Barristers fight the law for a good cause

Feb 9 2012 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

BARRISTERS have swapped their courtroom wigs and robes for jeans and T-shirts after forming a rock band to raise money for charity.

Red Corner, made up of four criminal barristers including Chester lawyer David Potter and a clerk, will perform numbers including punk classic I Fought the Law at Alexander’s, Rufus Court on Sunday.

The cover version of The Clash hit features on a CD produced by the band with all proceeds from its sale and the Chester gig going to Cancer Research UK and The Scoliosis (Spinal) Association.

Lead vocalist Mr Potter, who is based at Exchange Chambers in Liverpool, is a Chester Crown Court regular who lives in the city.

Mr Potter, 44, said: “We’re really excited to be playing at Alexander’s, a venue I have loved since moving to Chester in the 1990s. It promises to be a special night with great music and a few surprises!”

His legal colleagues and fellow band members are guitarist Bob Golinski, who played in Brighton punk band The Golinski Brothers, which had a top 40 hit in the late 1970s, guitarist and vocalist Richard Littler, drummer David Temkin and clerk Joe Ashcroft, who plays bass guitar.

The band, who only formed last summer, aim to raise £3,000 by selling 300 CDs and playing gigs and have already performed at Chester’s Telford’s Warehouse.

The members all share a passion and interest in music, specifically 1980s punk and rock music. They wanted to support the particular charities because close friends and relatives had been affected by the conditions,

The Alexander’s gig begins at 8pm. Tickets, priced £5, are available in advance from www.alexanderslive.com.