Indie stars do the jailhouse rock

Dirty Pretty Things and The Enemy have performed at Pentonville prison in support of a suicide prevention campaign.

The two groups played to prisoners at the 180-capacity atrium in the North London jail.

The gig, which was in the style of Johnny Cash who started his career playing prisons, was in aid of the Wasted Youth campaign to highlight and reduce the high incidents of suicide among young men.

Dirty Pretty Things frontman Carl Barat said playing at the prison was "surreal", but a good way to raise awareness of the issue which particularly affects young men in prison.

He said: "Apparently there's an average of two suicides a week in prison...If we can make a difference in the fight against depression and its demons then it's worth doing.

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

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

He said: "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."

However, the Dirty Pretty Things stuck to their own songs for the performance and were supported by The Enemy before receiving a standing ovation.

Prisoners are reportedly seven times as likely to commit suicide, and there were 67 suicides by prisoners last year. This year there have already been 59.

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