My
first experience of Magnum was brief, the loan of a copy of the 'Chase
the Dragon' album. At the time (sometime in 1983 I think) the album
made little impact on me despite featuring a clutch of classic tunes
such as 'Soldier Of The Line', 'The Spirit' and 'Sacred Hour'. Moving
on a couple of years and Magnum really began to progress both musically
and in popularity with the release of the single 'Just Like an Arrow'
and the album from which it came, 'On a Storyteller's Night'. The
single was played on the radio and a mate played me the albums and
I liked it so much I travelled the 120 miles to Edinburgh for my first
live Magnum experience. I enjoyed the show hugely and went back to
most of the tours that made it as far North as Scotland, plus a couple
that didn't.
Below is a list (smaller than I thought) of the shows I saw. With
a bit of luck I'll eventually get a few memories / setlists / tickets
/ photos etc. together for at least a couple of the show. For the
moment I'll just review the shows from the reunion tour that I get
to and maybe the bands that Bob and Tony were involved in between
bouts of Magnum activity, HArd Rain and the solo Catley show.
04/12/85
MAGNUM
<1> / IQ / The ALLIANCE Edinburgh Playhouse
28/06/86 MARILLION / Gary MOORE / JETHRO TULL / MAGNUM <2>
/ MAMA'S BOYS 'Welcome to the Garden Party' Milton Keynes Bowl
05/10/86 MAGNUM <3> / FM Edinburgh
Playhouse
09/03/87 MAGNUM <4> Newcastle
City Hall
15/03/88 MAGNUM <5> Edinburgh
Playhouse
13/12/88 MAGNUM <6> / STAGE DOLLS
Glasgow Barrowlands
14/12/88 MAGNUM <7> / STAGE DOLLS
Edinburgh Playhouse
13/07/90 MAGNUM <-> Workington
Derwent Park Cumbria Rock Festival (soundcheck)
14/07/90 MAGNUM <8> / SAXON /
The DOGS D’AMOUR / WOLFSBANE / ROMEO’S DAUGHTER Cumbria Rock Festival
Workington Derwent Park
14/09/90 MAGNUM <9> / DIRTY WHITE
BOY <1> Edinburgh Playhouse
20/09/91 MAGNUM <10> / KISS OF
THE GYPSY <1> Glasgow Barrowlands Ballroom
18/07/93 JETHRO TULL / MAGNUM <11>
/ FISH / Sensational Party Boys Tarlair Music Festival, Macduff
09/04/94 MAGNUM <12> Glasgow Pavillion
Theatre
22/08/94 MAGNUM <13> / LITTLE
EGYPT <1> Glasgow Garage
28/04/99 HARD RAIN <1> / KICK
Reading Alleycat
08/04/00 Bob CATLEY <1> Monroes,
Workington 8/04/00 £2 after 8pm
First time seeing Bob solo. His support act became
his backing band. The solo material was a little ponderous in places
but things picked up for the Magnum numbers towards the end of the
set.
02/03/02 MAGNUM
<14> / TYLA <1>
Newport TJ's
03/03/02 MAGNUM
<--> / TYLA <->
Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
??/??/04 MAGNUM
<15> / John Young <->London Astoria
??/??/05 MAGNUM
<16> (no support - just DVD recording) London Astoria
14/11/07 MAGNUM
<17> (no support - just live album recording)
Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms