Back On The Road

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A live concert by country rock band This Side Of Life has created quite a stir. The event wasn't publicly advertised and was staged for an invited audience of family, friends and well-wishers, but there were a significant number of protesters and gatecrashers intent on spoiling the proceedings. There was already high security for the show, but the local police had to be called to control and disperse an angry mob.

Still the show went ahead as scheduled. All proceeds from the concert are going to a national charity for the rehabilitation of ex-prisoners which is a pointer to the reason for the protests. All members of the band are serving life sentences in a maximum security prison and are more accustomed to solitary confinement than appearing in front of a large audience. Organising such an event was a very controversial decision by the prison authorities and raised questions from many campaigners who were against the idea. Yet, despite the protests the band gave a superb performance and hopefully silenced some of their critics. Music is a universal language that we can all relate to and this project is an experiment using music therapy as part of a programme intended to rehabilitate some of the country's worst offenders.

I know you’re busy

Thought I’d drop you a line

Just had a visit

From an old friend of mine

He called to tell me

What I already knew

We’ve got some

Old unfinished business to do

Just got time to reload

And then I’m back on the road

So goodbye

I hope to see you around

My feet, they won’t be

Touching the ground

Cos once I’m moving

Then I’m not gonna stop

You won’t believe it

And your jaw’s gonna drop

When you see me explode

I’m going back on the road

So long

And take good care of yourself

You know I love you

And there’s nobody else

But if you want me

Then I know that you’ll wait

I’ve got to go now

Before it’s too late

To collect what I’m owed

I’m going back on the road

This Side Of Life

This Side Of Life is a country rock band formed by four inmates currently serving life sentences in a maximum security prison. They have been given special permission to record their music and distribute it via the internet. This is part of a unique pilot program to help rehabilitate some of the country's most dangerous criminals who up to now have been segregated from other prisoners and kept in continual solitary confinement.

Maximum security prisons are extremely controversial and there are claims that the living conditions in such facilities violate international law with their “cruel and unusual punishments” and “inhuman and degrading” conditions. Prison officials have been accused of chronic abuse and the neglect of prisoners, many of whom have serious mental health problems.