The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977, consisting of Sting (Gordon Sumner) on vocals and bass, Andy Summers on guitar, and Stewart Copeland on drums. Emerging from the punk and new wave scenes, they blended reggae, rock, and other influences into a distinctive sound that propelled them to global stardom in the late 1970s and early 1980s before disbanding in 1984.
“Roxanne,” written by Sting, appears on their 1978 debut album Outlandos d’Amour and was first released as a single in April 1978. Inspired by prostitutes Sting observed in Paris and a hotel poster for the play Cyrano de Bergerac, the song tells of a man pleading with a sex worker to leave her profession; it initially underperformed due in part to a BBC ban but became a hit upon re-release in 1979.
- Chart performance: Peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
- Style: Reggae rock/new wave with a tango-influenced rhythm, driven by Sting’s distinctive vocals, Summers’ guitar, and Copeland’s crisp drums.
- Legacy: Ranked among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time; inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008; remains one of the band’s signature tracks and a frequent live staple.
- Fun fact: The opening piano chord and laughter resulted from Sting accidentally sitting on a studio piano during recording.
“Roxanne” not only launched The Police toward international success but endures as a timeless classic that captures their innovative early energy and Sting’s storytelling flair.