In Conversation With Magnum's Bob Catley

It is a sign of definite quality when a band can look back at a career that started as early as 1972 and is still capable of thoroughly awing their fans with every new album.

Magnum delivers this kind of quality on a regular basis and is set to prove their outstanding position once again with their latest studio offering, Here Comes The Rain.

The English rock act has succeeded yet again in creating a vibrant, homogeneous work that impresses its listeners from the first to the last note and includes a number of surprises.

Ahead of the release of the new album Magnum's lead singer Bob Catley chatted about the Here Comes The Rain.

What can we expect with the new album?

Here Comes the Rain will be our twenty-third album. We have tried to keep the original sound of Magnum intact but have also thrown a few surprises in there too. Tony Clarkin, our guitarist who writes and produces all our albums, is such a progressive songwriter, and he never fails to come up with some great songs. The title track is about coming under fire in a war zone—it is not about raindrops falling on your head, as some people might think!

The opening track, Run Into the Shadows, has the same subject matter but is a more uptempo number. Blue Tango was the first single, which is quite a rock ‘n’ roll number for Magnum. Another track, The Seventh Darkness, is about politicians, some of whom cannot be trusted. People can expect to hear ten great new songs with a brilliant production. It is a very complete album, and it has all the elements that people come to expect from Magnum.

The artwork for the album has been done by Rodney Matthews, who has worked with us for a long time now. The vinyl version of the album comes with a double gate sleeve—something you do not seem to see these days, though I am pleased that vinyl seems to be having a resurgence.

Your partnership with Tony has been intact for over fifty years now; is there a secret behind this?

We started working together at the Rum Runner in Birmingham in the early seventies, and we have kept going ever since. We are still going strong, and I think having a great line-up in the band has helped too. Besides myself and Tony, the personnel in Magnum have been quite fluid, but I have to say that this current line-up beats them all; everyone is here for the right reasons.

What was it like for you when the band started to become successful in the eighties?

For me, it was great because we got to appear on Top of the Pops. Not everyone in the group enjoyed being there as it was a long day. I thought that all the acts were singing live on the programme and was disappointed when I discovered that they were all miming!

We used to watch the show when we were doing the American Air Force bases in the seventies before we went on stage. For us, then, it was a dream to be on the show, and of course, in the eighties, we ended up on there at least three times.

Tony is taking a break from touring at the moment due to health reasons. How is he feeling?

At the moment, he is in so much pain that we have had to cancel the spring tour. We just want him to be in a better place in the future. We can still record, but going on tour with his spinal condition is not an option at the moment. We all wish him well, as I know all our fans out there do.

What was it like touring with Ozzy Osbourne in the eighties?

We were on the same record label as Ozzy, and we got invited on tour with him in 1982. For us, it was a good opportunity to get our music across to a new audience. We were playing in 20,000-capacity arenas and having an enjoyable time travelling around in Elton John’s old tour bus as well as one that Kenny Rogers used. Not bad for the support band!

Ozzy was very good to us, as was his wife Sharon. It was a good time for me and Magnum, with some special memories made.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Just being on stage in front of a Magnum audience has to be the one for myself. Put me on stage, and I am happy; I am in love with our audience. Nowadays, we get three generations of fans coming to see us: the ones from the beginning, then their sons and daughters, then their grandchildren. Even the little kids know all the words, which is amazing.

Forget selling out the NEC in Birmingham or the Symphony Hall; three nights sold out at Hammersmith Odeon or Wembley Arena; it is the audience that is out there in front of the band every time we play that means more to me.