Synchronicity: 1983/84

Police - a fair cop for Glasgow fans...

The world's most popular rock band, The Police, took Glasgow Apollo by storm on Sunday night as they swept through a set blistering with greatest hits.

Sting and Co. won over a packed audience with their distinctive white reggae beat, including hit singles like 'Can't Stand Losing You', 'Walking on the Moon', 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' and the evergreen 'Roxanne'.

Critics often dismiss the band as peroxide-pretty-boys-made-good, but they cannot deny the skill involved in writing the ultimate three-minute catchy pop song like 'Message in a Bottle', which was the dipped into their bag of oldies highlight of the show.

Main focal point of the evening was inevitably Sting, who whether demonstrating a Highland Fling or striking heart-throb poses, just could not be ignored.

And although cruel music press reports of recent weeks have deemed Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland as Sting's "extra luggage", the guitarist and drummer proved invaluable sidemen to the star's heroics.

The Police's new album, 'Synchronicity' was extensively showcased at the concert, but the band also dipped into their bag of oldies to delight the fans with showstoppers including 'So Lonely', 'De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da' and 'Invisible Sun'.

Between songs, Sting described Glasgow as one of the group's favourite venues, which looked at with a non-cynical eye is quite a compliment, as The Police are renowned for playing in almost every corner of the world.

Small courtesies aside, however, the band proved they are the most exciting live act on the pop scene today and will continue to be so for years to come.

Support act at the Apollo was Liverpool duo China Crisis, whose gentle melodies won them many new fans before the 'Heavies' came onstage.

An apt soundtrack blared from the speakers as the crowds milled out of the theatre Sting's version of 'Spread a Little Happiness' from the film 'Brimstone and Treacle'.

(c) The Greenock Telegraph