Magnum, A Passage In Time – Manchester Academy: Live Review

By Mike Ainscoe on 24th January 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Magnum, A Passage In Time – Manchester Academy – Wednesday 22nd January 2025

A PASSAGE IN TIME

A tribute to Tony Clarkin. Emotional, uplifting, sad yet ultimately a celebration. Events in London, Manchester and Glasgow (sadly postponed due to weather conditions) come to a finale with two nights at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton. The latter, the scene of the recording of the last official live recording starring Magnum founder Tony Clarkin. It’s just passed the first anniversary of his death which gives an added poignancy to the evening.

It feels strange to see Magnum and particularly Bob on stage without Tony. They’ve been side by side for so long, first witnessed personally back at Manchester Apollo in 1979. An event I endlessly harp on about with the band supporting Blue Oyster Cult and gong down a storm. Bob in all white and Tony in his wide brimmed hat, thrusting thumbs up signs – quite a rarity in those days when the support band was usually a chance for fans to have a spot of fun with abuse and heckling.

THE BEST OF MAGNUM

Announcing these gigs, Bob talked about “trying to do the best of Magnum. Be there – it might never happen again.” That’s quite some task given their legacy. With only 2 songs from 2001 onwards making the setlist, there’s a hefty dollop of nostalgia on offer on this select run of dates.

Meanwhile, there’s a big queue down Oxford Road leading to Manchester Academy. The faithful who’ve been on the Magnum bus for forty years or more lead the way. There are plenty too who wear a different T shirt but who tonight will buy their ticket. They join the not quite full but comfortably busy Academy to pay their respects.

The appearance of mystery storyteller (maybe taking a break from singing in Sleep Token…), casting shafts of light from the mirrored mask provides enough of a distraction for Bob Catley to creep stage centre . Joined by the four piece he begins to conduct proceedings as they strike into How Far Jerusalem. On A Storyteller’s Night album is mined relatively heavily for the set. A sign that the boys are going to be digging deep into the legacy.

BREN-DON! BREN-DON!

The man we’re all intrigued about is Tony’s long time guitar tech Brendon Riley. Perhaps the best placed and the most obvious man to step into some very large shoes. Keeping it in the family and all that. There’s not one person in the room not rooting for Brendon, willing him to do well. When he’s introduced at the end of the majestic Lost On The Road To Eternity, it’s a touching moment. Amidst the chants of “Ton-EE,!Ton-EE!” he’s very generously and very warmly welcomed. Those close enough will have detected a chin wobble and a glistening of the eyes. And to be fair, he does one heck of a job, as Bob keeps a close eye as if to let him know he’s doing just right. (Anyone close enough to sport the axe/guitar wielding smurf figure atop his Marshall stack?)

The first of two sets confirms that these gigs are the right decision. Maybe there’s a future for magnum after some considerable doubt. Stabs of poignancy roll in like waves. Not long after Brendon has been heralded, When We Were Younger surely has many welling up again. Lee Morris , Rick Benton and Dennis Ward and the Magnum front of house team all play their part in ensuring that this is an event to celebrate in communal fashion. A sense of community that is always so strong in the Metal circles is reinforced. When Bob asks for hands in the air, everyone joins in without hesitation.

Bob takes a seat and shakes a tambourine and with Brendon donning the acoustic, Tall Ships is a lovely laid back highlight of a first set as Magnum go all Eagles. However, we’ve still got Les Morts Dansant which receives an ovation and and epic Don’t Wake The Lion to close out the first half. Everyone seems to need a breather and a moment to gather themselves.

HARD TO SWALLOW?

Set two sees Bob in a fresh top and any notion of the energy and emotional charge taking a dip is cast aside as the band dig deep into some long forgotten cuts to thrill the devotees. Soldier Of The Line is a smart choice as a majestic and pumping return and as On A Storyteller’s Night closes, we’re ready to rock and triumphant fanfares of All England’s Eyes and Vigilante do the business. A brief release before a finale that sees even Kingdom Of Madness and The Spirit surpassed by When The World Comes Down.

There’s no way to follow, not that they’d try, the clout of the chorus of a song that bears the sentiment of both loss and new life.

“There are times it’s hard to swallow…
When the world comes down on you…
May it shine on you tomorrow…
And your dreams, they all come true...”

As one wag on the Magnum Facebook fan page commented: “I never thought I’d be standing with a bunch of fat blokes singing ‘Too old to die young, Too big to cry.’“

A FITTING FAREWELL?

Whether or not that’s it? Does Bob want to do it again? As the man in the chair, is he now satisfied that his band has bade a final and fitting farewell? What’s clear is that in the twilight of a lengthy career, Magnum have genuinely earned their place in the hearts of the Rock and Metal fraternity. And while we’d like nothing more than to see this quintet once again touring the halls of the UK, you can forgive the last of the founders for feeling he’s had the chance to say goodbye with a show that scratches that itch.