The Police wrapped up their final performance on Thursday, August 7, in New York’s MadisonSquare Garden nearly thirty years after their first album, “Outlandos d'Amour.”
The Police formed in 1977 and consisted of Sting (vocals/bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar/vocals), and Stewart Copeland (drums/vocals), and their first of many hit singles “Roxanne,” helped them to sell fifty million records worldwide. Fifty million record sales is an impressive feat for any artist, let alone one that was only active for such a short period of time.
The band originally broke up in 1984, one year after the release of their one and only major label record, “Synchonicity.” The decision to quit at the height of their popularity left listeners in a state of disbelief.
Fans of The Police were pleasantly surprised when the famed trio embarked on a reunion tour in April of last year. Unfortunately, the tour would be the band’s last.
The fifteen month long tour made $386 million and played to 3.7 million people. The final song played live by The Police was “Next To You.” After the final notes of the last song rang out a costumed lady sang to symbolize “the fat lady singing.” Her singing was accompanied by Looney Tune’s character Porky Pig’s famous line: “…That’s all folks!”
The band opened with Cream’s “Sunshine Of Your Love.” The performance was also highlighted with many lighthearted moments such as Sting having an onstage shaving of his beard, which had been the subject of criticism in the press.
Once again Madison Square Garden has held a memorable and coveted show that will be remembered in the music industry for quite some time.
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