Fresh claim
       
 
 
 
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Simon Law formed the blues/rock/funk band FRESH CLAIM following the demise of “Sea Stone” and “Intransit”, the bands that he had fronted throughout the late seventies and early eighties. Simon was, and still remains, Fresh Claim’s guitarist and vocalist, and was initially joined by Mags on keyboards and Ali on the drums. The first gig with this line-up was on Friday 14th November 1986 in Islington, North London. In January 1987 Derek Llewellyn joined the band supplying bass and vocals after playing a gig with the band just before Christmas 1986. The band name came after Simon visited the local Unemployment Benefit Office with Ali, when they had to go to the (then named) ‘Fresh Claims’ counter! Given the political situation at the time, and the fact that Fresh Claim’s aim has always been to communicate the Christian Faith and how it relates to life today through great music – it was a good choice!

The band played extensively in England and Wales for the next four years in schools, colleges, pubs, prisons, clubs, festivals, churches and even cathedrals until Ali left to join the band “Tribe of Dan”. Danny replaced him behind the drum kit and was influential for the next few years until in 1994 the entire band changed all announcing their decisions in a car park in Reading on the day of a gig! Dan left to join the band “The Mad Kings”, Derek moved away and Mags retired.

fresh claim

‘The current line up of Steve, Simon and Matt in action’

Simon and Keith Dixon, the band’s sound engineer as well as partner with Simon of Plankton Records, had a crash meeting with some potential new band members. Following discussions, Greg Nash, who had already stood in on bass a few times and Matt Wallace, a long-serving stand-in drummer, agreed to join the band and a new Fresh Claim was born – a tighter, pared down and more bluesy three-piece. The debut album of this configuration, “Broken”, still captures some of the urgency of music and communication of the Good News in troubled times and won high praises from the critics. They were enthralled by the sound produced by the band who’s musical influences of Hendrix, Kravitz, Black Crowes, The Who and the Blues could be heard in the music. “An album that would not be out of place between your Oasis and Blur CDs in your collection” wrote one critic. Another wrote “Surely the most underrated Christian band in the UK today!”

fresh claim

‘Simon and Matt playing in the wind!’

Greg lasted eighteen months until he was unable to join the rest of the band to be New Zealand Blues man Steve Apirana’s backing band for his 1996 “No turning Back” UK tour. So, in came Steve Gale, another bass player who had stood in at lots of gigs! This line-up has remained unchanged since then, and is the longest running version of Fresh Claim – ten years to date!

2006 sees Fresh Claim preparing to go back into the studio to record their long overdue new album, which is currently pencilled in for a November release – keep your eye on the website for more details. In the meantime, if you want to experience what Fresh Claim sound like and what they say, then listen to the recordings and come to a gig!

PLANKTON DISCOGRAPHY:

FRESH CLAIM ALBUMS

“Songs From The Rock Communion” cassette
Released 1997 Cat No: PCN151. Available in the on-line shop

“Broken” CD
Released 1995 Cat No PCDN146. Available in the on-line shop
Also available on cassette via mail order

“Outstanding Claims” cassette
Released 1993 Cat No: PCN140. Available in the on-line shop

“In Times Of Rain” cassette
Released 1992 Cat No: PCN134. Available via mail order

“Soapbox” cassette
Released 1991 Cat No: PCN132. Deleted

“Huds Continental” cassette
Released 1989 Cat No: PCN127. Deleted

“No Claims Bonus” cassette
Released 1988 Cat No: PCN125. Deleted

“Odd One Out” cassette
Released 1987 Cat No: PCN121. Deleted

OTHER PLANKTON ALBUMS Featuring Fresh Claim

“Plankton, The First 20 Years” CD
Released 1998 Cat No: PCDN153. Available in the on-line shop

”Guat-A-Gig Live!” CD
Released 1996 Cat No PCDN149. Available in the on-line shop
Also available on cassette via mail order

”Greenbelt Fringe ‘95” CD
Released 1995 Cat No PCDN147. Deleted