - lead guitar
  • Andy Summers - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Stewart Copeland - drums, percussion, backing vocals
(August 1977–July 1986)
  • Sting - bass, lead vocals
  • Andy Summers - guitar, backing vocals
  • Stewart Copeland - drums, percussion, vocals
(August 1986–January 2007)

(The Police disbanded)

(January 2007–August 2008)
  • Sting - bass, lead vocals
  • Andy Summers - guitar, backing vocals
  • Stewart Copeland - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Discography[change | change source]

Studio albums[change | change source]

Live albums[change | change source]

  • Live! - (1995) US sales: Platinum
  • The Police: Certifiable - (November 11, 2008) - Live CD of 2007/08 Reunion Tour recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina (packaged with DVD or Blu-ray, Also a Best Buy Exclusive.)

Singles[change | change source]

Month of release (UK) Song UK singles U.S. Hot 100 U.S. Main- stream Rock Dutch Top 40 Album
May 1977 "Fall Out"
April 1978 "Roxanne" Outlandos d'Amour
September 1978 "Can't Stand Losing You" 42 Outlandos d'Amour
November 1978 "So Lonely" Outlandos d'Amour
April 1979 (re-r.) "Roxanne" 12 32 21 Outlandos d'Amour
June 1979 (re-r.) "Can't Stand Losing You" 2 9 Outlandos d'Amour
September 1979 "Message in a Bottle" 1 74 2 Reggatta de Blanc
November 1979 (re-r.) "Fall Out" 47
November 1979 "Walking on the Moon" 1 9 Reggatta de Blanc
1980 (Ger. and Fra. only) "Bring on the Night" Reggatta de Blanc
February 1980 (re-r.) "So Lonely" 6 31 Outlandos d'Amour
October 1980 "Don't Stand So Close to Me" 1 10 11 3 Zenyatta Mondatta
December 1980 "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" 5 10 11 Zenyatta Mondatta
September 1981 (UK only) "Invisible Sun" 2 Ghost in the Machine
October 1981 "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" 1 3 1 1 Ghost in the Machine
December 1981 "Spirits in the Material World" 12 11 7 6 Ghost in the Machine
May 1982 (US only) "Secret Journey" 46 29 Ghost in the Machine
May 1983 "Every Breath You Take" 1 1 1 6 Synchronicity
July 1983 "Wrapped Around Your Finger" 7 8 9 17 Synchronicity
October 1983 "Synchronicity II" 17 16 9 Synchronicity
January 1984 "King of Pain" 17 3 1 Synchronicity
October 1986 "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" 24 46 10 20 Every Breath You Take: The Singles
1995 "Can't Stand Losing You/Reggatta de Blanc" (live) 27 Live!
1997 "Roxanne '97" (featuring Pras) 17 59 38 The Very Best of Sting and the Police
2000 "When The World Is Running Down" (Different Gear vs. The Police) 28

Awards[change | change source]

BRIT Awards[change | change source]

  • 1982 – Best British Group
  • 1985 – Outstanding Contribution To Music

Grammy Awards[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. "Madonna - The Police are richer than you!". 23 June 2020.
  2. BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Police fan bands go on patrol
  3. http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/inductee-list/

Other websites[change | change source]