In 1986 Amnesty International executive director of U.S. operations Jack Healey came up with the idea of enlisting some of the organization’s many musician friends for a mini-tour to raise awareness of human rights. With that the A Conspiracy of Hope tour was born. The tour consisted of six shows in or near the biggest U.S. cities with the grand finale planned for Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Healey took a chance when he reached out to fervent Amnesty International supporter Sting to put the recently broken up The Police back together for the tour and surprisingly Stingo obliged.
For the Giants Stadium finale, the bill included some of the biggest names in music such as Miles Davis, U2, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell and Carlos Santana. The Police headlined the show, which was broadcast on MTV, and it turned out to be the trio’s last performance together until their 2003 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Sting, Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland, keyboardist Kenny Kirkland and vocalists Janice Pendarvis and Dolette McDonald played one song off each of their albums except Synchronicity (they played two off that one) as well as a cover of the fitting I Shall Be Released which featured all of the evening’s performers. Bono guested on Invisible Sun after which the members of The Police ceremoniously passed off their instruments to the members of U2 in a symbolic passing of the torch.
Thanks to its broadcast on MTV, we can watch The Police’s set from A Conspiracy of Hope…
