Mark Stanway, the highly accomplished British keyboardist best known for his longstanding association with the rock band Magnum, has said in a statement he is “both shocked and saddened to have heard today of the passing of Tony Clarkin.”
Mark Stanway joined Magnum in 1980 and became an integral part of their distinctive sound. He would leave the band on 9 December 2016.
“On behalf of all members of Kingdom of Madness, but particularly Micky, Richard, Mo and myself, I would like to offer sincere condolences to Tony’s family and bandmates.
“It goes without saying that Tony was one of the finest songwriters this country ever produced – an absolute master at well-crafted, thought-provoking lyrics and always with a keen ear for melody.”
“He produced a consistently excellent supply of song material for the members of Magnum to contribute their substantial musical and vocal talents to, and I believe this musical legacy will live on for a very long time and continue to be discovered by new audiences.
“Looking back over the many years we worked together, my overriding memory will always be of our shared musical achievements and successes and some great times both on tour and in the studio, particularly during the band’s ‘peak’ years – fantastic experiences which I will treasure forever with great affection.”
“The best way to pay respect to Tony’s legacy and to ‘keep the night light burning’ is to ensure that his songs continue to be played and heard. Kingdom of Madness will continue to honour Tony’s work through its performances of the 1978-94 Classic Magnum catalogue.
“R.I.P. Tony”
