Rock Choir is the biggest in the UK, with 31,000 members (Image: Getty)
The 31,000-strong UK Rock Choir will no longer sing Every Breath You Take by the Police over concerns that it depicts an abusive relationship, its founder has said.
Caroline Redman Lusher, who founded the group in 2005, said the “difficult decision” was due to the smash 80s song being interpreted as about a coercive or abusive relationship and would reinforce the choir’s reputation as a “supportive and safe space”.
“Although [it] is popular with many of you and the narrative of this song wasn’t originally written to describe a coercive or abusive relationship, it can be interpreted in that way,” Ms Redman Lusher wrote in a letter to members seen by .
, who wrote the 1983 hit, has admitted that its lyrics, which include the words “Every breath you take / And every move you make / Every bond you break / Every step you take / I’ll be watching you” could be viewed as “sinister”.
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Sting has admitted that “people think [the song] is about a stalker” (Image: Getty)
The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for eight weeks after its release.
He has also said he wrote the song, which by his own admission is sometimes played at weddings, while having a “mental breakdown” as his first marriage fell apart.
Despite not having the theme in mind when he wrote it, the 73-year-old has also admitted that “a lot of people think it’s about a stalker”.
“The tune itself is generic, an aggregate of hundreds of others, but the words are interesting,” he told The Independent in 2006.
“It sounds like a comforting love song. I didn’t realise at the time how sister it is. I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance and control.”
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The track will reportedly be replaced in the group’s repertoire by Learning to Fly by the Foo Fighters.
Rock Choir, which has performed at events including the King’s 75th birthday celebration in 2023, also holds three Guinness World Records and Ms Redman Lusher was handed an MBE in the 2025 New Year’s Honours.
“Many song lyrics include themes and messages which can be interpreted in different ways. This song is no exception,” choir member Louise Harris said.
“However, even though we were prepared for queries, we weren’t expecting the level of upset we have encountered. Even though it was a small number of members who expressed upset and concern, we wouldn’t want even one Rock Choir member to feel unease when coming to sing with us and take part in Rock Choir,” she added.