Indie bands play prison gig to highlight suicide plight » Housing » 24dash.com

Indie bands Dirty Pretty Things and The Enemy swapped the summer festival circuit for the inside of a prison today to perform in support of a suicide prevention campaign.

In a dramatic change from the kind of music usually heard in the chapel of Pentonville prison, north London, the two groups played to prisoners who filled the 180-capacity venue.

The Johnny Cash-style gig was in support of the Wasted Youth campaign to highlight and reduce the high incidents of suicide among young men.

Dirty Pretty Things first played a short acoustic set near prisoners' cells in the atrium of the Victorian prison before heading to the chapel for the main concert.

The band's frontman Carl Barat said playing at the prison was "surreal", but a good way to raise awareness of the issue which particular affects young men in prison.

"It's not the most uplifting environment. Apparently there's an average of two suicides a week in prison, so anything we can do to help that ... if we can make a difference in the fight against depression and its demons then it's worth doing," he said

He added: "If we can bring something in that makes people happy it's a good start."

Although Barat visited his former Libertines band mate Pete Doherty in prison after he broke into his flat, he said that experience was not the reason he had signed up for today's gig.

The gig was the brainchild of Daniel Fulvio, deputy news editor at Heat magazine whose own brother committed suicide.

"It was absolutely devastating for his friends, family and everyone who knew him.

"Suicide is the biggest killer of young men over the last four years - I was shocked by that appalling statistic and thought I have to do something about this.

"The main message of wasted youth is that staying silent isn't staying strong, it's a damaging and horrible assumption that it's wrong for young men to talk about their feelings, which I hope to change."

He said music was one way for people to express themselves and talk about their feelings.

Despite the Cash overtones - he started playing in prisons in the late 1950s and released two live recordings of gigs at prisons - the Dirty Pretty Things stuck to their own songs for the performance, including Come Closer from their as yet unnamed new album and rounding off with hit Bang Bang You're Dead.

For their behind bars gig, they had decided against any Cash covers, Jailhouse Rock, or anything that might incite a riot, they joked.

The band's guitarist Anthony Rossomando said: "We've picked a few tracks that are more personal, about the personal battle with depression and lack of self worth and that everyone feels, a battle the charity is confronting."

He said they had been approached to try and raise awareness for the Wasted Youth project and "it was pretty much an immediate yes".

He added that the charity was about confronting the social constraints of masculinity and macho roles and allowing them to express themselves.

The band were supported by The Enemy whose frontman Tom Clarke said he had wanted to play in prison for a while and this gave them a great opportunity to perform and raise awareness for Wasted Youth.

"Suicide among young men is quite a quiet problem.

"I think in general boys don't talk about it enough we don't tell each other what we're thinking and we never tell anyone everything."

He added: "I think the band to get a platform and not use it is a complete waste, if you've got the audience to raise the awareness about an issue, if you've got any social conscience there's no question you must."

Both The Enemy and Dirty Pretty Things received a standing ovation from the prisoners, one of whom described the gig as "out of this world".

Stewart Yates, who is serving six years for robbery and is a "listener" in the prison's Samaritans-style listening scheme said: "I think everyone here enjoyed it, especially the inmates, it's a really good cause and both bands were absolutely marvellous."

He said the listening scheme allowed prisoners with mental health problems or suicidal feelings to talk to someone at any time.

"There's been quite a few deaths in prison and if we can save as many lives as possible, it's better for the Prison Service and the actual prisoners."

People in prison are seven times as likely as the general public to commit suicide, and there were 67 suicides by prisoners last year. This year there have already been 59.

Across society as a whole suicide is the biggest killer of men under 35.

Pentonville's deputy governor Paul Baker said: "Suicide among young men is a primary concern for us as an establishment.

"We know that prisoners are seven times more likely to kill themselves than average members of the public and with an establishment like us that risk increases because we hold the highest risk groups, such as those with mental health issues, drug issues and those on remand.

"They are the group most likely to kill themselves so it's a big concern so when we had an opportunity to raise some awareness we said yes."

Today's gig will be followed by a concert at Camden's Koko club on September 8 which will raise funds for suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably to run a helpline. Acts will include The Rakes and Boy Kill Boy.

Copyright Press Association 2007.

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