Darkness

The song "Darkness," featured on The Police's 1981 album Ghost in the Machine, is a hauntingly introspective track penned by drummer Stewart Copeland. Unlike the album's more commercially successful singles like "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "Darkness" delves into a brooding exploration of fame's burdens. In the lyrics, Copeland expresses a desire to escape the trappings of celebrity, with lines like "Instead of worrying about my clothes / I could be someone that nobody knows." This sentiment reflected his personal struggles during the band's rapid rise to stardom, as he later shared in a 2000 interview with Revolver magazine, noting the recording sessions in Montserrat were fraught with tension due to the band's growing internal conflicts. The song's somber tone and minimalist arrangement, driven by Copeland's restrained drumming and Sting's atmospheric bass, make it a standout for its emotional depth.

Another intriguing tidbit about "Darkness" comes from its recording process at AIR Studios in Montserrat. The band, seeking isolation to focus on their work, brought an extensive array of equipment—over 500 pieces, including guitars, synthesizers, and drums—flown in from Nice and London, as documented in an endorsed fanzine, The Police Official File. This remote setting allowed for creative experimentation, but also amplified interpersonal strains. Copeland's count-ins, a distinctive feature of several tracks on the album, were included in the 2022 picture disc reissue of Ghost in the Machine, adding a raw, studio-session vibe to "Darkness" and other songs. Fans on Reddit's ThePolice community have praised "Darkness" as an earworm, with one user calling it a "perennial" favorite for its haunting melody and introspective lyrics.

The Police, formed in London in 1977, began as a punk-inspired trio before evolving into a genre-blending powerhouse. Sting (Gordon Sumner), a former schoolteacher and jazz bassist, met drummer Stewart Copeland, an American with a background in progressive rock, through the London music scene. Copeland, who had played with Curved Air, was eager to form a new band and recruited Sting after seeing him perform with a jazz outfit. Guitarist Andy Summers, a seasoned musician with stints in The Animals and Soft Machine, joined later, replacing original guitarist Henry Padovani. The trio's early days were marked by relentless gigging in small venues, with their debut single, "Roxanne," initially flopping before gaining traction in 1979, propelling them to international fame. Their unique fusion of punk, reggae, and jazz, coupled with Sting's emotive vocals, set them apart in the post-punk era.

The band's official online presence includes their website, thepolice.com, where fans can explore discography details and purchase merchandise like the limited-edition Ghost in the Machine picture disc. Their Facebook page and Instagram account share archival photos and updates, while their X account engages fans with posts like a 2022 reflection from Sting on the experimental approach to Ghost in the Machine. Fan communities thrive on platforms like Reddit, where the r/ThePolice subreddit has over 4,200 subscribers discussing everything from album rankings to favorite tracks like "Darkness." Additionally, fan sites such as The Police Equipment Wiki offer detailed insights into the gear used during the Ghost in the Machine sessions, catering to gearheads and diehard Zoo Freaks alike.