Magnum return to touring and brought the show to Wolverhampton’s KK’s Steelmill supported by British Rock stalwarts Grand Slam.
The show opens with Grand Slam, a band originally formed by Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott in 1984 with current guitarist Laurence Archer. In the original incantation, the band lasted less than a year, Phil Lynott passed in January 1986 and the band seemed destined to be consigned to history until Mark Stanway, who was also part of the original line-up, along with Laurence Archer and others, resurrected the band in 2016.
Since that reformation the band have released two studio albums, Hit the Ground (2019) and Wheel of Fortune (2024) plus several live and compilation albums. Hit the Ground provided most of tonight’s set.
The band are hard hitting, just as Thin Lizzy were, but have more of a classic rock edge to them with the highly mobile Mike Dyer on vocals with Laurence Archer on guitar, Rocky Newton on bass and ‘Animal’ Benjy Reid (and his hair) on drums.
The band open with 19 and Gone are the Days, both from Hit the Ground. The third song, Dedication, was the centre of some controversy after Thin Lizzy released it on a compilation album, but the song, written by Laurence Archer was never destined for Thin Lizzy, only Grand Slam. It was eventually released by the band on Hit the Ground.
The only song from Wheel of Fortune, Spitfire, came next before the band returned to Hit the Ground for the remainder of the set. I say the rest of the set which included Military Man, Crazy and Sisters of Mercy, but no set by this band could be left without a very big nod to Phil Lynott and the final song was the inevitable Whiskey in the Jar to which the entire audience contributed.
A brilliant, if short, set by a band I wished I’d seen before tonight.
The stage is cleared and made ready for the return of Magnum.
The crowd cheered as the band walked on stage but the loudest cheer was reserved for a dapper looking Bob Catley. Alongside Bob tonight were Brendan Riley on guitars, Dennis Ward on bass, Rick Benton on keys and Lee Morris on drums. Lee is due to leave the band after the current run of dates and we wish him all the best for the future.
The set, tonight, took songs from the entire Magnum spectrum with tunes from 1978 right through to 2024 and they started with Days of no Trust from 1988’s Wings of Heaven album. Bob Catley and his Magical Hands were on full show right from the start, he really is quite the showman, or maybe that should be shaman because he had the audience entranced!
The band explored the Magnum catalogue fully and although a couple of people said some favourites were missing from the set there could be few complaints as the 13 songs on the setlist were accompanied by a variety of projected images and films shown to the sides and rear of the stage. One of the highlights was the appearance of saxophonist Daniel Bourquin for Midnight (You Won’t be Sleeping), apparently the first time this had been played live with the saxophone. The main set finished with the earliest of songs, Kingdom of Madness, the title track taken from the 1978 album.
A very short recess led on to a couple of encores; Sacred Hour from 1982 and When the World Comes Down from 1986.
The crowd said a fond farewell to the band and, in particular, Lee Morris who played his final gig for Magnum at this venue. Tomorrow may be even more poignant when he plays his very final tour gig with the band.
As usual, my thanks go out to Annie Minion for getting me into the show; it was nice to see her take her place amongst the photographers – does a new career beckon?
Another brilliant night with Magnum and a proper tribute to the late Tony Clarkin.
Setlist:
Days of no Trust
Lost on the Road to Eternity
Wild Swan
When we Were Younger
Run into the Shadows
How Far Jerusalem
Soldier of the Line
The Tall Ships
On a Storyteller’s Night
Midnight (You Won’t be Sleeping)
All England’s Eyes
Vigilante
Kingdom of Madness
Encore:
Sacred Hour
When the World Comes Down
Words & images: Reg Richardson (@rock_stars_rising)
