The Police - So Loneley (1979) | LIVE

The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Police became globally popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Emerging in the British new wave scene, they played a style of rock influenced by punk, reggae, and jazz.

Their 1978 debut album, Outlandos d'Amour, reached No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart on the strength of the singles "Roxanne" and "Can't Stand Losing You". Their second album, Reggatta de Blanc (1979), became the first of four consecutive No. 1 studio albums in the UK and Australia; its first two singles, "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon", became their first UK number ones. Their next two albums, Zenyatta Mondatta (1980) and Ghost in the Machine (1981), led to further critical and commercial success with two songs, "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", becoming UK number-one singles and Top 5 hits in other countries; the latter album and single were their breakthrough into the US as both reached the Top 3 there.

Their final studio album, Synchronicity (1983), was No. 1 in the UK, Canada, Australia, Italy and the US, selling over 8 million copies in the US. Its lead single, "Every Breath You Take", became their fifth UK number one, and only US number one. During this time, the band were considered one of the leaders of the Second British Invasion of the US; in 1983 Rolling Stone labelled them "the first British New Wave act to break through in America on a grand scale, and possibly the biggest band in the world." The Police disbanded in 1986, but reunited in early 2007 for a one-off world tour that ended in August 2008. They were the world's highest-earning musicians in 2008, due to their reunion tour.

The Police have sold over 75 million records, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. The band won a number of music awards, including six Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards—winning Best British Group once, and an MTV Video Music Award. In 2003, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Four of their five studio albums appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". The band were included among both Rolling Stone's and VH1's lists of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".

[milciadesmedina]

Copeland is not a human. It is a beast.

[jamesstewart]

My appreciation of The Police grows as I get older.

[timanderson]

This was 45 years ago. Imagine living in 1979 and checking out music from 1934...

[johnbgriffinjr]

You younger folks may not understand, but this band revolutionized the direction of music in the late 70’s…. This from an old school 70’s stoner ✌🏼

[andycuthbert]

What a powerful sound for 3 people. Sounds even better in 2024!

[andrewsmith]

No finer banger of the skins than Mr Copeland!! Only Moon the loon could match him for sheer energy

[peterbrusch]

This short video explains their success. Pure power!

[hamid]

That's the real police I remember and loved, ... the 1st three albums

[dookieday]

Top rate musicianship , they are tight.

[lukewarmwater]

The Police are like Steely Dan or The Talking Heads, they're their own genre and aesthetic, there's a specific feel when you listen to them...whenever I hear Spirits In The Material World I think of walking across my parent's front lawn on a cool brisk Halloween night and looking up at the stars when I was 13...

[anitakos]

Amazing!! I will always LOVE The Police!! ❤️❤️❤️💫💫💫💋💋💋

[fredkooistra]

Its great the chemistry between these 3 musicians . Fantastic.

[Blessedbeyondmeasur]

SO MUCH SOUND!! Three man orchestra…all time favorite band!!

[HugoPap]

I COULDN'T LIVE WITH NO ONE ELSE!!

Best part of the video.

[nunocarvalhoguerra]

There used to be the long version of this performance at it was even greater. They totally kicked ass here

[danielandrewgrant]

I saw them in March of ‘79 at the Whiskey a Go-Go in Hollywood. I recall it being an ok show. However, I had seen the Clash the night before so, by comparison, the Police were merely professional.

[GerardFrenchy]

Musikladen war einfach toll! So was gibt's heute nicht Mehr. Shade! 😢

[tbone]

Gotta be good in a trio. No place to hide.

[lloydnichols]

Steward Copeland., [FANTASTIC, PRECISION, DYNAMIC, GROOVE DRUMMER ]!!!!

[reresimone]

i remember it like it were yesterday. a massive hit with summer solo unique. i cant believe he is now 81!!