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4 unusual facts about The Secret Policeman's Ball


The Secret Policeman's Ball

The Secret Policeman's Ball 2006, the 2006 Amnesty benefit show (and the spin-off TV special and DVD)

The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008, the 2008 Amnesty benefit show (and the spin-off TV special)

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball, the 1981 Amnesty benefit show (and the spin-off two films, two albums and book)

The Secret Policeman's Balls, the informal collective name used to describe the entire series of Amnesty benefit shows and spin-offs from 1976 onwards


Doreen Chanter

In 1981, Chanter was part of a chorus that sang at The Secret Policeman's Ball with other chorus members including Phil Collins, Donovan, Sheena Easton, Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and Tom Robinson.

Extreme Aggression

While the band had already gained a sizeable following in the US due to their 1987 tour with the crossover thrash band D.R.I., this album introduced many American fans to Kreator, primarily through heavy rotation of the "Betrayer" music video on MTV's Headbanger's Ball, which was partly shot at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

James Haven

He had minor roles in several films starring his sister, Angelina Jolie, namely Gia (1998), Hell's Kitchen (1998), and Original Sin (2001), as well as in Monster's Ball (2001), which starred his sister's then-husband, Billy Bob Thornton.

Kelligrews Soiree

It was patterned on Irish music-hall songs like "The Irish Jubilee" and "Lanigan's Ball", and makes reference to "Clara Nolan's Ball", an American vaudeville song of the nineteenth century.

Lanigan's Ball

Jump, Little Children performs another popular version of this song with most of the lyrics retained.

Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time

It also features specially-written and recorded interstitial and linking material created by some of the Python members and Secret Policeman's Ball producer Martin Lewis.

One Leg Too Few

Cook and Moore also performed the sketch in their 1973 stage show Behind the Fridge (retitled Good Evening! in the USA), and also gave standalone performances on various occasions, including the 1965 Royal Variety Performance, a 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live, and the 1989 charity show The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball.

Percy French

He became renowned for composing and singing comic songs and gained considerable distinction with such songs as "Phil the Fluther's Ball", "Slattery's Mounted Foot", and "The Mountains of Mourne".

Player's Ball

The single was released in November 19 1993, and is taken from the group's debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.

The song peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest charting single from the group's debut album.

The title refers to a traditional gathering of pimps in Chicago.

Pumpkin Diamond

Halle Berry wore the ring to the 2002 Oscars where she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Monster's Ball.

Robin Hood's Ball

Richards, J, "The Stonehenge Environs Project" (English Heritage, 1990) ISBN 1-85074-269-3

Stormtroopers of Death

The song "March of the S.O.D.," from their 1985 debut album, Speak English or Die, was the Headbanger's Ball intro anthem for many years.

The Secret Policeman's Ball 2012

Additionally, Beavis and Butt-head appeared in an animated sequence and former Monty Python members Michael Palin, Eric Idle, and Terry Jones appeared in pre-recorded video segments explaining comedically why they were not there.


see also