The Police

The Police was a three-piece British pop band which came to prominence in the wake of the punk rock phenomenon. The group was formed in 1977 by Stewart Copeland (drummer) who initially recruited Sting (bassist and lead singer) and Henri Padovani (guitarist). This line-up issued the band's first single ("Fall Out") in May 1977. Andy Summers (guitarist) was soon recruited and, two months later, Padovani quit the band.

First album, Outlandos D'Amour, was a slow burner and the band did not achieve widespread fame until 1979 when first single, "Roxanne" was a hit after being re-released.

They released their last album, Synchronicity, in 1983, which is widely regarded as a classic. Notable songs from that album include "Every Breath You Take" and "Wrapped Around your Finger". Although there was never an official break-up, each band member gradually began his own solo career. A short-lived attempt to reunite in 1986 produced a re-recording of their song "Don't Stand So Close to Me". On March 10, 2003, The Police were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Police Discography

Year	Title	Label
1977	Fallout/Nothing Achieving (single)	A&M
1978	Outlandos d'Amour	A&M
1979	Regatta de Blanc	A&M
1980	Zenyatta Mondatta	A&M
1981	Ghost in the Machine	A&M
1983	Synchronicity	A&M
1986	Every Breath You Take: the Singles	A&M
1993	Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings	A&M
1995	Live	A&M
1998	Greatest Hits	A&M

Sting, the principal songwriter, had previously spent time as a high-school English teacher, and his lyrics are noted for their literary awareness and verbal agility. Material in Ghost in the Machine was inspired by the writings of Arthur Koestler, and material in Synchronicity was inspired by the writings of C.G. Jung.