There’s no escaping The Police; they’re everywhere. Individually, members of The Police continued to tour this past fall and winter, and garnered quite a bit of social media and press coverage with their music and publishing projects. A new book is now out by Laura Shenton for Wymer Publishing, The Police; A Visual Biography.
Featuring photography, text and layout that is visually appealing, The Police; A Visual Biography is a historical treat for Police fans as it chronicles their humble beginnings up to achieving world wide recognition and creative fame.
This coffee table book includes some little known tidbits about the band and some of their song origins. It includes rare press clippings from their unknown days, encompasses their musical journey to becoming what we now know them to be, and includes a discography and member’s solo projects. During their ascension, their record sales, tour grosses and GRAMMYs surpassed even that of the Rolling Stones. The Police would make history becoming the best band of their day, with “Every Breath You Take” still being the most radio played song in American history.
The Police gained traction here in New York at CBGB’s and in the Hudson Valley as relatively unknowns in 1979, also appearing at The Chance in Poughkeepsie. The song “Roxanne” would make its debut on U.S. radio here in the Hudson Valley on WDST, Radio Woodstock, 100.1.
Within three months, The Police had two singles and an album in the U.S. Top Ten.
In a phone interview I had in October, Andy Summers spoke of The Chance fondly, recalling how grateful they all were to get the gig and to be touring America at the time. “What it signified was how we had to maintain our spirit and do a raging show despite a small audience possibly due to a snowstorm at the time.”
Although meeting and forming in the UK, New York has been lucky to have shared in The Police’s early days, because it was also here in New York City and the Hudson Valley that The Police started creating such excitement for their unique sound in America and subsequently the world.
Laura Shenton is widely known for her music profile non fiction books, including profiles on Emerson Lake and Palmer, Kate Bush and Supertramp among others.
Featuring Alan Perry Concert Photography and Bill O’Leary Timeless Concert Images, the author’s voice is evenly paced, respectful of her subject, and engaging. Her interest in writing this book comes through and a recommended book on The Police.
This particular book differs from others on The Police in how thorough and methodically dates, press clippings, memorabilia, concert posters, song origins, tours, and the creative process is described, as well as how solo projects are detailed, and music reviews, awards, nominations and the discography is presented. The author included many quotes from band members giving us a good idea of their musical journey and lets us know the favorite song they all share.
As James Adams stated in 1983 and his quote is included in this book, “The Police are a band. Long may they arrest us.”
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