LIVE REVIEW: Magnum - A Passage in Time KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton 25th January 2025

If ever there was an evening that personified the phrase ‘Bitter Sweet’ then this would be pretty close to the top, if not the peak itself. The penultimate gig of the short UK tour celebrating the genius of Tony Clarkin: founder, guitarist, songwriter, producer, etc. of his lifelong project, Magnum. A melodic hard rock band from Birmingham, formed sometime in the early 1970’s (even Tony himself wasn’t 100% sure exactly when). 

The fact that this run of gigs has happened at all is astonishing, as Tony’s cohort for the entire 50 years plus of the existence of the band, the ever-youthful Bob Catley, announced in a heartfelt post last year that his heart was broken, and that it would be impossible to continue with his mate. Well thankfully after a tour with power metal supergroup Avantasia, Bob’s Magnum heart was healed somewhat, and he decided to put together this tribute tour to give Tony the send-off he deserved. 

I’ve been to many gigs at KK’s Steel Mill, and this was the most people I have seen attending, with fans both old and young in attendance. Mostly older of course, given the heritage of this UK institution, but plenty of youth as well. It was humorously pointed out to me by Hutch that some of the older audience members were probably wearing t-shirts older than some of the younger devotees! 

As the lights dimmed for the first of two sets, the anticipation grew, and the excitement and expectation in the venue was palpable. A mysterious hooded and masked figure begins the proceedings with a cryptic speech, while the band quietly take their places on the stage. Through the venue's screens a poignant montage of Tony through the ages is projected before a hushed and respectful audience who break into chants of "Magnum" and then "Tony, Tony". The commence the evening with the wonderful pomp of How Far Jerusalem from the band’s most well known album, On a Storytellers Night. 

At 77 years old, Bob’s voice has lost none of its power and distinctiveness and he belts out the chorus ably joined by a 2000-strong backing group, his famous mysterious hand movements present as always! Old hands Lee Morris (drums), Rick Benton (keyboards), and Dennis Ward (bass) look at ease as they effortlessly pump out the classics, but the biggest shout of the evening goes to Brendon Riley. Tony’s guitar tech for many years, who as Bob pointed out ‘had some pretty big boots to fill’. The biggest compliment I can pay him is that if you closed your eyes, you would never know that the big man himself wasn’t present. 

With 23 studio albums, it must be almost impossible to pick a setlist, and yet such is the strength of the back catalogue, the band probably could have just picked out names from a hat and the crowd would still have been happy. As it turns out, the majority of the heavy lifting is done by the back-to-back 80’s classics, with the aforementioned On a Storytellers Night, Vigilante, and Wings of Heaven, contributing ten songs from the 17 strong double setlist. Not a second of time is wasted, with stalwarts including Wild Swan, Les Morts Dansants (complete with phones in the air lighting up the Steel Mill, the pop sensibilities of Just Like an Arrow and All England's Eyes going down an absolute storm. 

The sound is impeccable, and the stage show excellently executed, with three big screens crackling with video embellishments throughout the set. Such is the strength of their discography, only two 21st century songs made the list. When We Were Younger from 2007’s Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow and the title track from 20th release, Lost on the Road to Eternity. 

A shame that we don't get anything from the final album Here Comes the Rain, but that might have been a bit too raw for an already emotional Bob. The main show concludes with a rollicking version of the title track from the debut album Kingdom of Madness, before the encore. 

It begins with an emotional The Spirit dedicated to Tony, and accompanied by a similar video montage of the man himself. It's When the World Comes Down complete with a confetti canon finale, that amusingly seemed to surprise Bob more than the crowd, even prompting the English gent to utter an expletive or two, that finally brings a touching evening to an end. 

Tony would have been proud. Who knows what the future will hold, Bob certainly owes nothing after his amazingly long career, and if he decides to retire Magnum for good, who can blame him. But I have a feeling we might see them again in the not-too-distant future, but I wish them all the best in whatever they choose. 

As it is, what a farewell. Tony Clarkin (1946-2024), rest in peace, knowing you have brought pleasure to thousands and more. 

Set 1 How Far Jerusalem. Lost on the Road to Eternity. Wild Swan. When We Were Younger. The Tall Ships. The Flood (Red Cloud's War). Les Morts Dansants. Don't Wake the Lion (Too Old to Die Young).  

Set 2 Soldier of the Line. Just Like an Arrow. Need a Lot of Love. On a Storyteller's Night. All England's Eyes. Vigilante. Kingdom of Madness.  

Encore: The Spirit. When the World Comes Down.

Review by Gareth Pugh

Photos by Hutch - find more at Hutchie 224 Rock Metal & Roll