The blond hair was actually the result of a commercial they did to earn some quick money. Afterward, they decided to stay with the look. The trio did drive around from gig to gig in a leased Ford Cargo Van that had seen better days and was long past the original return date. The van contained 'borrowed' instruments and equipment. Actually, according to statements made by the band members during that time, they rented the instruments in New York City for a club date and forgot to return them until their tour was finished. It’s said the band made good on the extra charges for the van and instruments.
Like The Beatles, The Police paid their dues and perfected their music the hard way. They played small venues and one night stands. They closed ranks and forced out a less talented band member. They stayed in cheap motels, wrote and practiced during the day; played sets late into the night and used whatever time remained to get to their next gig. Unlike the Beatles who took six long and hard years to get noticed, The Police were suddenly thrust into worldwide stardom in less than a year and a half.
They woke up one morning in a drive up motel and received news that Rolling Stone Magazine photographers wanted to do a shoot with them that afternoon. It happened just that fast. However, if Sting, Summers and Copeland thought that fame would cut them a break, they were wrong. The accommodations got better, the performance venues were bigger and the recording sessions were longer and more high tech, but the pace never slowed for a moment.
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