The Claim was British rock band from Cliffe, Kent, established around 1980. Part of the independent Medway scene, the group was influenced by classic acts including The Kinks, The Jam, The Clash, and The Smiths. Their recording career began with the debut studio recording Armstrong's Revenge & Eleven Other Short Stories (1985). They subsequently released the extended play This Pencil Was Obviously Sharpened By a Left-Handed Indian Knife Thrower (1987) followed by the studio recording Boomy Tella (1988), which reached professional recognition for its politically charged, bittersweet compositions. Their discography included the singles “Wait And See” (1989) and “Birth Of A Teenager” (1990). The latter single featured the B-side “Mike The Bike” and was housed in a sleeve designed by Billy Childish. After performing their final concert in January 1993, the group resumed activity in 2009 for a reunion concert to coincide with the release of their compilation recording Black Path (2009). In 2010, they performed another reunion show at the venue Dingwalls in London, and subsequently released the studio recording The New Industrial Ballads (2019).
