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Feature: Magnum at 40


Latest additions:

Gig review

Album Launch 2012

Album review

Competition

Interview now available as a podcast.  More...

Magnum video

Launch Video Interview

Magnum video

Launch Video Interview

Magnum, photo by Ian Pollard

Magnum, photo by Ian Pollard

Magnum, photo by Ian Pollard

Magnum, photo by Ian Pollard

Magnum, photo by Ian Pollard

 

Having declared my formal allegiance to Magnum in their 1990s "grey" period I have tried to analyse further why this band is so durable and why they invoke such passion in their hardcore fans.

I spent three years at the end of the seventies studying in Birmingham which coincided with the band's formative recording years, I am pretty sure I caught them supporting Blue Oyster Cult in 1979, but I also had tapped in to that Midlands magic, the culture that has spawned some of the UK's greatest bands.

In researching our major promotion (and celebration) for 2012 I realised that for a period of a few intense years I became a Magnum Maniac, how else do you explain the collecting of collectibles, the extra effort made for gigs wider afield and the accumulation of much band-branded clothing?

And then, uncovering some priceless typed bio and handwritten annotation from none other than the lovely Ollie, Bob's mum who tirelessly kept the night lite burning amongst the fans and now sorely missed.

It's not just about the music.

The bond between frontmen - and founders - Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin has always been a prevailing factor, but chatting to them in 1994 or 2011 is no different. 

You would expect them to be bitter and twisted, buffeted and bruised by a fickle industry that hasn't always dealt them a fair wind.

But no.  They are the proverbial nice guys - comfy in the knowledge that quality always wins out and, it has to be said, a gentle Brummie sense of humour.  But, forty years on, they are still pushing their personal boundaries.

As Bob says, the moment you stand still musically you may as well call it a day.

Longstanding keyboard player Mark Stanway sums up the wide appeal: "I've never heard Bob swear on stage, ever."

This band, then, has a halo over its head.  And if "Saint Bob" doesn't exactly sound rock 'n roll, it may help explain a little more about Magnum's longevity and appeal.

Moreover, as the band enters their fifth decade, they are making some of their finest music.

Get Ready to ROCK! is proud to present Magnum as our Ambassadors in 2012 as we celebrate our 10th anniversary and the band's 40th.

David Randall
Managing Editor
www.getreadytorock.com

Magnum ... one of life's great pleasures.

Joe Geesin, GRTR! reviewer and Record Collector contributor

Back in 1985 I was on my way to my first rock festival, Donington, at the tender age of 17 and on the coach from Stoke all the fellow rock fans were raving about Magnum.

Now I knew the name having read about them in Kerrang! but hadn’t heard any music. Well after seeing them open the festival (and along with Marillion, band of the day) I became a fan and have been ever since. 

Jason Ritchie, GRTR! Reviews Editor

 


Sunday 18 December 2011, we'll have a two-hour Magnum Special 'Magnum at 40' introduced by rock writer and broadcaster Malcolm Dome who has written about the band since the late 1970s.  In the second hour a recent interview with Bob and Tony talking about the band's progress and 'Evolution'

Interview now available as a podcast.  More...

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio Specials 2012

1 Malcolm Dome from 'Classic Rock' with personal recollections

2 Vintage Rare: Magnum

3 Radio archive: 1992

4 The 1990s

More information

These specials will be repeated to coincide with the UK tour 18 November-2 December 2012

 


Magnum Oct-Dec 2012
(Click image to view poster)

MAGNUM TOUR DATES OCT/DEC 2012


"On The 13th Day" Tour 2012

 

Date City Country Venue
04.10.12   SE Sweden Rock Cruise
06.10.12 Jönköping SE Zaragon Rock Club
25.10.12 Berlin D C-Club
26.10.12 Hamburg D Fabrik
27.10.12 Aschaffenburg D Colos-saal
28.10.12 Cologne D Kantine
30.10.12 Ingolstadt D Eventhalle Am Westpark
31.10.12 Mannheim D Alte Seilerei
01.11.12 Bochum D Matrix
03.11.12 Bremen D Schuppen 2
05.11.12 Nurnberg D Hirsch
06.11.12 Augsburg D Spectrum
07.11.12 Munich D Ampere
09.11.12 Burglengenfeld D Vaz
10.11.12 Memmingen D Kaminwerk
12.11.12 Pilsen CZ KD Serikova
13.11.12 Zlin CZ Masters Of Rock Cafe
15.11.12 Kerkrade NL Rocktempel
16.11.12 Vosselaar B Biebob
17.11.12 Vaureal F Le Forum
18.11.12 Bristol UK O2 Academy
20.11.12 Liverpool UK O2 Academy
21.11.12 Glasgow UK Garage
22.11.12 Newcastle UK O2 Academy
23.11.12 Holmfirth UK Picturedrome
24.11.12 Manchester UK Ritz
25.11.12 Nottingham UK Rock City
27.11.12 Leamington UK Leamington Assembly
28.11.12 Southampton UK The Brook
29.11.12 London UK O2 Academy Islington
30.11.12 Pontypridd UK Muni Arts Centre
01.12.12 Wolverhampton UK The Wulfrun
02.12.12 Norwich UK Waterfront

 


Follow the links - right hand side - to explore our Magnum archive

 


Magnum Photo Gallery

Photos by Ian Pollard, Lee Millward and Noel Buckley

Main b&w photos by Ian Pollard.

Interviews by David Randall, 28 November 2011

 


Artist website

Press release (PDF, opens in new window)


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Bob Catley

Gig (2003)
Gig (2003)
Gig (2003)
Gig (2003)

When Empires Burn CD (2003)

Spirit Of Man CD (2006)

One And Future King - Part I (2003)

One And Future King - Part II (2003)

 


Magnum

Buyer's Guide

Gig reviews

Gig (2004)

Gig (2005)

Gig (2007)

Gig (2007)

Gig (2008)

Gig (2009)

Gig (2010)

Gig (2011)

Gig (2012)

 


Albums/Reissues

Brand New Morning (2004)

Reissues (2005)

The River Sessions (2005)

On A Storyteller's Night  (2005)

Stronghold (2006)

Hard Rain (2006)

Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow (2007)

Wings of Heaven - Live  (2008)

Into The Valley Of The Moonking (2009)

The Gathering (Box) (2010)

The Visitation (2010)

Evolution (2011)

On The 13th Day (2012)

 


DVDs

Live 1992 (2004)

Live 1992 (2005)

Livin The Dream (2006)

 


Interviews

Bob Catley (2003)

Al Barrow (2003)

Harry James (2003)

Tony Clarkin (2005)

Rodney Matthews  (2005)

Podcasts

(Tony Clarkin (2009)

(Bob & Tony, 2011)