The Secret Policeman’s Balls DVD Release
The Secret Policeman’s Balls is the collective name for a legendary series of hilarious, irreverent and groundbreaking benefit shows staged to raise funds for Amnesty International. Beginning in 1976, the Balls featured the cream of Britain’s comedians and an astounding line-up of international musical talent. International human rights news shows have been credited by numerous people as being the inspiration for many of the high-profile charity events of the last 30 years, including Live Aid.
The Secret Policeman’s Balls Comes to DVD!
Available for the first time in North America on January 27, 2009, The Secret Policeman’s Balls 3-DVD box set, presented by Shout! Factory in association with Amnesty International, celebrates over 30 years of comedic excellence. Featuring five of the most popular shows from the first wave of The Secret Policeman’s Ball from 1976-1989 and bountiful rare footage, these groundbreaking galas include members of Monty Python (John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin) and Beyond the Fringe (Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett, Jonathan Miller), as well as individual comedic talents such as Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), Hugh Laurie (House, M.D.) and Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous). In addition to the laughmakers, the shows feature acoustic musical performances that prefigured the “unplugged” phenomenon by Pete Townshend, Sting, Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel, Donovan, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Kate Bush and Joan Armatrading. Also featured are rare duets from guitar legends Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler & Chet Atkins.
Contains five classic Secret Policeman’s …
Continue Reading...Rockin’ The Warped Tour
Every summer, nearly one million music fans brave the summer sun to be part of the longest running music tour in the world. The Vans Warped Tour, home to punk rockers, emo kids and hardcore fans for sixteen years, is only getting bigger. This year, with practically 200 bands playing in 43 concert dates all over the country (and Canada!), Warped is placing a bigger emphasis than ever on the charitable causes that their musicians believe in.
This is where Amnesty comes in. We’re back on the Warped Tour! Throughout the summer, human rights defenders like Tom Morello have been starring in our video blogs and bands like Set Your Goals are doing signings (of both merchandise and petitions) to help protect the rights that all musicians enjoy like freedom of conscience and expression.
Come visit! With our big yellow tent and charismatic volunteers, we’re hard to miss. Learn about how you can take action locally, play games to learn about human rights, get a tattoo, (they’re temporary, don’t worry) learn more about what Amnesty has been doing lately to end grave human rights abuses all over the world, and figure out what you can do to be part of it all.…