Magnum
at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

Midland rockers Magnum celebrated the 20th anniversary of their biggest selling album with a storming concert at the Wulfrun, their third gig in the city in 12 months.

The album Wings of Heaven, released in 1988, was a top five hit and produced three top 40 singles. Last night the whole album got an airing.

Check out our gig photo gallery below

But it was more that just a nostalgic run through as the veteran band – which draws its members from the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire – delivered tracks from their most recent albums too, as well as songs from throughout their 36-year career.

They kicked off with a surprise for the fans, dusting off Back To Earth from the vaults, before bringing it up to date with When We Were Younger, combining melody with a hard punch.

Ever-smiling singer Bob Catley was the perfect foil for guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin, who doesn’t go for rock star shapes and poses – he just lets his fingers do the talking.

Catley, in as fine voice as ever he was, led the Wulfrun choir through favourites Midnight and Vigilante before they played the entire Wings of Heaven album, including the hits It Must Have Been Love, Days of No Trust and Start Talking Love.

With Thunder’s drummer Harry James at his kit, Mark Stanway on keyboards and Al Barrow on bass, the band rounded off the show with All England’s Eyes and the ever-present Kingdom Of Madness.

Not content to rely on past glories, Magnum have been gaining critical acclaim with a run of recent albums, including Brand New Morning and Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow, which have been hailed as among their best.

On stage they still continue to deliver the goods too – and should be making another appearance in Wolverhampton later in the year.

By Ian Harvey