I don't know where they rank on the all time best bands list, but Duran Duran is definitely higher than The Police.
(I say that to make middle-aged white guys lose their minds. Works 95% of the time.)
It really depends on what metric you use to determine "better". Number of albums released? Duran Duran - 15 (to date), The Police - 5. Longevity? Duran Duran still exists, no contest. Albums sold/money made? Duran Duran wins again. Top 10 hits (US)? Duran Duran - 21, The Police - 6. Best songwriter? Ok, Ok, we'll give that one to Sting who was much better as a solo artist. The Police do not get credit for Sting's later career.
But the QUALITY of those Police albums is AMAZING! Don't get me wrong, I have seen Duran Duran in concert and screamed Wild Boys (they finally played it during the encore) until I was hoarse. But I can listen to Zenyatta Mondatta and Regatta de Blanc from beginning to end any day.
*Marked safe from Layoff Round 2
Turns out the bosses did the activity proactively and weren't asked to ante up just yet.
Again - it depends on how you define "better". I suspect seeing Duran Duran live was more fun than seeing The Police live, even in the '80s.
OK, choice in Summer 2023, you have to buy tickets to see either Duran Duran or The Police: The Reunion Tour - which concert gets your money?
Well, congrats again. Hopefully you’re well positioned in the event of the worst case scenario. Corporate layoffs can be brutal. Old company laid off 10% of a 50K workforce just before Christmas to ensure savings hit that financial year. 48 hours and entire floors of people were just gone.
There is no loyalty in business and that should be the mindset of the rank and file, too.
I like both bands. I might attend both concerts. I believe that Duran Duran is a better band by metrics that do not include the musicianship of either Sting or Stuart Copeland. Duran Duran doesn't have either Sting or Stuart Copeland - but at this point, neither do The Police. Duran Duran has lasted longer, released more albums, made more money, had more top 10 hits. Liking the music of The Police more is perfectly fine, but it's got nothing to do with my arguments that Duran Duran is a better band. I have never once claimed that the members of Duran Duran are better musicians, I have claimed that by my definition of better - financial success, camaraderie, longevity, perhaps a more entertaining live performance - Duran Duran is a better band than The Police. It's not about the individuals, it's about what they do/did together and financial success/longevity carry weight with me in the argument even if Zenyatta Mondatta is the best album released by either group.
As for live performances, I've never been much of a concert goer because I'm almost always uncomfortable in large crowds, but live shows? I've never been to a pop or rock concert that was about the music, it's about the show. The acoustics almost always suck, you go for the show, not the musicianship, so your argument that The Police have Sting and Stewart Copeland - so what? Are they better live performers than Simon LeBon? Sting could probably hold his own, I guarantee John Taylor and Nick Rhodes can out perform Stuart Copeland.
When I feel like watching Duke haters lose their minds, I claim, with much more data on my side, that Christian Laettner had a far better college career than Michael Jordan. He did. It's a fact.
Referring back to the previous list though, ABBA is definitely a better band than either The Police or Duran Duran.
7th graders in January are...a special breed.