The Police

The Police are not more important than The Beatles. I am not such a raging homer that I would suggest such things. It IS fun to debate, but I have to include truth. Everybody has their own favorite. Being intellectually honest tells me that Arctic Monkeys have ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS ranking higher than The Police in any category of historical importance. Fandom is one thing. Honesty is another.

So you are telling me that Arcade Fire, Oasis, Coldplay, Muse, The Strokes, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Flaming Lips, The White Stroipes, My Bloody Valentine, Arctic Monkeys, Sigur Ros, Modest Mouse, Wilco, Kanye West, The National, Fleet Foxes, Blur, Animal Collective, Interpol, Bon Iver, Bjork, Sufjan Stevens, Eminem, Manis Street Preachers, Massive Attack, Belle & Sebastian, Gorillaz, and Porcupine Tree are all more historically important than The Police? You are intellectually dishonest. I can stuff the ballot box as well. The Police are significant in more ways that you can comprehend.

The Police were the first New Wave band from Britian to conquer the American charts. They toured the East Coast BEFORE they had a US album release, proving to the other UK bands that they could tour America on the cheap and succeed. Stewart Copeland, aside from his influential polyrythmic drumming technique, helped to popularize not only Tama'a newly created Octobahn drums, but also worked with Paiste to help develop the splash cymbal in new ways. Andy Summers was a frontrunner in using echo, tape delay, and effects influencing guitar players such as The Edge. Sting was a master of songwriting structure and was part of a group of select singers that also played bass. They did much to help revolutionize the music industry. Think along those terms, and then think about the trajectory of alternative music throughout the 80's and 90's. Without The Police, the landscape would be much different. Because of the success of The Police, IRS Records was formed; thus providing the launching pad for R.E.M., The Go-Go's, Squeeze, and Oingo Boingo to name a few. IRS Records was formed by Miles Copeland, manager of The Police. Frontier Booking International (FBI) was formed by Ian Copeland, brother of Miles and Stewart Copeland. FBI was the premier booking and talent agency for acts such as The Cure, The B-52's, R.E.M., Nine Inch Nails, Morrissey, and Iggy Pop. IRS and FBI were able to form and flourish due to the success of The Police.

@TheRealTruth. This website isn't called historically important albums.com. This is called best ever albums. BEST ever albums. These guys are not good enough to be higher rank because there are many better bands.

The Police should surely be ranked higher. They are an immortal band. Great singles, terrific albums, world class rhythm section, inventive classy guitarist, and an instantly recognizable sound. They were a supremely influential act for a time. The songs still kick.