The Police

United Kingdom, 1977–1986

English trio of Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, formed in 1977, who set reggae-derived rhythms inside concise new-wave songs such as 'Roxanne' and 'Every Breath You Take'.

MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced The Police and 4 artists The Police influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The Police?

• Bob Marley — The Police built their sound on reggae's one-drop — Sting has been direct: 'we mined Bob Marley shamelessly'.
• The Beatles — Sting has named the Beatles his songwriting school — the melodic craft under the new-wave surface.
• Jimi Hendrix — Andy Summers has named Hendrix a defining influence — the power-trio guitar space the Police built their sound in.
• Cream — The Police were a virtuoso power trio in the lineage Cream founded — the jazz-schooled improvising three-piece format.

Which artists did The Police influence?

• Maroon 5 — Maroon 5 have named The Police as an influence, echoing their reggae-tinged pop-rock economy.
• No Doubt — No Doubt's ska- and reggae-tinged new wave descends from the white-reggae new wave the Police pioneered.
• Platinum Blonde — Platinum Blonde began as a Police tribute act, playing over 200 gigs of their songs — the Police's rhythmic, reggae-inflected new wave is at the root of the band.
• The Kooks — One of the key influences Luke Pritchard names, with the Kinks and the Beatles.