Giant thanks to Alan Miles director of Breaking Rocks and Billy Bragg for forwarding the official press release (below) – video clip should follow shortly:

Clash members reunite for Billy Bragg’s prison charity

Topper, Mick and Billy Bragg - Image Courtesy Breaking Rocks & Tom Sheehan

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 singer’s 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 ‘graduates’ 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.

“The guys were telling us how much this scheme had helped them move on from their previous lives before prison,” said Clash guitarist Mick Jones, who in 2007 donated the money for the first ever JGD acoustic guitars to be delivered to a jail. “It was really touching to think we’ve helped, even if it’s in a small way.”

Drummer Nick ‘Topper’ Headon added: “To 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.”

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: “Prison 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 Miles’ ‘Breaking Rocks’, 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 MC5’s 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.

Proud Galleries, Camden, London, Thursday October 1st sees the Raindance Film Festival premiere of Breaking Rocks, Alan Miles Jail Guitar Doors documentary. The film will be followed by live performances from Billy Bragg, Get Cape. Wear Cape Fly. The Rotten Hill Gang featuring Mick Jones, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) Wayne Kramer MC5, Night of Treason.

For information visit www.breakingrocks.co.uk

For Tickets visit

Good Morning, thanks for your votes in the cup and ideas for a new ‘tournament’ although it’s a large time commitment it’s under consideration. I wanted to meander through a variety of Strummerville matters so sit down with a cup of tea and some biscuits and enjoy these.

First up a reminder for a Strummerville event which I’d mentioned a few weeks ago. This Saturday (Sep 19th) sees a concert in Sydney featuring 4 acts under the banner ‘Revolution Rock – a tribute to Joe Strummer‘ the official details are here and I hope some of you that read the blog from Australia might be able to attend what should be a great night. If you do make it along please get in touch with the blog so I can share your report and images if you get some.

Staying with Strummerville (and I’m always happy to do so) they are firmly backing the Jail Guitar Doors film project ‘Breaking Rocks‘ which I’d written about in more detail on this earlier post. I’m excited to announce that I’ve been in contact with the film’s director Alan Miles and we are planning a quick interview about the project and the film next week. I’ll have this documented and released to you to prior to the premier of the film on October 1st. If you are in London I greatly encourage you taking the time to get along to see the film, information is via the links above. If you have any questions for Alan please contact me before Sunday of this week and I’ll include them in our conversation. Don’t forget Alan was also the man behind capturing this event for posterity, a night that will not be forgotten by a Clash fan worldwide.

Finally for our friends in the Bay area (San Francisco for global readers) don’t forget another great Strummerville event is booked for Oct 2nd in the city. Admission is just $10 and considering that typically might buy you a turkey sandwich and a pepsi in that town it’s quite a bargain. Hope some of you can make it along, official information is all here – don’t forget the cause people!!

Thanks for reading, and if anyone reading is associated with forthcoming Strummerville events be sure and contact me.

Tim

Combine two musicians I’ve held in the highest regard  since I was a kid, add a unique charity that looks to provide postive rehabilitation  to prison inmates via guitars, wrap that up with a documentary exploring the process and what do you have? In this unlikely case you have a film heading to the 2009 Raindance festival.

Image courtesy www.jailguitardoors.org.uk

“Breaking Rocks” is the documentary in question and from a Clash standpoint of course it features performances by Mick Jones and Billy Bragg, along with the project being chaired by Bragg. The Jail Guitar Doors project was always a huge nod to The Clash and paired with Strummerville and was begun in 2007 by Bragg with Mick becoming actively involved since. Strummerville having been actively involved with the making of the film.  Related events are all coming up quite soon so here is a summary of what can be looked forward to:

Jail Guitar Doors documentary “Breaking Rocks” will have it’s World Premiere at The  Raindance Film Festival on Thursday 1st October 2009 at the Proud Galleries, based in Camden. (Site of Rehearsal Rehearsals) The premiere will be followed by a live concert with Billy Bragg, Get Cape. Wear Cape Fly and many special guests. The night will be accompanied by the punky/reggae sound system Radio Clash, who will be looking after the decks on the night.

Full information, map plus poster are here:

“Breaking Rocks” will have it’s cinema debut on Wednesday 28th October 2009 at  The Prince Charles Cinema, just off Leicester Sq, London.The screening will be  followed by a Q&A with Billy Bragg, Alan Miles (director) plus JGD graduates Jonny Neesom & Leon Walker. Tickets here

Other useful links:

Information on director Alan Miles

Official Site for ‘Breaking Rocks’

Jones/Bragg image courtesy web.me.com/madinertia/

Jail Guitar Doors site

Proud Galleries