Spirits in the Material World

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, your Zoo Crew is spinning a classic for you today with "Spirits in the Material World" by The Police from their 1981 album Ghost in the Machine. This track’s got some wild trivia to share! Did you know Sting wrote this song on a Casiotone keyboard while bouncing around in the back of a truck? He’d never touched a synthesizer before, and he just tapped away until this gem came to life by pure accident. That’s the magic of creativity, Zoo Freaks! Sting even wanted to record it without guitarist Andy Summers, aiming for a synth-only vibe, but Andy fought to keep his guitar in the mix, adding those subtle, high-plucked notes you hear. The song’s complex bassline is a beast—music scholar Daniel Levitin says it’s so rhythmically wild it’s tough to pin down the beat. Drummer Stewart Copeland called it his toughest challenge in 2023, saying there’s “no 1 beat, it’s all upbeat.” Recorded at Air Studios in Montserrat, the lyrics dive deep, riffing on philosopher Arthur Koestler’s ideas about humanity’s spirit getting trapped in a materialistic world. Oh, and fun fact: reggae artist Pato Banton covered it with Sting for the 1995 Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls soundtrack, hitting number 36 on the UK charts!

Let’s talk about how The Police got their start. Formed in London in 1977, the trio—Sting on vocals and bass, Andy Summers on guitar, and Stewart Copeland on drums—came together when Copeland, a drummer with prog-rock roots, wanted to form a punk-inspired band. He recruited Sting, then a schoolteacher and jazz bassist named Gordon Sumner, after seeing him play in a local band. The original guitarist was Henry Padovani, but Andy Summers, a seasoned player from the ‘60s scene, joined later, replacing Padovani to create the classic lineup. Their early sound blended punk’s raw energy with reggae and jazz influences, making them pioneers of the New Wave movement. By the late ‘70s, they were gigging hard, and their 1978 debut album Outlandos d’Amour with hits like “Roxanne” launched them to global fame. Five albums later, including the iconic Synchronicity, they took a hiatus in 1984, officially disbanding in 1986, but reunited for a massive 2007-2008 tour. Their mix of sharp songwriting and genre-bending grooves still resonates, Zoo Freaks!

Want to keep up with The Police? Check out their official website for the latest news and tour archives. They’re on Facebook and Instagram, sharing throwbacks and updates. You can also follow Sting’s solo work on X or Stewart Copeland’s at X for their latest projects. For fan love, dive into PoliceWiki, a fan-run site packed with deep dives on songs and history. Join the The Police Fan Club on Facebook to connect with fellow Zoo Freaks who live for those reggae-rock vibes. Keep it groovy, and stay tuned for more spins from your Zoo Crew!