This story originally appeared in the Asbury Park Press on June 16, 1986.
It was billed as a supershow, and a supershow it was. The final concert of Amnesty International’s six-city rock ‘n’ roll caravan for human rights, held at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, included many of the biggest names in pop music: U2, Jackson Browne, Miles Davis, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell, Lou Reed, Yoko Ono, Bryan Adams and the re-united Police.
Their reason for joining together with a number of other artists and the 50,000 people who jammed Giants Stadium was to show support, raise money and increase awareness for Amnesty International, the nonprofit organization that seeks to free political prisoners from jails throughout the world.
Like last year’s Live Aid and Farm Aid, the 11-hour music marathon possessed a powerful sense of unity and commitment strongly reminiscent of the ’60s, a time when rock ‘n’ roll was soaked with songs of social protest and concern.
Virtually all the artists who appeared on stage sung at least one song which, either directly or indirectly, related to the general themes of universal political freedom and love.
Rock ‘n’ roll stars raise their voices in protest at Amnesty International concert at Giants Stadium story appeared in the Asbury Park Press on June 16, 1986.
To accent the international scope of Amnesty International, the lineup of performers was also international. In addition to a whole host of American and English artists who performed short yet surprisingly effective sets, there were also those from Jamaica (Third World), Ireland (U2 and Bob Geldof), Canada (Bryan Adams), Panama (Rubin Blades) and Nigeria (Fela Kuti).
Kuti’s appearance was especially meaningful. Not only is he a respected performer worldwide, but until recently, he was a political prisoner in his country. After spending two years in prison for allegedly trafficking in foreign currency, Kuti was finally freed in April. Amnesty International considered him a prisoner of conscience and worked for his release.
Although all the acts donated their time and talent, they will undoubtedly benefit, along with Amnesty International from all the media exposure. The concert was broadcast live on radio and television (MTV) and covered by every major music publication here and abroad.
Perhaps no one artist will benefit more from the exposure than Shore’s John Eddie, who had the honor of opening the show. Widely considered New Jersey’s next major rock star, Eddie was the only featured artist on the bill who is not yet an established, widely known artist. But judging from his performance and the reception he received, it shouldn’t be too long before this changes.
The final concert in Amnesty International’s six-city tour for human rights arrives at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 15, 1986. A crowd of 50,000 jammed the stadium to show support, raise money, and increase awareness for the nonprofit organization. The 11-hour marathon music festival included many of the biggest names in pop music: U2, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Miles Davis, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell, Yoko Ono, Bryan Adams, and the reunited Police.
Eddie was followed by Third World, one of reggae’s biggest acts, and one of the few Jamaican groups still able to penetrate American radio.
Since many concert-goers were from Philadelphia and vicinity, the Hooters, that city’s most noted rock outfit since Hall & Oates burst upon the scene more than 10 years ago, also received a warm and well-deserved welcome. Performing such hits as “Day By Day” and “All You Zombies,” the Hooters also performed a striking version of the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Their performance, along with that of Little Steven, were the highlights of the first half of the show.
Littie Steven was especially effective. His pointedly political seemed perfect for the day. He even introduced two new songs, “Sanctuary,” a bristling number dealing with the plight of Latin American political refugees seeking asylum in this country, and “Native American,” a song about the “genocide” of the American Indian.
Middletown native Little Steven Van Zandt performs at the Amnesty International concert at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 15, 1986. The 11-hour marathon music festival included many of the biggest names in pop music: U2, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Miles Davis, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell, Yoko Ono, Bryan Adams, and the reunited Police.
Unlike many other artists whose between song comments took aim at repressive governments around the world, Little Steven told the audience that there is political oppression in America, too.
Jackson Browne did the same, but not with as much intensity as Little Steven. His set was somewhat subdued, perhaps because he’ll be appearing next Saturday at the Brendan Byrne Arena and wished to save his best moments until then.
The rest of the afternoon’s entertainment consisted of Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Armatrading, Ruben Blades, Fela Kuti, Carlos Santana, Bob Geldof, Stanley Jordan, Howard Jones, Yoko Ono, the Neville Brothers, and Joan Baez.
Despite the obvious complexities of coordinating an event this size, acts came on and off the stage with remarkable ease. Rarely was there more than 10 minutes between performers. Thus, at 7 p.m. Lou Reed took the stage precisely on schedule. Although his guitar playing and vocal range are limited, Reed’s wealth of terse, distinctive rockers usually manage to excite an audience.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Walk on the Wild Side” did what they were supposed to do, and they helped set the pace for one of the concert’s most eagerly awaited performers, Peter Gabriel.
With “Sledgehammer,” the biggest hit of his career riding high atop the charts, Gabriel sang the funky, synthesizer-textured pop tune midway through his set in order to make way for two politically motivated songs, “San Jocinto” and “Biko.” A powerful songwriter and performer, Gabriel has the ability to captivate and move an audience like few other performers, and he proved it last night in fine fashion.
So did Bryan Adams. Tearing through as many of his hits as possible in 30 minutes, Adams kept the crowd standing and cheering for more.
Pete Townshend was slated to follow Adams, but he never made it to the stadium. Upon arriving in New York, Townshend learned that his father was gravely ill and immediately returned to England. His place was taken by Joni Mitchell.
Normally a potent performer, Mitchell had the unenviable task of trying to keep the crowd’s energy level at a peak.
It was U2’s commitment to Amnesty International to play a series of of benefit shows which sparked the idea of the rock ‘n’ roll caravan. And when the Irish band took the stage, it became known at once why their appearance was saved for next to last. With Bono singing as if the lives of political prisoners everywhere depended on his every note, U2’s highly charged songs practically overwhelmed the crowd, which had already sat through 10 hours of music.
But it was the re-uniting of the Police after a three-year hiatus which brought the show to a climax. Beginning with “Message in a Bottle” and then into “King of Pain,” “Driven to Tears,” “Every Breath You Take,” “Roxanne” and “Invisible Sun,” the English supergroup sounded as if it never parted company.
The finale of the concert occurred when Sting brought out all the performers as well as 18 recently released prisoners of conscience for a spirited, emotional round of Dylan’s classic, “I Shall Be Released.” It was a fitting song to conclude a day those lucky enough to attend will not soon forget.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Amnesty International show Conspiracy of Hope, Giants Stadium
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