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• A NEW SHOW JUST TOOK PLACE!!! • SUNDAY MARCH 4th 2012 - NEW YORK CITY • CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR FULL DETAILS! |
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• Los Angeles Times - March 1st 2012
• Forbes Magazine - March 1st 2012 • The Guardian [UK] - March 2nd 2012 • Huffington Post - March 3rd 2012 |
| The Roots Of The Balls |
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What has come to be known as the "Secret Policeman's Ball" series had its roots in four Amnesty benefit shows produced between 1976-1981. The first two shows - "A Poke In the Eye" (1976) and "The Mermaid Frolics" (1977) were produced by Peter Luff and David Simpson. Those originating galas led directly to the show that gave the series its title "The Secret Policeman's Ball" (1979) and its sequel "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball" (1981) which were produced by Martin Lewis and Peter Walker. (Lewis had been part of Luff and Simpson's production team for the 1976 & 1977 shows.) Lewis and Walker subsequently supervised the successful export of the "Secret Policeman's Ball" films and albums to the USA. Constant to all four productions as a performer and inspiration was John Cleese. Cleese also directed the third show and co-directed the fourth. Other key members of the creative team for those early shows were Jonathan Miller who directed the first show, Terry Jones who directed the second and Roger Graef who directed the films of the first three shows. Those individuals were collectively the creators of the pioneering first four shows that are the foundation of the "Secret Policeman's Ball" series. |
| - Amnesty International UK (2008) |
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The Origin of the "Secret Policeman's Ball" Title |
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It's Martin Lewis' title, I can pin that one on him. But I thought it was quite funny. |
| - JOHN CLEESE (BBC TV - June 22nd 1979) |
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The Impact of "The Secret Policeman's Ball" |
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I saw 'The Secret Policeman's Ball' and it became a part of me. It sowed a seed... |
| - BONO (Rolling Stone - 1986) |
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I love looking back at "The Secret Policeman's Ball". It showed us how to do it in a way that wasn't patronizing. I remember Martin Lewis who invited me to do the thing in the first place... I really, really relied on people like Martin and on other people to keep me abreast of what was going on... |
| - PETE TOWNSHEND ("The Secret Policeman Rocks" DVD - 2009) |
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I've been a member of Amnesty for five years and a supporter because of an entertainment show which was called 'The Secret Policeman's Ball' which I was involved in. And before that I didn't know about Amnesty's work and so in a sense I'm a success story. |
| - STING (NBC Today Show - 1986) |
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At the moment, I don't think there's a more important organization in the world than Amnesty International. |
| - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (Amnesty's "Human Rights Now! world tour" - 1988) |
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The Secret Policeman's Ball is a mysterious and extraordinary event that certainly changed my life... |
| - BONO (at Amnesty concert - 2001) |
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The seed was planted at Amnesty for Bob Geldof. He saw what they were doing. He saw how entertainment could help that process and then he took the "Ball" and ran with it. Further than anybody could possibly imagine. |
| - STING (BBC TV - 2004) |
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It's 1979 that I appeared at "The Secret Policeman's Ball" - the Amnesty thing that John Cleese had kicked off. And my friend Martin Lewis had invited me to, in a sense, to kind of lighten the proceedings... to break up the comedy. And it was amazing subsequently to see what that triggered. Sting... Peter Gabriel... subsequently people like U2... Bruce Springsteen... and so on... Quite big names got involved in supporting Amnesty. And it became evident that big names in music and Amnesty melded very well. So it's good to see that what I did kicked that off. I feel that I planted a seed... |
| - PETE TOWNSHEND (2011) |
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How "The Secret Policeman's Ball" First Came To The USA |
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Back in 1982 when we were starting Miramax Films, Martin Lewis was the producer of what became our first hit movie - "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball" starring the Monty Pythons. Martin had a background in publicity and marketing and came up with a great campaign for the movie, creating a huge buzz and getting us free publicity, which was crucial to the film's success. We learned a lot about publicity and marketing from our experience with Martin Lewis. |
| - BOB & HARVEY WEINSTEIN (Hollywood Reporter - June 10th 2000) |
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Bringing "The Secret Policeman's Ball" Back To The USA |
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For American comedians like David Javerbaum, the former "Daily Show" producer, a misspent youth watching the 'Secret Policeman's Ball' on home video or HBO was a crucial part of their education: these British benefit shows helped to introduce them to pioneering British performers like John Cleese, Peter Cook, Rowan Atkinson and Billy Connolly and rock stars like Sting and Bob Geldof. Now Mr. Javerbaum is getting to return that karmic debt by helping to organize what will be the first 'Secret Policeman's Ball' to be held in the United States, on March 4 at Radio City Music Hall. In the tradition of the event, this American edition will feature an eclectic lineup of comedians and musicians, including Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Coldplay and, like the previous balls, will benefit the human-rights organization Amnesty International. In a telephone interview on Wednesday, Mr. Javerbaum said this 'Secret Policeman's Ball' would be "in the same spirit, for the same cause," as its predecessors, "and we're trying to do it with the same energy and élan. But," he added, "it's for a different generation." |
| - NEW YORK TIMES (January 25th 2012) |
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The Secret Policeman's Ball is letting America in on the party: The British-based music and comedy festival is coming to New York in March. Coldplay, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Mumford & Sons and Russell Brand are among the acts who have signed on for the event at Radio City Music Hall on March 4. The concert will benefit Amnesty International, as it has since it started back in 1976 with celebrities like John Cleese. Over the years, Bono, Sting and others have participated. This will mark the first time it's being held in New York City. David "DJ" Javerbaum, the former head writer and executive producer for "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," said the show will feature sketches, music and more. He said the legacy of the 'Secret Policeman's Ball', which has lived on in videos, has helped it attract top talent, some of which are still to be announced. "These are very seminal movies for anybody young in that age who wanted to get into comedy," he said. |
| - THE WASHINGTON POST (January 25th 2012) |
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Looking Back On The Ball - And Looking Forward... |
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The original "Secret Policeman's Ball" shows were always great collaborative events. It all started with John Cleese of course. And all the great comedic talents that he invited in - the other Pythons, Peter Cook and the other Beyond The Fringers... Rowan Atkinson, Eleanor Bron, Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna), Neil Innes and so many more. It was fueled by wonderful Amnesty staff members such as Peter Luff, David Simpson and Peter Walker who were visionary and worked incredibly hard to make those early shows happen. They were also true gentlemen - generous and gracious enough to share the credit with all those who were on the team. I was privileged to have been a part of the team that created and produced those first four shows. I was just a kid at the time of the very first show. The "Secret Policeman's Ball" title was just a silly thing I blurted out at dinner at John Cleese's house when we were planning the 1979 show and trying to think of a name for it. John liked it and said "That's our title!" I was tickled that it was chosen - and I'm very proud that the title still resonates today. Among the other things I'm proud of, was bringing in all the rock musicians. It started with Pete Townshend and that led me to recruit Sting, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Tom Robinson, Midge Ure, Bob Geldof et al. Of course Bob then took social and political activism to a much higher level than we were doing. Bless him for that! But it all started with Pete. And we all owe Pete a huge debt for saying yes to that first call. He inspired so much that followed... The other really big kick for me personally was discovering a very small start-up American movie outfit called Miramax Films and choosing them to distribute the "Secret Pollceman's Ball" films in the USA. Run by a couple of newcomers called Bob & Harvey Weinstein... We worked very hard together for six months to create a special American version of the "Secret Policeman's Other Ball" film and market it back in 1982. But it worked out big time - and that helped Amnesty gain a much higher profile in the US. Which led to the "A Conspiracy Of Hope" US tour and the "Human Rights Now!" world tour that the US section of Amnesty presented in the 1980s. The essence of the Amnesty creed is that we should all pass the Amnesty candle on to the next generation - so that the fight for human rights continues. So I'm thrilled that 36 years later Amnesty is using my silly throwaway title for another fund-raiser - the first-ever American version of the "Secret Policeman's Ball". It's taking place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, March 4th 2012. The production team of the new show are all Young Turks and eager go-getters - and that's as it should be. We were all young when we did those classic early shows. I'm delighted that something we started in 1976 and nurtured though those halcyon years is still alive, well and kicking - and still helping Amnesty. So I raise a glass to John Cleese and all the cast members of those first four shows, and to all my colleagues who are the under-sung heroes of those pioneering early days - including Peter Luff, David Simpson, Peter Walker, Jonathan Miller and Terry Jones. |
| - MARTIN LEWIS - Co-Creator "The Secret Policeman's Ball" series Co-Producer of "Ball" shows/films/albums 1976-1984 (interviewed February 2012) |
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Learn more about Amnesty International |
The title "The Secret Policeman's Ball" was conceived in 1979 by Martin Lewis, co-creator of the "Secret Policeman's Ball" series and co-producer of Amnesty benefit shows, films and albums 1976-1984. Martin Lewis donated the title and all associated rights to Amnesty International in 1979. This website - which is not an official site of Amnesty International - exists to celebrate the rich history of "The Secret Policeman's Ball" series and to encourage people to support Amnesty International.