Photo:Noel Buckley/GRTR!

By popular demand a further chance to hear our Magnum Specials

Tuesday 25 December, 21:00: Magnum in the Millennium

On the eve of the release of Magnum's latest album David Randall looked back over the past decade

Wednesday 26 December

18:00: Malcolm Dome on Magnum
19:00  Magnum at 40: Bob and Tony
20:00 Vintage Rare Magnum
21:00 The 1990s

Magnum celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2012 and to coincide with our own (10th) anniversary the band have been nominated our Ambassadors for 2012.

Magnum have been making music since the early-1970s, first as a covers band playing the Birmingham club circuit.  Although they made a single for CBS, 'Sweets For My Sweet' in 1975, it wasn't until 1978 that they released their first album signed to Jet Records.

The band's greatest period of success came in the 1980s, with the release of 'A Storyteller's Night' and their signing to Polydor in 1985 for whom they produced three studio albums.

The band's fortunes wavered after being dropped by Polydor, and by 1995 they had announced their farewell tour.

In spite of this hiatus, the core of Tony Clarkin and Bob Catley produced two albums as Hard Rain before deciding to reform Magnum in 2001, this time with Al Barrow on bass and Harry James on drums. Together with longstanding keyboard player Mark Stanway this now forms the current line-up.

The band have produced five albums since their reformation, mostly replete with Rodney Matthews artwork.  Matthews created the band's most memorable sleeves from 'The Eleventh Hour' (1983) onwards.

Magnum's 2011 album - 'Evolution' - marks the past 10 years, not least with the SPV label, and includes re-recordings of previous tracks along with new material.

The band release their eighteenth studio album in September, 'On The Thirteenth Day'.

Broadcast history (2012)

Sunday 16 December, 21:00

The third in our Magnum specials features an archive interview from 1992.

Sunday 2 December, 21:00 The 1990s

Sunday 25 November, 21:00 Vintage Rare - Magnum

Sunday 18 November, 21:00: Introduction by Malcolm Dome

'Assume The Position' presented by David Randall

Saturday 20 October, 17:00

Ten years of Magnum classics including tracks from the new album repeat

Magnum at 40, Sunday 23 September

In the week of the Magnum album launch, we play an hour of Magnum classics including tracks from the new album

Magnum at 40, Sunday 26 August at 18:00 (Sunday 16 September, 21:00 repeat)

Magnum in the 1990s

David Randall followed the band's progress and split in 1995 and their re-invention as Hard Rain prior to their full-blown reformation in 2001.

Featuring music from 'Sleepwalking' (1992), 'Rock Art' (1994) and their live swansong 'The Last Dance' (1996) plus the two Hard Rain albums and a dip into Bob Catley's solo debut in 1998.

Magnum at 40, Sunday 19 August at 21:00

The third in our Magnum specials to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary features an archive interview from 1992. (repeat)

Magnum at 40, Sunday 12 August  at 21:00

Vintage Rare: Magnum

An hour special of less familiar Magnum releases (repeat)

Magnum at 40, Sunday 5 August  at 18:00

Malcolm Dome on Magnum

Magnum at 40, Sunday 5 August  at 21:00

Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin talk about the band's 40th anniversary

Magnum at 40, Sunday 27 May at 18:00

The third in our Magnum specials to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary features an archive interview from 1992.

Vintage Rare: Magnum, Sunday 4 March 2012 at 18:00 (Sunday 11 March at 22:00 repeat)

Sunday 20 May, 21:00 repeat

An hour special of less familiar Magnum releases

Playlist

Seabird (demo, 1974) (from 'Long Days, Black Nights',2002)
Stormbringer (live, 1976) ('Days Of Wonder',2004)
The Prize (BBC session, 1983) ('Long Days, Black Nights',2002)
Come On Young Love (demo, 1985) ('On A Storyteller's Night', 2005)
Before First Light (live, 1985) ('The River Sessions', 2004)
Vigilante (live, 1995) ('The Last Dance',1996)
C'est La Vie (CD single,1988)
Shoot ('Keeping The Nite Lite Burning',1993)
Only In America (live)  ('Long Days, Black Nights', 2002)
You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry (CD single,1994)
The Tall Ships (live) ('Long Days, Black Nights',2002)

Magnum at 40, Sunday 1 January 2012, 18:00 repeat

(Monday 19 December, Friday 23 December, 22:00 repeat

Magnum at 40, Sunday 18 December 2011, 22:00

Long-time Magnum watcher Malcolm Dome introduces our 2012 promotion with a wealth of reminiscences, and in the second (sacred) hour our recent interview with Bob and Tony on the eve of the band's 40th anniversary.

Now available as a podcast

Special Feature (Magnum at 40)

The Songwriters: Tony Clarkin

Magnum website

Press release