Aaron J. West 
Sting and The Police 
Walking in Their Footsteps

During the 1980s, when pop icons like Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and U2 reigned supreme, many regarded The Police as the biggest band in the world. Yet after only five albums—and at the peak of their popularity—The Police disbanded and Sting began a solo career that made him a global pop star. Today, artists from Puff Daddy to Gwen Stefani credit The Police and Sting as major influences on their own work, reflecting that The Police were not only a popular, polished rock act, but a powerfully influential one as well.
In Sting and The Police: Walking in Their Footsteps, Aaron J. West explores the cultural and musical impact of Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers, and Sting. West details the distinctive hybrid character of The Police’s musical output, which would also characterize Sting’s post-Police career. Sting’s long-lived solo career embodies the power of the artful appropriation of musical styles, while capitalizing on the modern realities of pop music consumption. The Police—and Sting in particular—were pioneers in music video, modern label marketing, global activism, and the internationalization of pop music.
Sting and The Police: Walking in Their Footsteps will interest more than just fans. By placing the band within its various musical, cultural, commercial, and historic contexts, Sting and The Police: Walking in Their Footsteps will appeal to anyone interested in global popular music culture.

Table of Content

Series Editor Foreword


Timeline


Acknowledgments


Introduction


Chapter 1: The Police and the Progressive Rock, Punk, and Reggae Styles


Chapter 2: The Police and the Style Mosaic


Chapter 3: Sting and the Album Mosaic


Chapter 4: Selling The Police and Sting to the World


Chapter 5: Sting in the Age of Global Activism


Chapter 6: The Police and the Rock Trio


Chapter 7: The Music After The Police


For Further Reading


For Further Listening


Index


About the Author

About the author

Aaron J. West has written numerous articles on jazz and popular music. He is currently professor of music history at Collin College. A professional musician, he has performed with jazz and pop legends Arturo Sandoval, Brian Wilson, Norah Jones, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.