Rock Band The Police: Photography Books and Collections

Photographer Lynn Goldsmith had a close relationship with The Police from their early years up through their smash success album Synchronicity. She took many of the most memorable photographs of the band we know today, some of which graced the covers of magazines such as Rolling Stone. In 1983, she published this collection of black and white images of the band which captures them in concert, on the road, and in their own homes for one-on-one intimate views.

This collection does have some great photographs, but it is not my favorite Police photographic collection by far. I remember finding it a bit "pretentious" even when I first got a copy back in the 80s, with its literary quotes tagged to the photos (instead of words from or about the band themselves). Some series of photos seem to go on for pages without really revealing anything new or interesting that couldn't have just been captured in one good shot. However, given how inexpensively this collection can be had on eBay these days, it's worth seeking out for any Police fan with a few dollars to spare!

I prefer this second book of photographs of The Police by Goldsmith for various reasons. First I think it gives a more cohesive view of the band as a whole, whereas the first book seemed more concentrated on each band member individually. It also feels less forcibly "artistic" and relaxed - and yes, some of the photographs of the guys are quite "drool-worthy" which this fan definitely appreciates.

If you're a serious collector looking for the limited edition version of this book, eBay is currently your best option. It is no longer directly available for purchase via Amazon.

This is a very fun and different photography book that really captures the band members in relaxed and casual moments. The photos are all by Danny Quatrochi, who has been Sting's bass tech in the studio and on the road since 1979.

Here you'll find great photos of the band recording Zenyatta Mondatta, Ghost in the Machine, and Synchronicity; on the road and touring; there's also a section when Danny went along with Sting while he was filming his appearance in "Dune".

There are two different versions of this book published in 1986: one is hardcover and one is softcover. Otherwise the contents are exactly the same. In 1987 a UK edition was published with a slightly different cover.

Another fun feature of this book is that the band members provide their own hand-written "commentary" on many of the shots, what was going on at particular moments or what they were thinking about. This book is definitely one all fans should try to track down, if they haven't already.

Didi Zill is a photographer who worked for the German teen magazine Bravo. He photographed The Police various times in the years 1979-1981 and many of those photos are included in this attractive, hardcover volume published in 2004.