The Simple Truth: A Concert for Kurdish Refugees

The Simple Truth: A Concert for Kurdish Refugees was a 1991 fundraising concert in support of Kurdish Refugees after the Gulf War.^[1][2][3] The concert was produced by Tony Hollingsworth,^[4] with Jeffrey Archer also involved.^[5] It was staged in London, Amsterdam, Philadelphia and Sydney, and broadcast on television in 36 countries. During the concert, $15 million in donations were collected.^[6]

Nearly 12,000 people attended the concert at Wembley Arena in London, including the then Prime Minister John Major and Princess Diana.^[7][8]

The amount of money raised by the concert is uncertain. At a press conference on 19 June 1991 a figure of £57 million was stated, though this consisted mainly of aid offered by overseas governments. An investigation found that the concert and its associated appeal had raised £3 million, and Kurdish groups said that around £250,000 had been received by people in Iraq.^[9] Allegations concerning the misappropriation of funds were not substantiated.^[10]

Featured artists

• Beverley Craven
• Chris de Burgh^[5]
• Gloria Estefan^[9]
• Peter Gabriel
• Gypsy Kings
• Hall & Oates
• MC Hammer
• Whitney Houston
• Lavine Hudson
• INXS
• Tom Jones
• Alison Moyet
• New Kids on the Block
• Sinead O’Connor
• Alexander O’Neal
• Shiven Perwer
• Ryuichi Sakamoto
• Paul Simon^[5]
• Snap!
• Lisa Stansfield
• Rod Stewart^[9]
• Sting^[5]