The Police: The Band Behind the Most Played Song in Radio History
Formed in 1977 by Stewart Copeland (drums), Sting (bass and lead vocals), and Andy Summers (guitar), The Police quickly became a worldwide success. Their first single, Roxanne, was released just a year after the band’s formation and became a defining track for the group.
Though Roxanne initially struggled to gain traction, it eventually reached the top 40 in both the U.S. and the U.K. after a second release. Written by Sting, the song was originally performed in a Bossa Nova style. The inspiration for the lyrics came to him during a performance in Paris when he saw prostitutes walking in the red-light district. The name Roxanne itself was inspired by a poster in the hotel where the band stayed in Paris.
Since its shaky release in 1978, Roxanne has grown in stature, becoming an integral part of The Police’s live shows and being featured in all of their greatest hits compilations. The song has come to represent the band’s music like no other.
Even after The Police disbanded in 1984, Sting continued to perform Roxanne in various arrangements during his solo career, demonstrating how a great song can be reinterpreted while retaining its core integrity. In fact, Roxanne was the natural choice when The Police reunited to perform at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
But Roxanne is just the beginning! By blending punk, reggae, ska, and jazz, The Police were pioneers of the “New Wave” movement, which combined punk’s DIY ethos with more sophisticated musical arrangements and chords.
Over their five-year career, The Police released an album a year, each filled with hits. Their impressive catalogue includes Every Breath You Take, So Lonely, Message in a Bottle, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Don’t Stand So Close to Me, Walking on the Moon, King of Pain, and of course, Roxanne.
An interesting fact: Stewart Copeland’s brother, Miles Copeland III, managed the band and later went on to manage Sting’s solo career. He also produced for R.E.M. and The Bangles.
The Police Tunes | Related Pages
Every Breath You Take | Chords + TAB
You can learn to play Every Breath You Take by The Police using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Aadd9 | Aadd9 | F#madd9 | F#madd9 |
Every breath you take, and every move you make…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Every Breath You Take (The Police) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Message In A Bottle | Chords + TAB
You can learn to play Message In A Bottle by The Police using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C#sus2 Asus2 | Bsus2 F#madd9 |
Just a castaway…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Message In A Bottle (The Police) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Roxanne | Chords + TAB
You can learn to play Roxanne by The Police using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Gm | Dm/F | Ebmaj7 | Dm |
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Roxanne – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
The Police on the web
