POPULAR Free and Bad Company covers band Free And Co are hoping their forthcoming gig at the Wharf in Tavistock on August 2 will be one of their career highlights to date.

The gig will be the culmination of months of hard graft which has seen the band garner great respect on the local scene despite the departure of lead singer and founder member Shaun Marshall.

He left the band when he emigrated to Australia, where he is now singing and playing bass in a Police tribute band under the name Stung.

Drummer Dave Holmes takes up the story: “We thought when Shaun left we'd never be able to find a replacement. He was such an amazing lead singer and a massive fan of Paul Rogers, who sounded so like him vocally.

“But it was actually at Shaun's last gig at the Thistle Park Tavern around 18 months ago that we were approached by Craig, a phenomenal vocalist, who offered his services there and then.”

Craig Dickson had been a professional singer who, among other things, had been frontman with pro rock band Raw Deal before deciding to return to Plymouth to settle.

“We were absolutely gob-smacked when Craig said he would do it,” says Dave. “Paul Rogers was one of Craig's all time favourite singers too.”

The other band members, while perhaps not in quite the same league as Craig, are certainly experienced musos. Dave, who currently writes regular drum reviews for national magazine Performing Musician, played the holiday camp circuit for several years and even coyly admits to registering a chart hit as drummer for Mojo.

“It was back in 1981 and the song was a Stars on 45-style Shadows mix. We were all lined up to go on Top Of The Pops, but the single only charted at No 68, much lower than expected, then disappeared, so we were dropped from the show,” he says.

Bass player Brain, meanwhile, was a long serving member with Plymouth band Clockwork Orange and, at 20-something, the baby of the group, Rich, is a guitar tutor. “He was born after Paul Kossoff died and we like to think of him as a reincarnation of the great blues guitarist – but without the drug habit,” says Dave.

When the reformed Free And Co played their 'return' gig at the Roundabout pub, with Craig at the helm, they were so well received it convinced them there was still a market for the music.

“We knew it sounded good in rehearsal – so good we couldn't stop smiling at each other,” confesses Dave. “But it's a different story when you play a real gig so we were really encouraged.”

The band went on to take their regular Plymouth haunts by storm, becoming a top draw on the pub circuit and attracting record crowds to The Union and The Thistle.

“We don't look anything like Free – except perhaps for Rich – and we certainly don't don the wigs like some, although I'm tempted at times, being follicly-challenged,” says Dave.

“But we do aim for a sound that's as authentic as possible, and that's what people go for.”

That's right down to exact as possible replicas of the original instruments.

“Unfortunately the original drums were made by Hayman, a company that no longer exists, so they're difficult to get hold of,” he adds.

“But Rich plays a 59 Gibson made from the same components by Gibson in the custom shop, Brian uses the same kind of guitar as Andy Fraser, a Gibson bass, to achieve the same sound, and changes to a five string for the Bad Company songs.”

But it's the vocals that make or break the sound and the new man has them well and truly weighed off. Close your eyes and you can imagine you're right back in 1970s all over again.

“But the band appeals not only to those who remember Free and Bad Company first time around but a whole new generation of kids whose own heroes have been inspired by Plant, Kossoff and co. If you weren't into the bands first time around, you'd probably be familiar with half a dozen songs, the likes of All Right Now, Can't Get Enough, Wishing Well, but we do a load of less familiar stuff too. One of the most popular tracks is Mr Big, which has a bass solo running all the way through it – at the end of the song you can really feel the atmosphere, it gets people every time.

“What's really good is that the Free stuff is played with so much space – it's minimum playing to maximum effect. Then when we go into the Bad Company stuff it's pure rock, so there's a nice contrast.”

Call the Wharf box office on 01822 611166 for ticket availability for Free And Company's gig on August 2.