[Closed] Verdict on The Police (as in Sting, Copeland, & Summers)

Sting is a bit of a dick and I've only really heard the obvious stuff which is ok, but I heard Darkness on an episode of Mindhunter which I thought was excellent so might have to investigate.

Every little thing they've done is magic?

Allegedly hit the drums harder than anyone else (NSFW)

Don't think you can leave aside Sting - the Police are underrated here because Sting was seen as a colossal ****er in the 80s and 90s which sort of clouds their oeuvre.

They are loved in the US where someone like Sting would be seen as an unremarkable, garden variety rock star.

Ask anyone British what they think of the Jam, say, versus the Police and you'll get laughed at for the comparison. But elsewhere those two bands, from the same era, would prob both be rated equally highly.

fantastic in the late 70's.
those 2 albums with the French names, were ace.

I think they were alright. Couple of really good tunes, some embarrassing white boy reggae lite and otherwise unremarkable. Definitely not one of the greatest rock bands ever. Then again I suppose it depends on ones definition of rock.

Bland. Puff Daddy's version was better.

Back when we had a physical media player installed on a PC, I used to play their (US version?) greatest hits CD an awful lot, but this thread has just inspired me to listen to one of their tunes on Youtube for the first time in a while, that talks about shouting above the din of their Rice Krispies! 😀

Didn’t sting do a half decent colab with the beat

Good when remastered

They started to get interesting around the Synchronicity album, then they split up.

Some good ideas but far too repetitive, write half a song, then repeat the chorus over and over and over until everyone has fallen asleep. Then repeat.

There’s no denying they are all very good musicians, but collectively “OK”.

Just 3 words. Reggatta de Blanc.

Sting the man that wrote a "musical" about the decline of ship building and the destruction of its community and did the opening night on Broadway

The man is a t**t and the Police were a "pop" band....

Sting , sitting on top of the barbican.

Message in a bottle is a banger. Drum solo in that is so so good.

I think 'bland' sums them up. Some not-bad pop songs, but very, very soft reggae, on par with mid-period UB40. Nothing much to be offended about, but if I never heard one of their songs again I probably wouldn't notice.

Stuart and Miles Copeland, however, are top dudes. They donated some money to a youth club where I grew up, which was for instruments and recording equipment. It sparked a little scene which produced some pretty decent local bands, and gave lots of people a chance to have a go. The effect lasted for years - right up until they knocked down the youth club.

Got few of their albums. Used to listen to The Police for a while because they were good. I think the last song I listened to was Every Breath You Take.
Then noticed Sting started to smell his own fart and I moved on ... never again. Apparently Sting came to Newcastle for a visit few years back (I think ...) and nobody really care apart from the local news.

Definitely a pop band! The acceptable face of "new wave" who your parents could like.Was at this gig https://www.mdmarchive.co.uk/artefact/6220/FREE_TRADE_HALL_TICKET_1979
I ended up briefly dating a girl who got on stage and was enticed off by being given one of Sting's sweaty towels,her mate got a slice of his water melon,ticket price only £1.75!!!
This Joy Divison gig a couple of weeks later which I also attended was more my thing
https://www.joydiv.org/c250679.htm
Oh to be 16 again! " And I hate modern music disco boogie and pop it goes on and on and on and on and I wish it would stop!"

Massage in a brothel was ok. I have something to thank them for, coped off with a hottie who loved The Police, because I had a passing resemblance to Sting in my youf, well I had short blond hair.

What easily said +1. Police were to reggae and rock what Foreigner were to blues and punk.

The 1dt 2 albums were top quality pop of their day (was listening today).

To compare with all reggae is stupid and to talk about personalities moreso.

The best thing Sting did ???

Well that's cleared that up for me ..I always thought he was singing about "massaging a botty"..
Never a rock band ..a pop/ whiteboy reggae band at best ..ok at the time but sound a bit shit now ..

Copeland hit the drums harder than anyone else ..?
Wonder what Bonzo or Moon would say to that ..probably laughing from a cloud somewhere right now .

Ah yes, that Zappa/Sting Murder by Numbers is brilliant. "I wrote the ****ing song".

It's always a bit pointless people blathering on about who hit the drums hardest - so what.

Copeland was/is a superb drummer and much underrated.

IMO obvs.

Summers is almost as big a dick as Sting. Some good songs, but veered too much towards MOR for me.

JP

Copeland is a legend.... end of.

The best worst thing Sting Zappa did???

ftfy 😉

I'm a fan.

Roxanne and Walking on the Moon are bloody excellent tracks if nothing else. Copelands' off beat "moving one beat to the left" as he called it on Roxanne was pretty innovative at the time and one of the reasons Rolling Stone put him at no.10 on their all time 100 best drummers. Andy Summers is a brilliant guitarist and while Sting isn't everyone's cup of tea fo'shure, he's a great composer and arranger and again like the other two a brilliant musician. Like many 3 piece bands they were forced to be creative to fill in the space left out by a rhythm guitarist, and I think if we're being hyperbolic, they were massively influential in the late 70's and early 80's. They were one of the few English bands that could fill a US stadium .

Sure some of their tracks haven't dated well, but then neither have lots of other artists of that era, and I'd still put a few of their songs as all time greats, Don't stand so close to me, and Every Breath you Take for example.

Yeah Sting turned out to be a right nob but I've always had a soft spot for The Police. Always thought of them as an interesting pop band rather than a risk averse alternative band

Here's what I learnt today: Stewart Copeland wrote the theme tune to The Equalizer

To me - a decent pop band with a tendency to do awful cod reggae.

I think If yo liked real reggae as I do then the polices crap attempt at reggae simply sounds shite

They were an OK pop band, but not in the same league as Prince or Bowie, for a couple of random examples off the top of my head.

The police were the first band I saw live at Milton Keynes bowl in 1980. Flippin ace it was (even though I was only 7 at the time).

Copeland is one of the greats imo.
But TBF sting has done some great stuff (but not the album with Shaggy!!) and he did write "hung my head" which was covered superbly by Jonny Cash and is still one of my favourite songs from the American IV album.

I still have regatta, zenyatta and Synchronicity on vinyl from my youth and still rate them.

NickC's examples made me smile ..Dont stand so close to me and every breath you take ..did someone fart then?

I still have vinyl copies of Regatta & Zenyatta ..open to offers if some mug wants to pay me lots 🤑

Depends on the chronology really - the early stuff like Roxanne, Can't stand losing and Sue Lawley are great but the later stuff, especially Every Breath, King of Pain etc were massive MTV players in an age of soft rock so they get lumped in with a lot of other bland stuff. Sting is a great songwriter though, even if he does have an ego that got a bit out of hand at the time; he wasn't the only one.

It's pop, for sure, but it's musically original and quite sophisticated whilst still being catchy. This is pretty difficult to pull off and very few bands can do it. A sign of real talent, as composers. But I don't own any of their albums...

As Ton said first two albums were great, then Sting kept taking his shirt off and that was it.

Copeland is a brilliant drummer, really special, he did a film called the Rhymatist which is excellent.

He also did the soundtrack for Rumble Fish, one of my favourite films.

I saw them at the Rushcliffe Leisure Centre in 1978 - supported by the Cramps.
At the time, I thought they were great ( and I used to go out with Andy Summer's niece when I was younger).
Sting became to gobshite model that later morphed into Bono and Geldof. he had a smug opinion on everything (even the Russians loving their children too, FFS). The coke consumption didn't help him, mind.
They were all musos riding the New Wave thang - Summers background was with Robin Fripp and King Crimson, so Prog rock at its best, Copeland was ex Curved air (with a brother that was something to do with the CIA) and Sting was Jazz Rock & Funk through and through.

Loved the first two albums, they are part of the soundtrack of my life. But haven't listen to them since about 1981. Gave up at the one with the orange cover, when the drug induced egos took over...
( I did have a soft spot for Copeland appearing on the OGWT with "****" and "Off" taped on this drums ... as mentioned above)

They like a prototype Coldplay

Saw them in either Leeds or Bradford probably round 79ish as I left school in 1980. Someone had a ticket to get rid of. I was very, very into music at the time and saw a lot of bands. The police was my first meh gig. Band appeared to be acting having a good time. Audience went along with it. I was left pretty cold. Not much coming back from that really...

That said, I liked the stotts scene posted above, and Sting did a hyper geordie interview on the word to wind up a nervous new presenter, which was kind of funny. And copeland on drums expressing his disdain for the backbeat ("just play a backbeat!") was funny too. Maybe one day I'll watch Sting's NPR tiny desk with Shaggy. Nah. Enough?

tendency to do awful cod reggae.

This would be legitimate criticism if they were trying to be a reggae band, which they weren't, so it isn't.

Doing awful cod reggae is terrible, even if you're not claiming to be a reggae band. The word 'awful' is a clue.

They were the best band I ever saw live (around 1983 NEC Birmingham) until I saw the Stereophonics.

Their music was original, however Sting's lyrics were always weird and simple. I think I heard someone on the radio saying he was the worst lyricist of the last few decades.

And to a young woman at the time, very easy on the eye.

a brother that was something to do with the CIA

It was his dad who worked for the CIA. Involved in MK Ultra apparently!

White men doing Reggae ..... Wrong, just wrong.

they kinda knew that though didn't they?

The literal translation of Regatta de Blanc is white reggae. they knew what they were doing and acknowledged it in naming the album.

I used to love them in the 80's up until that red/orange album as someone mentioned above.

Listened to some tracks again recently and really enjoying them again. some classics like walking on the moon and some irreverent ones like On any other day

They have personal space issues - don't stand so close to them...

Never been a huge fan - it's fairly easy listening.

Used to like every breath you take - until I found out it was a song about a stalker - slightly creepy...

White men doing Reggae ….. Wrong, just wrong.

Don't be ridiculous. 🙄

Used to like every breath you take – until I found out it was a song about a stalker – slightly creepy…

I bet you've sang along to Delilah by Tom Jones too haven't you?

Bit late to this, but yeah I’m a fan.

They crafted some fabulous songs, but then filled the albums out with some very weird creations, so if really is had to pick one album and go “like yeah, that’s the best one” The early ones had the edge and energy, so that fairly safe to predict, but the chaos of the personalities in the latter years created some sublime melodies.

Andy Summers has always been a favourite guitar player of mine, if you listen to some of the chord sequences in “Regatta” you’re gonna find some deeply jazzy riffs, all sprinkled with some hippy shit chorus pedals and flangers to take what simple jazz riffs into a new era with a punkesque energy and sharpness.
I’ve been lucky to have met Andy quite a few times, he’s notoriously quiet spoken, outspoken too. Yet even I find his solo stuff hard to listen too without skipping some tracks.

Sting, well yeah he moved on into his own stuff and TBH he was always going to do that and be deemed the “leader” but if you look at the structure of most of the Polices songs, most are drum rhythms with guitar laid over the top and in the gaps.. it’s only when you realise there is a bit of bass in ther that you realise Sting is the bass player.. well from the records that is.. it’s almost like an after thought the bass.

However, Stewart is IMO the mainstay of the band. He was the glue that brought them together and banged heads when everyone was up thier own arses. He now seems to stand out for his BBC4 drumming programmes and his almost childlike enthusiasm when presenting his favourite subject matter... and as is the case, may that continue for years to come.

So, over the years I’ve dipped in and out as I do with other artists but they do remain a favourite of mine and  and easy choice if I’m feeling a bit nostalgic.

If you are a fan of Copeland, he's doing another BBC Four documentary starting 17th January.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000db8k

They were all musos riding the New Wave thang – Summers background was with Robin Fripp and King Crimson, so Prog rock at its best,

No truth in that whatsoever. And it’s Robert Fripp, as any ful know.

Summers' professional career began in the mid-1960s in London as guitarist for the British rhythm and blues band Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, which eventually came under the influence of the psychedelic scene and evolved into the acid rock group Dantalian's Chariot.[5] In September 1966, Summers was the first guitarist encountered by Jimi Hendrix after landing in the UK.[6] The young Summers is portrayed in fiction as one of the "two main love interests" in Jenny Fabian and Johnny Byrne's 1969 book Groupie, in which he is given the pseudonym "Davey".[7]

After the demise of Dantalion's Chariot, Summers joined Soft Machine for three months and toured the United States. For a brief time in 1968, he was a member of the Animals, then known as Eric Burdon and the Animals, with whom he recorded one album, Love Is. The album features a recording of Traffic's "Coloured Rain", which includes a 4 minute and 15 second guitar solo by Summers. The LP also included a reworked version of Dantalion's Chariot's sole single "Madman Running Through the Fields".

After five years in Los Angeles, mostly spent studying classical guitar and composition at California State University, Northridge, he returned to London with his American girlfriend Kate Lunken.

In London, Summers recorded and toured with acts including Kevin Coyne, Jon Lord, Joan Armatrading, David Essex, Neil Sedaka and Kevin Ayers. In October 1975 he participated in an orchestral rendition of Mike Oldfield's seminal "Tubular Bells".

In 1977, Summers was invited by ex-Gong bassist Mike Howlett to join his band Strontium 90, but was soon coaxed away by future Police bandmates Sting and Stewart Copeland.

The only connection any of The Police have with King Crimson is Stuart Copeland and his band Gizmodrome, which has Adrian Belew as a member.
Speaking as someone who’s been a fan of King Crimson for fifty years...

No truth in that whatsoever. And it’s Robert Fripp, as any ful know.

Ah and there was I thinking Robin must be Bob's little known brother.

Speaking as someone who’s been a fan of King Crimson for fifty years…

God you must be nearly as old as me.

Leaving aside post-Police Sting (whatever you think of him as an individual), can you please explain why they might be see by some as one of the blandest bands of all time? Because frankly, as a fan myself, I would love to know what makes them so polarising.

I have no real view on the police at all. Before my time and always just seemed a bit poppy rather than rock so I've never really bothered to listen to anything of theirs that hasn't been on the radio. But.....

Music and art will always have emotive polarising views, due to way that they make people feel, most of these views are neither right or wrong*. If you like something, great. If others don't, well it doesn't really affect your listening does it.

*Apart from coldpay and The 1975. Both shit. FACT.

This is the best thing they have done.

kayak23

White men doing Reggae ….. Wrong, just wrong.

Don’t be ridiculous. 🙄

What white man has ever done anything like decent reggae? apart from Yellowman 😉

UB 40 perhaps the closest as they were multiracial

Around this time last year I was in Davos for the World Economic Forum converting a night club for a one off event/****fest being thrown by one of the richest people in the world. The star guest was some bloke from around Newcastle. The big boss man from said big company, whilst surrounded by a haunch of burly ex-SAS types, said the bar was too big.

Major panic from the PM. The star guest was due to arrive for sound check....

Mate and I took half the the bar apart and needed to cut down the bar top. Took the bar outside and set up the saw. At that point some tart came running round telling us that said the VIP was about to arrive and that we shouldn't look him in the eye and it was best if we just left the area....

Some white Mercedes van pulled up and out stepped some bloke. At that point I pulled the trigger on the plunge saw and sent a load of saw dust in his general direction.

Don't look him in the eye.... WTF?!

William, that prick with stupid hats who is always on the Graham Norton show, turned up later. He was a right ****...

I'm amused at all the people who think they're above pop music.

Priceless. 🙂

I’m amused at all the people who think they’re above pop music.

Priceless. 🙂

Agreed. Some of the best art in the world is pop music.

My bad on getting Robert’s name wrong. I tend to turn off to Prog Rock icons. Toyah Wilcocks sold out her punk roots so badly.

White people not playing reggae - well the blues, disco and rock n roll need to be added to that. And then there is house , drum n bass etc ...
I assume that mean black folks shouldn’t do classical?

surrounded by a haunch of burly ex-SAS types

SAS or ex-SAS are very rarely burly, more usually wiry.

White people not playing reggae

Its no issue if they do a decent job of it hence my mention of UB40

But apart from them ( and even with them its a poppy sanitised version) has any white person ever made any decent reggae? Its like white folk with dreads. Sad.

As for Disco? basically invented by a couple of european producer / DJs. Moroder and Cerrone - both white

It is dreadfully "woke" to suggest people are only entitled to play music because of what colour their skin is. Kind of like art - it becomes appropriated by different cultures, who shape it differently and the world in better for it.

Thats not what I said.

*Apart from coldpay and The 1975. Both shit. FACT.

While we're getting facts sorted out, Billy Joel sucks.

But apart from them ( and even with them its a poppy sanitised version) has any white person ever made any decent reggae?

I ran this past a colleague who was a proper sound system DJ, out to Jamaica for records etc, like a short, balding, unsuccessful Rodigan and he had a list of one - Snow , Canadian artist and still a bit / a lot crap

Toyah Wilcocks sold out her punk roots so badly.

I think that was an act.

On of my favorite Onion stories was something along the lines of "Man realizes he doesn't really like reggae, he just likes Bob Marley's Legend". Unfortunately, I can't find the original, but white guys liking Marley does seem to be one of their stock jokes.

https://www.theonion.com/desperate-u-s-colleges-weigh-emergency-bob-marley-lege-1819566557

https://www.theonion.com/bob-marley-rises-from-grave-to-free-frat-boys-from-bond-1819568049

Bob Marley’s dad was white ( White Jamaican) - I am guessing he would have liked his son’s music.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27426329
Or maybe not 🙂

How about the clash? Quite a lot of reggae influence in much of their music and what about bankrobber?

Just about to post The Clash.
And The Ruts.
And don't forget all the superb white Ska bands.

Tis a silly question, as well you know. 🙂

Don't forget Bad Manners 🙂

Ska is not reggae!

tjagain

Not a lot, but this is great, and the band are all white

... admittedly it helps having Lee Perry involved.

As others have mentioned the Clash did some good stuff:
Bankrobber

White Man in Hammersmith Palais
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkM5lrrnq_Y

I'm struggling to think of much more.

Hotel California??