The Clash’s Mick Jones And Topper Headon Reunite

Perhaps somewhere Joe Strummer is smiling.

Former members of The Clash, Mick Jones and Nicky “Topper” Headon, have ventured into the recording studio  together for the first time in almost 30 years.

The occasion? The duo reworked a version of the band’s 1978 song “Jail Guitar Doors”  for the charity of the same name. Jones and Headon were joined in the studio by folk singer/activist  Billy Bragg and four former prison inmates.

The Jail Guitar Doors  charity was set up by Bragg in 2007;  its aim is to provide prisoners with musical instruments to aid their rehabilitation.

“The guys were telling us how much this scheme had helped them move on from their previous lives before prison,” Jones said in a statement.

“It was really touching to think we’ve helped, even if it’s in a small way.”

Bragg, Jones and Headon were backed by a band comprising former inmates Leon Walker, Jonny Neesom, Kevin Hawkins and Jon Smillie on the updated version of the legendary recording.

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.”

In case you’re not up on your Clash history, Jones and Headon last recorded together on the Clash’s fifth album, Combat Rock, released in 1982.

The Jones-Headon-Bragg  recording session was filmed for a documentary about the prisoners’ aid scheme called Breaking Rocks, which will be premiered as part of the Raindance film festival at the Proud Gallery in Camden Town, London, on October 1.

For longtime Clash fans (me) this is great to see. Hard to believe it’s been so long since everyone was rocking the Casbah, but the Clash legacy lives on – and in this case, as part of a very good cause.

What’s your favorite Clash song?