**MUSIC NEWS** STRUMMERVILLE & MILITANT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTŠ. CLASH MEMBERS REUNITE FOR BILLY BRAGG¹S PRISON INITIATIVE! You can see a clip of the recording session at http://www.breakingrocks.co.uk Breaking Rocks premiere¹s with a night of the finest music talent around 1st October: Proud Galleries Camden : 6.30-11.30pm : £15 ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________ Legendary Clash members Mick Jones and Topper Headon were reunited in the studio for the first time in 27 years when they joined Billy Bragg for a recording aimed at promoting the folk singer¹s Jail Guitar Doors campaign. Started two years ago, the Jail Guitar Doors initiative helps to supply musical instruments to prison inmates, to aid with their rehabilitation, and has so far seen several Œgraduates¹ of the scheme pursue careers as performers after their release from jail. Bragg, Jones and Headon were backed by a band comprising former inmates Leon Walker, Jonny Neesom, Kevin Hawkins and Jon Smillie on a spirited re-recording of the 1978 Clash song Jail Guitar Doors, from which the campaign takes its name. ³The guys were telling us how much this scheme had helped them move on from their previous lives before prison,² said Clash guitarist Mick Jones, who in 2007 donated the money for the first ever JGD acoustic guitars to be delivered to a jail. ³It was really touching to think we¹ve helped, even if it¹s in a small way.² Drummer Nick ŒTopper¹ Headon added: ³To see it all come to fruition is absolutely beautiful. It was great to meet these guys. When I was in prison myself, many years ago, I was lucky enough to have access to a guitar, which belonged to the prison vicar! I know how much it helped me get through it.² Billy Bragg, who says his life was changed after seeing The Clash play live at Victoria Park in 1978, inspiring him to write about social and political issues, explained: ³Prison has to be about much more than just locking people up. We want people to be able to move on from their situation and reconnect with the outside world, and my hunch was that playing an instrument particularly a guitar could help that. The recording session was filmed for Alan Miles¹ ŒBreaking Rocks¹, a gritty and uplifting documentary about the Jail Guitar Doors initiative, which will be premiered as part of the Raindance film festival at Proud Gallery, Camden Town on 1 October. The film will be followed by performances from Billy Bragg, Mick Jones, the MC5¹s Wayne Kramer, Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Jail Guitar Doors graduates Leon Walker, Jonny Neesom, Louise Wells and Theone Coleman, plus Night of Treason. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________ LISTINGS INFORMATION: EVENT: Strummerville and Militant Entertainment present the Raindance Film Festival premiere of Breaking Rocks, Jail Guitar Doors documentary directed by Alan Miles DATE: Thursday 1st October TIME: 6.30-11.30pm VENUE: Proud Galleries, The Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH PRICE: £15.00
