Wolverhampton provides the setting for a fitting souvenir of a live Magnum before the loss of Tony Clarkin.

Release Date: 10th January 2024

Label: Steamhammer/SPV

Format: 2CD / 3LP / Digital

THE FINAL SHOW

On 10th December 2022 Magnum played the final show of their European tour at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton. The concert was recorded by a state-of-the-art audio equipment, which later turned out to be a real blessing because it was – as we know with hindsight – the last official live recording starring Magnum founder Tony Clarkin. The guitarist and main songwriter died unexpectedly on 7 January 2024, just a few days before the release of Magnum’s studio album Here Comes The Rain.

Due to overwhelming demand and to mark the first anniversary of Clarkin’s passing, Live At KK’s Steel Mill presents Magnum as an well established and celebrated act whose live repertoire of hits, classics and newer material could hardly be more varied.

A PERFECT EVENING

 “It was the perfect evening,” recalls singer Bob Catley. “We finished our The Monster Roars tour in Wolverhampton. KK’s Steel Mill was packed out and the promoter was a passionate Magnum fan. I couldn’t imagine a more worthy farewell to Tony than those recordings.”

The set of 16 tracks is gathered from a dozen albums. Represented from the title track from their 22nd and then current album The Monster Roars, all the way back to The Sacred Hour from the Chase The Dragon album of forty years previous. We’re never far away from a triumphant flavouring or powerful melody. A Heavy Rock bent and singalong choruses all part of the package.

There’s the contrast with the immediacy of the radio friendly groove The Day After The Night Before and the symphonic grandeur of Les Morts Dansant and then more straightforward Rocking Chair built around a sharp Clarkin riff. The latter has the sort of Perry/Tyler funky vibe that’s hard to resist. The finale and encore is a series of home runs from the book of Magnum classics. Not a showy lead player who craves the spotlight, Clarkin allows himself a rare solo moment in a couple of spots, particularly in Vigilante.

The album is a fine way to (almost) bring down the curtain. A sad farewell but fitting tribute.

’25 PLANS

To pay tribute to their late bandleader, Magnum are set to play an exclusive series of ‘Tribute to Tony’ shows in the UK in January 2025. As a special gesture, Clarkin’s daughter Dionne will showcase two of her father’s favourite instruments to the concerts. His red Telecaster and his white custom guitar. “My father was an extremely modest and humble man who would probably be surprised at how much the large Magnum community continues to love him to this day,” she says. “He always believed that few people would really care if one day he would no longer be with us. As it turns out, the exact opposite is the case. We all miss him, his huge artistic achievement and his great empathy as a father, friend and musician!” 

Here’s Days Of No Trust from the gig:

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