JAILHOUSE ROCK
Last Sunday the world’s largest prison was invaded by 23 freaks who blasted thirty-six hundred inmates with high energy rock & roll music. The concert was the culmination of a liason between the rock community and younger inmates. Creem and WABX began arranging the event soon after Dan Carlisle received mail from our many brothers currently residing in Jacktown.
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JAILHOUSE ROCK
Last Sunday the world’s largest prison was invaded by 23 freaks who blasted thirty-six hundred inmates with high energy rock & roll music.
The concert was the culmination of a liason between the rock community and younger inmates. Creem and WABX began arranging the event soon after Dan Carlisle received mail from our many brothers currently residing in Jacktown. They are able to listen to Dan’s show for about one hour every evening. Each cell has a set of earphones with stations picked according to popular demand. The concert was arranged with relative ease through the efforts of prison musical director Don Young.
Two shows were given featuring area rock & roll lunatics Wilson Mower Pursuit, the 3rd Power and Savage Grace. 3rd Power opened the first show with a killer set to be followed by Savage Grace. The Grace struck home with their “Hymn to Freedom” which earned them an enormous ovation. Due to a time hassle, Wilson Mower Pursuit couldn’t do the first show, but they more than made
up for it in the second.
Savage Grace opened the second set and repeated the afternoon’s earlier success. They the Pursuit came on and pandemonium reigned. With a female bass player, Jo Bebo, and super-chick singer Stony, the Mower Pursuit totally crazed the inmates. Third Power closed the show with another great set.
Hopefully WABX and Creem will return to the Prison with another show featuring the MC-5, Mitch Ryder and several R & B groups. Negotiations are underway at present.
Musical tools, records, instruments and other paraphernalia of the trade can be sent to the inmates to broaden their opportunity to participate in the musical culture. The prison already sports several rock bands including the John Sytusky Syndrome, the Rebel Rousers, and the Soul Masters.
The Detroit Rock Community has always brought music to where it was most needed, and at Jackson Prison where over half the inmates are under 30, there is a need.
