Magnum – A Passage in Time: A Tribute to Tony Clarkin – KK’s Steelmill
There was something of a bittersweet feeling about tonight’s gig, while it was fabulous to see, and hear, Magnum performing some familiar songs quite brilliantly, it was all done without the presence of the band’s powerhouse guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin who sadly passed away in January last year.
This was the first of two nights for the band at KK’s Steelmill in Wolverhampton, so staged not too many miles from Tony’s familiar stomping ground.
Filming tonight meant that the pit was closed to photographers, no restrictions on the music though, which was tremendous. It’s unusual to get into the venue early and have to fight your way through a crowd, but that’s what happened tonight except that the ‘crowd’ was the longest queue I’ve seen by far at KK’s waiting to get to the merch table!
No support band(s) tonight; instead there were two one-hour-long sets with a break between.
Before any music was played there was a photographic tribute to Tony Clarkin which showed an array of images of him and the band which brought cheers from the packed Steelmill.
Tony’s writing was both exemplary and varied as tonight’s setlist was to show; the band opened with How Far Jerusalem from 1985’s On a Storyteller’s Night.
The band tonight comprised Bob Catley, Rick Benton, Lee Morris, Dennis Ward and Tony’s former guitar tech Brendon Riley who, I should say, played Tony’s role faultlessly.
Most of the songs came from the earlier studio albums but one of the later tracks came next, Lost on the Road to Eternity, the title track from the 2018 album. As usual Bob Catley gestures as if conducting the band, as well as the audience, who were captivated.
Wild Swan (Wings of Heaven, 1988) followed, then When We Were Younger (Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow, 2007). Throughout this first set the crowd were fully engaged, hands were waved, phones used like torches but full respect was shown when Bob commanded the stage with a lyrical tour-de-force.
Every time pictures of Tony Clarkin flashed onto the Steelmill big screens they were met with a cheer, it was quite an emotional night.
The Tall Ships (Rock Art, 1994), The Flood (Sleepwalking, 1992), Les Morts Dansant (On a Storytellers Night) saw the band get to the final song in this first set; Don’t Wake the Lion (Too Old to Die Young) from Wings of Heaven. The band walked off-stage to a tumultuous roar. While the entire band played superbly well, Bob Catley was in top form and Brendon didn’t seem at all phased by the occasion.
The majority of the second half was set firmly in the 1980’s as the band opened this half of the show with Soldier of the Line (Chase the Dragon, 1982). On a Storyteller’s Night provided three of the four songs that followed; Just Like an Arrow, On a Storyteller’s Night and All England’s Eyes split only by Need a Lot of Love from 1986’s Vigilante album. The title track from Vigilante provided the penultimate song for the set.
As could possibly be expected Kingdom of Madness (Kingdom of Madness, 1978) finished the second half and the band retired once more.
It didn’t take long for the crowd’s chanting and hollering to bring the band back yet again for a thoroughly deserved, yet not unexpected, encore.
The Spirit (Chase the Dragon) and When the World Comes Down (Vigilante) finished the night off, along with many of the audience by the looks of it. An emotional show, both for the audience and, in particular, Bob Catley.
So, what’s next? Bob has already said that he doesn’t think he can continue without Tony at the songwriting helm, and I can fully understand and appreciate that sentiment. Having said that, Tony Clarkin has left a very significant legacy in 23 studio albums combined with numerous live and compilation albums; it would be a real shame to see it just end. The band could, maybe, take aleaf from the Martin Turner (of Wishbone Ash) book and tour celebrating one specific album mixed up with old favourites. That said, the set up as used tonight worked incredibly well and there would be few complaints if it continued, even for a year or two to let the whole Magnum world say it’s goodbye’s to Mr. Anthony Michael Clarkin!
Words & photographs: Reg Richardson.
