Billy Bragg adopts pseudonym for Clash inspired single

Billy Bragg has adopted the pseudonym Johnny Clash for the release of new single 'Old Clash Fight Song'.

The Clash-inspired track, out August 20, is being released to raise funds for Bragg's Jail Guitar Doors initiative, which he launched from the stage at this year's Shockwaves NME Awards.

The project aims to provide guitars for rehabilitation work in British prisons.

Speaking about the influence of Joe Strummer’s band, Bragg said in a statement: “Time and time again you find that it’s old Clash fans who are leading the charge. Although we may have hung up oour leather jackets those of us who were touched by the fire of punk have held onto our anti-fascist ideals.

“The death of Joe Strummer in 2002 brought a lot of us together again to celebrate Joe’s life and we were amazed to find that many of us were involved in activism in one way of another- union organisers, environmental campaigners, documentary film makers.”

Bragg is giving £1 from each copy of the 7” sold to the Jail Door Initiative. The sinlge is available via Billybragg.com.

The first donation made to the fund came from Clash guitarist Mick Jones, who recently accompanied Bragg to Wormwood Scrubs Prison in west London to deliver half-a-dozen guitars to the inmates there.