One of the biggest bands of the 1980s is set to rock arenas around the world again. The Police will embark on their first major tour since splitting in 1984 in Vancouver in May, hitting the UK in autumn.

The band, led by Sting, have played together just a handful of times since the breakup, including an impromptu gig at the lead singer's 1992 wedding to Trudi Styler.

They sealed the official announcement of their reunion with another surprise show, performing Message in a Bottle to a delighted crowd at Hollywood's famous Whisky A Go Go nightclub last night.

The group marked their return to the stage with a rendition of breakthrough hit Roxanne at Sunday night's Grammy Awards.

They will go on to tour North American with shows including a headline performance at the Bonnaroo Festival near Nashville, an appearance at Boston's historic Fenway Park and two dates at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Other confirmed concert dates in the US and Canada include Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, New Orleans, St Louis, Toronto and Montreal, and several more are set to follow.

The tour will continue in the autumn in the UK and Europe, including appearances in Holland, Germany, Italy and France, with more countries to be announced.

"We're going to come clean," Sting told reporters at a press conference in Los Angeles. We're going to go on tour."

Tickets for the North American dates will cost between 50 dollars (£25) and 225 dollars (£115). The comeback tour marks 30 years since The Police formed and released debut single Fall Out.

They will be supported by Sting's son Joe Sumner's band, Fiction Plane. Dates in Mexico, South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are also expected.

Tickets for a Vancouver show will go on sale this Saturday, while those for the Boston and New York dates will be available from next Tuesday.

"Yes, I am certifiably insane," Sting joked at West Hollywood's Whisky A Go Go nightclub. If anybody comes at me with a white coat I'll just let them through.

"We had such a good time last night we thought we'd dig a few songs out of the vault and rehearse them."

Turning to guitarist Andy Summers, he asked: "Do you know Message in a Bottle?" The band launched into the classic hit to screams from the audience.

A portion of the proceeds from the tour will go to London-based charity WaterAid, which aims to fight poverty by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

Sting, Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland said in a statement: "In Western societies, the idea of not having clean and plentiful water is unthinkable.

"And yet there are millions of people who are suffering and dying from disease because they lack access to this most basic resource.

"We hope the funds and awareness raised during the tour will help to shine a light on WaterAid's efforts to bring help to millions of people in need."

The Police enjoyed worldwide success in the 1980s but were last in action together in celebration of their 2003 induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

WaterAid chief executive Barbara Frost said the charity was "honoured and delighted" by the band's support. Fiction Plane, billed as a "dynamic rock trio", will release their second full length album in May.

Sumner, 30, is Sting's son with his first wife, actress Frances Tomelty. A throng of fans crowded near the legendary Sunset Strip nightclub where The Police made their announcement and played Roxanne again to a packed house.

The trio talked about their decision to reunite for the tour of arenas and stadiums and joked about the conflicts that led to their split.

"I woke up one morning about three months ago - it's like a light bulb went off in my head ... I'm going to call Andy and Stewart," said Sting, real name Gordon Sumner.

"What's happening is sort of very healing." They insisted their past disputes were artistic and not personal.

"The nature of the arguments were all about music .... also hairstyles," Sting laughed.
His bandmates teased him about his demanding personality.

"We refer to Sting as our dear leader," Copeland said. Summers added: "On a good day." The group plan to stick to Police material only and not include any of Sting's solo hits.

"It's going to be three guys on stage, that's all," he said. "The show is going to look simple but spectacular."

They sidestepped questions on the possibility of recording new material together. The supergroup stormed the music scene in 1977 with their blend of reggae, jazz and rock.

They went on to score five number one albums in their six years together, as well as a succession of top 10 singles and six Grammy Awards.

Message In A Bottle, Walking On The Moon, Don't Stand So Close To Me, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic and Every Breath You Take topped the charts.

Arthur Fogel, chairman of global music at events company Live Nation, said: "The anticipation and excitement to see The Police is overwhelming and I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of bringing the band to their fans worldwide."

A spokesman for WaterAid said it had not yet been agreed exactly what proportion of the tour's proceeds would go to the charity, but that they had been told it would total around a million dollars (£512,000).