There are many great three-piece bands that have existed throughout the history of music. There are at least 20 that are arguably some of the best ever. Once every decade or so, there comes along a trio that sets the tone for what all future three-piece bands should be.
Some of them live on for years, while others fade away quickly; many with “What if?” moments. The iconic band featured on this month’s cover is no doubt going to go down as one of the greatest “What if?” bands in the history of rock ‘n roll. While each member has gone on to do bigger and better things one can’t help but wonder what might have been had they stayed together for another 5-10 years. We will never know but just maybe it’s not too late; after all, several bands that have been broken up for a long time eventually find their way back together again. Let’s hope that this month’s band finds a way back together again, if even for just one more tour. Here’s a little more about our band of the month.
The Police were formed in London in 1977.For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland. 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, including strong singles “Roxanne” and “Can’t Stand Losing You” reached No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart. Their second album, Reggatta de Blanc, 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 and Ghost in the Machine, led to further success critically and commercially with the songs, “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” and “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”. Both became 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, released in 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 their only US number one.
Breaking up in 1986 and only returning once for a world tour which set records in 2008 the possibility of what could have been will always remain a mystery, yet they will still be remembered as one of the greatest trios in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.
