The Clash’s Mick Jones And Topper Headon Work Together For First Time In 27 Years

Mick Jones and Topper Headon, formerly of The Clash (pictured above in the early 1980s), have recorded together for the first time since the 1982 sessions for The Clash’s Combat Rock album when they were part of a session to record a remake of The Clash’s “Jail Guitar Doors.” The session also included Billy Bragg and four former prison inmates. The song will be released to benefit Bragg’s charity, also called Jail Guitar Doors. The charity provides prisoners with musical instruments to help them in their rehabilitation.

Jones told NME.com about how the charity had helped the former prisoners who participated in the recording session:

“The guys were telling us how much this scheme had helped them move on from their previous lives before prison. It was really touching to think we’ve helped, even if it’s in a small way.”

Headon, who was famously kicked out of The Clash in 1982 for his drug use and later did prison time on drug-supplying charges, said to NME.com:

“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.”

The recording session was filmed for a documentary titled Breaking Rocks, which is about the Jail Guitar Doors initiative. The film will premiere on October 1st as part of the Raindance Film Festival at Proud Galleries in Camden, London. For more about the Breaking Rocks film and to view the trailer, see the film’s official Web site.

For more on this story, see the article from NME.com.

To hear The Clash’s original version of “Jail Guitar Doors,” click below:

For more on the Jail Guitar Doors initiative, see:
http://www.jailguitardoors.org.uk/

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