On this day in 1988: The Human Rights Now! world tour kicked off at Wembley Stadium London with Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman and Youssu n’Dour. Taking in five continents and claiming to be the most ambitious rock tour in history.
Human Rights Now! was a worldwide tour of twenty benefit concerts on behalf of Amnesty International that took place over six weeks in 1988. Held not to raise funds, but to increase awareness of both the universal Declaration of Human Rights on its 40th anniversary and the work of Amnesty International.
Human rights activists and former prisoners from around the world, led by Sonny Venkatrathnam from South Africa, participated in the tour. At each location, the artists and Amnesty leaders held a press conference to discuss human rights, and concert-goers were provided with copies of the Universal Declaration in their language and opportunities to sign the Declaration themselves and join the worldwide human rights movement. The tour was made possible in part by a grant from the Reebok Foundation.
Let’s take a look at the Top 20 songs on the U.S. singles chart from this day in 1988:
1 2 MONKEY –•– George Michael – 8 (1)
2 4 I DON’T WANNA GO ON WITH YOU LIKE THAT –•– Elton John – 11 (2)
3 6 I DON’T WANNA LIVE WITHOUT YOUR LOVE –•– Chicago – 13 (3)
4 9 SWEET CHILD O’ MINE –•– Guns N’ Roses – 10 (4)
5 12 SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE –•– Robert Palmer – 9 (5)
6 10 FAST CAR –•– Tracy Chapman – 13 (6)
7 1 ROLL WITH IT –•– Steve Winwood – 12 (1)
8 13 PERFECT WORLD –•– Huey Lewis & The News – 7 (8)
9 11 LOVE WILL SAVE THE DAY –•– Whitney Houston – 9 (9)
10 3 1-2-3 –•– Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – 13 (3)
11 5 MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL –•– Eric Carmen – 15 (3)
12 7 HANDS TO HEAVEN –•– Breathe – 20 (2)
13 16 WHEN IT’S LOVE –•– Van Halen – 9 (13)
14 8 SIGN YOUR NAME –•– Terence Trent D’Arby – 14 (4)
15 18 IF IT ISN’T LOVE –•– New Edition – 9 (15)
16 19 I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU –•– Taylor Dayne – 12 (16)
17 20 ANOTHER PART OF ME –•– Michael Jackson – 6 (17)
18 23 NOBODY’S FOOL –•– Kenny Loggins – 8 (18)
19 24 ALL FIRED UP –•– Pat Benatar – 9 (19)
20 25 IT WOULD TAKE A STRONG STRONG MAN –•– Rick Astley – 7 (20)
