A Conspiracy of Hope
A Conspiracy of Hope was a short tour of six benefit concerts on behalf of Amnesty International that took place in the United States during June 1986. The purpose of the tour was not to raise funds but rather to increase awareness of human rights and of Amnesty's work on its 25th anniversary. The shows were headlined by U2, Sting and Bryan Adams and also featured Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Joan Baez, and the Neville Brothers. The last three shows featured a reunion of the Police. At press conferences in each city, at related media events, and through their music at the concerts themselves, the artists engaged with the public on themes of human rights and human dignity. The six concerts were the first of what subsequently became known collectively as the Human Rights Concerts – a series of music events and tours staged by Amnesty International USA between 1986 and 1998.
Location
United States
June 4, 1986
June 15, 1986
1
6
116,116
$4.041 million ($11.23 million in 2023 dollars)
Background[edit]
The tour was conceived by the Executive Director of Amnesty International's U.S. section, Jack Healey. The tour was run by famed concert promoter Bill Graham, who served as executive producer along with Healey and Mary Daly, also of Amnesty.[1][2] James Radner was "Concerts for Freedom" manager for the tour. In developing the tour, Healey drew on his relationship with Martin Lewis who had first recruited rock musicians such as Pete Townshend, Sting and Peter Gabriel to work with Amnesty several years before for The Secret Policeman's Ball's series of benefit shows in England (1976–1981).[3][4]