The love in the room tonight is a truly tangible thing. Whilst every Magnum show is a celebration of one of this country’s finest and arguably most underrated bands, this short tour paying tribute to the late, great Tony Clarkin is something else.
Magnum
O2 Forum Kentish Town – 21 January 2025
Words: Paul Monkhouse
Photography: Manuela Langotsch
When guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin suddenly passed away on the 7 January last year, just days before the release of their twenty-third album Here Comes The Rain, it brought an end to Magnum’s decades-long career, the loss too weighty to bear for old friend and vocalist Bob Catley.
In an emotional and heartbreaking video message, the singer understandably declared that he could no longer bear to perform those songs onstage without his best friend by his side. It was truly the end of an era.
With some settling of the dust and no little reflection, it was decided to put together a handful of shows to pay tribute to the man and the material he had written, and the response was immediate. So, here we are now in a packed O2 Forum Kentish Town, the atmosphere electric and heavy with anticipation as the lights go out.
After a dark cloaked figure brings a theatrical touch to the opening, the band then stroll onto the stage and tear into a glorious How Far Jerusalem, its anthemic and epic punch hitting hard.
The band looks and sounds in great form, Catley in fine voice as keys player Rick Benton, drummer Lee Morris and bassist Dennis Ward slip easily back into the obvious chemistry they have always had. Standing in place of the departed Clarkin, his guitar tech Brendan Riley seems almost overwhelmed by it all at first, his playing spot on despite the obvious emotion on his face.
Never trying to add unnecessary flurries of fretwork, the guitarist plays with respect and fire, capturing the raw excitement and class of his former boss, and it is a joy to behold. 
With a career-spanning set, the band brought all the drama and dynamism that Magnum had built their reputation on, sweeping newer numbers like Lost On The Road To Eternity, blending perfectly with the crunch of the wonderfully bombastic Soldier Of The Line.
Swapping the chunky riffs of Wild Swan for a much-welcomed acoustic take on Tall Ships, the breadth of Clarkin’s penmanship was on full display, and each new number brought a series of little tweaks and nuances to the formula.
This was far from a partisan audience, but even to the most committed, the night was a welcome reminder as to just how powerful these songs are when played live, Catley’s distinctive movements embodying every turn of phrase.
Capturing the real emotional weight of the night a sea of phone lights during Les Morts Dansants and a rambunctious Don’t Wake The Lion (Too Old To Die Young) closed the first set on a high, the band leaving the stage on this first tribute show knowing that even if they had stopped there they would have done enough.
Ratcheting things up even further for the second half, the set was a collection of greatest hits and fan favourites, Just Like An Arrow, On A Storyteller’s Night and All England’s Eyes making an appearance.
With no big speeches necessary, the band were able to shine the light on Clarkin’s work the best way they knew how by just playing, and the powerful and irresistible riffs of Vigilante and Kingdom Of Madness said more than words.
With the heavily poignant When The World Comes Down finishing the night on a mixture of triumph and tears, Catley stood centre stage, his bandmates by his side, as he declared that they would see us somewhere and sometime down the road.
Whilst not the promise of a certain future for the band, this was enough for those present to know that the bond between band and audience is something timeless. It can only be hoped that this is not the last stop on this current road, as the world needs to hear these songs, but that is for the future and the band to decide.
Certainly, tonight did all it was meant to do and the presence of Tony Clarkin was felt in every note and fibre. A glorious and triumphant evening for all.
