Billy Bragg and Epiphone support Jail Guitar Doors

Jail Guitar Doors is an independent initiative set up by Billy Bragg with the aim of providing musical equipment for the use of inmates serving time in Her Majesty's prisons. It takes its name from the b-side of The Clash's 1978 single "Clash City Rockers". In an appeal to fellow musicians, Billy Bragg said: "Aware that this year sees the sixth anniversary of the passing of Joe Strummer, I was hoping to be involved in more than just another tribute gig. Hearing The Clash as a 19 year old had changed my life, so I guess I was looking for a project that underscored the transformative power of music".

Epiphone have donated a number of acoustic guitars and Les Paul Special 11 electric guitars specially customized by visual artist Jeff Behan with slogans such as "Strummer", "Clash City Rockers", "Stay Free" and "Jail Guitar Doors" to capture the spirit of The Clash. Epiphone have pledged their on going support of Billy Bragg's Jail Guitar Doors campaign with further instruments being donated to the cause.

Billy Bragg said "I'm very pleased that Epiphone has come on board as a supporter of Jail Guitar Doors. Music therapy has been shown to make a significant contribution towards rehabilitation and the supply of quality instruments that Epiphone has made available will help to enhance the work being carried out in Britain's prisons"

Previous projects in other prisons have relied on borrowing guitars from staff members which have to be taken home again after the session, depriving inmates of the chance to take their instruments back into their cells to play. Following a recent visit to HMP Wandsworth, discussions have begun with staff about the possibility of opening a guitar repair shop in the prison, with luthiers from Surrey Strings training inmates to repair and set-up instruments donated to Jail Guitar Doors.

Billy Bragg and Mick Jones of The Clash recently teamed up to deliver six guitars, a drum kit and various items of percussion to HMP Pentonville in north London. The equipment was purchased with funds donated by the NME Award winning band The Enemy, who approached Billy about getting some guitars into the prison after they played a gig there last month.

For further information on Jail Guitar Doors and how you can support this campaign please visit www.jailguitardoors.org.uk