The Secret Policeman Rocks!

In June 1979, Pete Townshend gave a solo acoustic performance at Amnesty International's "Secret Policeman's Ball" benefit show in London, inspiring Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Sting, Bob Geldof, Phil Collins and many others to perform for Amnesty. It also helped inspire the "unplugged" of the '90s, and galvanized a generation of musicians to become involved in social and political causes: Sting, Peter Gabriel, Bob Geldof (who later founded Live Aid) and Bono all cite the show as the inspiration for their activism.

On the 30th anniversary of the original Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball, event producer/co-founder Martin Lewis compiles some of the finest moments from the annual concert event that inspired rock & rollers to get actively involved with their favorite causes. In the aftermath of Pete Townshend's unforgettable acoustic performance at the June 1979 Secret Policeman's Ball in London, rockers from Sting to Phil Collins became convinced that their music could be used to do something more than simply sell records. Since then, some of the biggest names in music have performed at the annual Secret Policeman's Ball. In addition to performances by Kate Bush, Bob Geldof, and Peter Gabriel, this compilation also features Townshend's memorable of "Pinball Wizard," and finds Eric Clapton teaming with Jeff Beck to perform "Farther Up the Road."

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