The Police Photography

The Police debuted in 1977 as one of the earliest English New Wave acts, but singer/bassist Sting, guitarist Andy Summers, and drummer Stewart Copeland also dabbled in everything from punk to reggae to jazz. In spite of performing together for just nine years, the group sold over 75 million albums and all went on to successful solo careers.

The band’s cross-generational hits included “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” and “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” though 1983’s swansong album Synchronicity served as the Police’s peak. Hit singles “Every Breath You Take,” “King of Pain,” and “Wrapped Around Your Finger” propelled the band to new heights of fame, gave rise to a sold-out stadium world tour, and all three videos achieved endless MTV airplay.

Even with more than two decades apart, a 2007/8 reunion tour found the fellas picking right up where they left off when it came to selling out stadiums and festivals. And thankfully, the Police proved just as formidable a musical force as ever thanks to stellar live reviews, plus the platinum-selling CD/DVD souvenir Certifiable.