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Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the smartest rocker in the country, or better in the Rock'n'Roll Business? I pressume, I don't have to think about it long, 'cause Mr. Bob Catley has always been taking care about his gentleman look and the posh british paleness with a touch of Sophistication. The look is completed by a designer shirt and jacket. And that's how he looks the conductor of the british (almost cult) band Magnum for the past 25 years. Yeah well, I'm not sure, whether this is now an advantage or disadvantage. But thanks god, that's not the point at a Magnum show. It's rather the huge volume of his lungs which provides an decent and good acoustic pleasure. Combined with Tony Clarkin's composed music, you've almost got all incrediences for the receipy named Magnum. Apart from a 7 year's break (1995 - 2002) those guys from Birmingham are going on together since 1972, or let's better define is as Tony Clarkin and Bob Catley, who have founded the band back then. To make the line up complete, there is also keyboarder Mark Stanyway, also in the band for ages (with a break) , Al Barrow on bass, and normally it would by Jimmy Copley on drums. But because of major health problems his position is filled by Harry James from Thunder. And that's not the first tour, Harry is joining.
Some of you guys in
the audiance are probably not aware, that you're standing in this venue
here for the very last time. It closes down on may 31. to make place for a
modern Office building. So that's, why a slight nostalgic touch is
accompaning me tonight, including the memory on so many good nights out in
here, including gigs, events and aftershow parties. From tonight onwards
this all will be history. But back to the present and the action
right now, where aprox. 400 fans of progressive melodic rock try to
check out, whether Magnum is still good for a decent performance.
It's nice to watch, that there are quite a few young faces inbetween, who
have just discovered this band for themselves. That's good, because these
youngsters are a sort of life assurance for the group, - at least for the
next few years.
Jesus wept, who would have thought that. One bad fact to point out... - the order for photographers is - only to shoot pics from the very left or right in the photopit and not from the middle. I wonder who gave this order, because after show, the band doesn't have a clue about this. But well, we are used to these kinda things, ain't we?! And thanks god to the great light conditions and an even better photo equipment, I get through it as the only photographer tonight, not having to fear to step on anybody's toes exept my own one's.
You've gotta give Bob one thing. Despite
his rather small bodysize, he's dominating the stage from the very
beginning. And he is in the truest sense of the meaning a conductor
inmidst all Rock'n'Roll singer in the world. His arms and hands are
conducting an imaginary rhythm to his singing part.
And anenthusiastic audiance is throwing back a stormy applause.
No, you really can't complain. This here is
a powerful 3rd spring march, exspecially for Clarkin and Catley, who's
hair and shirt is blown by a hidden aircondition. (seems a bit like David
Copperfield) This and the music gives the general bombast vibe the right
note.
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