Turning Tracks 36: The Police

All right.

So the police formed in early 1977 in London by Stuart Copeland on drums, Gordon Sumner, better known as Sting, on bass and lead vocals, and Henry Padovani on guitar.

Andy Summers later joined the group, and after a very short stint as a quartet, Panabati left the band.

The Police started as a punk rock band, but were strongly influenced by reggae and jazz.

The Police also dabbled in world beat and atmospheric instrumentals that nodded toward New Age music, a combination that made the trio one of the most distinctive bands of their era.

The police released five studio albums and sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time.

In 1984, at the peak of their popularity, the police dissolved.

Copland went on to score numerous motion pictures, while Summers recorded adventurous music, including two albums with fellow guitarist Robert Fripp.

Sting became an extremely popular solo artist, revisiting his jazz roots.

The police were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

The trio reunited for a performance at the 2007 Grammy Awards and followed it with an enormously successful world tour in 2007-2008.

Yeah, that was way better than

what

I wrote.

I was like, I'm trying to read along going, I don't know where I am.

Yeah, no, I wrote this nonsense, and then Greg showed up with his own actually well-researched nonsense, which was much better than my nonsense.

Good job, Greg.

Thank you.

So I guess we should talk about our history with the band.

I'll go first.

I've heard of the police.

How about you, Matt? I mean, I know the hits.

I really know almost nothing about them.

I found it very interesting that I learned Gordon Summers' Sting's name was Gordon.

Because he kind of looks like a Gordon, but not really.