Photo: WENN
A campaign led by Billy Bragg for inmates in British prisons has been successful, with prisoners now allowed to use steel-stringed guitars.
Garnering support from other high profile artists including Johnny Marr, Radiohead's Ed O’Brien and Philip Selway, Elbow’s Guy Garvey and Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmore, the initiative aimed to overturn a judicial ruling from November 2013 that placed restrictions on musical instruments and books for inmates within the prison system.
Publishing an open letter in The Guardian earlier this year, the collective of artists criticised the ruling, arguing that prisoners' rehabilitation was being undermined if they were not allowed access to instruments, prompting change which has now been instituted.
Bragg, who founded the Jail Guitar Doors initiative commented on the campaign's core aims, "As an incentive to engage in rehabilitation individual access to steel strung guitars can really help the atmosphere on a prison wing, I've had a number of projects involving guitars on hold which now will be able to go ahead, and will allow those using music in prisons to get on with this important work.”
Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan, who also led the campaign added "This is a victory for common sense and I'm pleased after months of campaigning the UK Government has listened."
After a string of festival dates this summer including Glastonbury and Latitude, Billy Bragg will be touring the UK in September. Visit Gigwise Tickets for more information.
Below: Exclusive photos of Billy Bragg, Kelis, Temples, Asgeir + more at Latitude day one
