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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 22 June 2007

Mark Knopfler with Mike Cahillane of the prison’s education team

Prisoners’ guitar strikes chord with rock legend

Knopfler salutes inmates’ ‘amazing’ 10-foot tribute to pop icons

ROCK star Mark Knopfler visited Pentonville Prison last week to add his signature to a 10-foot glass fibre replica of a Gibson guitar carefully handpainted by inmates.
The Dire Straits singer-songwriter, who is a patron of the charity Music in Prisons, congratulated the amateur artists on their colourful depictions of influential pop icons such as Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Paul Weller and Tina Turner.
Mark said: “The guitar looks amazing, and the inmates at Pentonville have done an incredible job to capture the spirit of the featured guitar legends. I hope the guitar sells well when it finally goes under the hammer.’’
He added: “I was lucky enough to fall into something creative that has kept me absorbed all my life. My guitar has been a friend to me. My music has been a friend to me.”
He was entertained by the 16-strong Pentonville Boys’ Choir, accompanied by their chaplain on the guitar, and a number of other solo artists.
Art and music form an important part of the prison’s rehabilitation programme.
The guitar project was conducted under the direction of Mike Cahillane, a member of the prison’s education team. He said: “To be an artist you have to have deadlines, and this project teaches you deadlines. You can’t just fancy it one day, and not the next.”
Pentonville governor Nick Leader is delighted with the project. “It has been a collaboration between the main prison, education and healthcare departments,” he said.
“We are using this work to encourage change through personal development by empowering the prisoners with necessary skills. This work helps boost self-esteem and confidence while nurturing creative abilities.’’
The guitar will be auctioned at the London Assembly’s City Hall headquarters in Southwark in September.

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