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.

‘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!”

‘Simon and Matt playing in the wind!’

Greg stepped down eighteen months later when he was unable to join the rest of the band on the 1996 No Turning Back UK tour with New Zealand blues man Steve Apirana. Stepping up for duty came Steve Gale and this line-up has remained unchanged since then, making it the longest serving version of Fresh Claim. In 1997, due to on-going and constant requests, the band recorded and released a cassette featuring full studio versions of the songs they used in their popular ‘Rock Communion’ services, which is a traditional Anglican communion service setting with all of the songs/music sung/performed in a rock style.

Simon had long voiced frustration about the lack of any material on CD featuring the current band line-up. With the re-energising of Plankton in 2006 plans were immediately set in motion to put this right. The band wanted to record the core songs you were most likely to hear at a Fresh Claim gig and so 2007’s Backdated Claims was produced. As the band still staged occasionally staged the Rock Communion service it was decided that the initial release of Backdated Claims would be a double CD with the second CD featuring the Songs from the Rock Communion album.

So 21 years after their conception, Fresh Claim released their latest album. When will it all end? Who can say! At this point in time all we can do is paraphrase the sleeve notes from the latest CD “whilst there is a message of love to communicate then Fresh Claim will continue to play and proclaim (very loudly)!”

Not only can you order Fresh Claim music from our on-line store or by mail order but a number of their albums are also available for download from all of the major digital media download sites around the world

PLANKTON DISCOGRAPHY:

“Backdated Claims / Songs From The Rock Communion” Double CD (Limited edition)
Released 2007 Cat No: PCDN 162. Available in on-line shop

“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