{"title":"Bob Catley","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"the-tower-3","title":"The Tower","description":"\u003cp\u003eFormed in 1972, Magnum throughout the next 16 years consisted mainly of Bob Catley on vocals and Tony Clarkin on guitar. Magnum began as the house band at Birmingham's famous Rum Runner night club (later the home of Duran Duran). They began to develop their own style by playing Clarkin's songs at a residency at The Railway Inn, in Birmingham's Curzon Street, in 1976. Joining Clarkin and Catley were drummer KexGorin and bassist Dave Morgan (later a member of ELO). Their most notable success during these early years was the Jeff Glixman produced Chase The Dragon (1982) which reached No. 17 in the UK, and included several songs that would be mainstays of the band's live set, notably ‘Soldier of the Line’, ‘Sacred Hour’ and ‘The Spirit’. Their breakthrough album came in 1985 with On a Storyteller's Night which featured the single ‘Just Like an Arrow’. This success continued in the following years with the Roger Taylor (Queen) produced Vigilante in 1986, the top 5 album Wings of Heaven in 1988, and the Keith Olsen produced Goodnight L.A\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cargorecords.us2.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=9ed1b5da39fac0e4af51f43c0\u0026amp;id=628ed19799\u0026amp;e=ceb5a66efd\"\u003e.\u003c\/a\u003e reaching No. 9 in the UK album charts in 1990. Subsequently, Clarkin decided to maintain a tighter control, and after their initial mainstream success, the band lost their major label backing and returned to a more personal level of production. This finally found the band splitting and the formation of Hard Rain in 1995, which saw Clarkin pursue a more Pop orientated direction with a band that included Sue McCloskey on lead vocals. This new direction didn’t sit well with Catley, and after a headline performance at The Gods in the late 90s, a conversation with Bruce Mee of Now and Then Records saw Catley agree with a decision which eventually led to his debut solo album, \u003ci\u003eThe Tower\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis release was completely written by Gary Hughes of Ten, with the writing completely decided to be in the vein of classic Magnum. The album itself was recorded by various members of Ten, including the amazing Vinny Burns (Dare) on guitar.  On release, the many positive reviews concluded that the release of ‘The Tower’ had succeeded beyond its wildest imagination…..and Bob Catley’s solo career had been launched with amazing success! With a lyrical intricacy and majestic pomp, songs like ‘Far Away, ‘Fear of the Dark, ‘Madrigal’ and ‘Deep Winter’ take you back to that glorious period of Magnum between ‘Chase The Dragon’ and ‘Wings Of Heaven’ whilst hard melodic rockers such as ‘Scream’, ‘Dreams’ and title track \u003ci\u003eThe Tower\u003c\/i\u003e show just what Magnum would have sounded like if they’d gone a little bit harder. Another absolutely brilliant album that totally deserves to be filed alongside those mid-period Magnum classics.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Escape Music","offers":[{"title":"Green LPx2","offer_id":50427055472971,"sku":"2206074","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50427054915915,"sku":"2206071","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/beb7fce8-5175-6b51-f888-1a844d2639e6_674f87b0_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726820984"},{"product_id":"legends-8","title":"Legends","description":"\u003cp\u003eEscape Music has the pleasure to announce the re-release of much-loved vocalist \u003cstrong\u003eBob Catley\u003c\/strong\u003e (Magnum\/Avantasia) \u003cem\u003eLEGENDS\u003c\/em\u003e album on Vinyl and CD with the new artwork by the legendary artist Rodney Matthews!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Vinyl will be a double gatefold limited edition of 500 copies only, \"\u003cem\u003eSavannah\u003c\/em\u003e\" and \"\u003cem\u003eMimosa Marble\u003c\/em\u003e\" colour double vinyl, all will be numbered 1-500, 180g Audiophile Vinyl, and 1000 CDs limited edition only, all will be numbered 001 to 1000.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMusicians are: \u003cstrong\u003eBob Catley\u003c\/strong\u003e: Lead vocals and Backing Vocals, \u003cstrong\u003eGary Hughes\u003c\/strong\u003e: Keyboards, Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals (ten\/solo), \u003cstrong\u003eVinny Burns\u003c\/strong\u003e: Guitars (Dare\/Ten\/Ultravox), \u003cstrong\u003eJon Cookesy\u003c\/strong\u003e: Drums (Dante Fox) - PRODUCED BY GARY HUGHES.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Escape Music","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50982502564171,"sku":"2236397","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50982503809355,"sku":"2236402","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Legends_4d4af286_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1737527239"},{"product_id":"middle-earth-ch","title":"Middle Earth","description":"\u003cp\u003eEscape Music has the pleasure to announce the re-release of much-loved vocalist Bob Catley (Magnum\/Avantasia) “Middle Earth” album. After the great success of ‘The Tower’, Bob and Gary got together again for the follow-up – ‘Legends’. It was during this period that Bob and Gary first discussed their mutual love for the work of JRR Tolkein, which planted a seed in Gary’s mind, which finally led to this full-blown concept album based around Tolkein’s work on ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’.‘Middle Earth’ is, of course, the mythical world where all these events take place, and once again Gary’s wonderfully evocative lyrics fully immerse us into this wonderful and colourful universe. As with the previous album ‘Legends’, the band again mostly consisting of members of Ten, such as Vinny Burns and Steve McKenna, with the drum stool being occupied by Dante Fox’s Jon Cookesy. Artwork has once again been provided my worldrenowned artist Rodney Matthews, whose career is inextricably linked with Magnum\/Bob Catley. This ‘fellowship’ was once more prepared to take Gary’s evocative work and Bob Catley’s mercurial vocals out into the world once more.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Escape Music","offers":[{"title":"2LP - Green \/ Turquoise","offer_id":51643621933387,"sku":"R1746-5455","price":36.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":51643621966155,"sku":"R1746-9645","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/BobCatley-MiddleEarth.jpg?v=1744730090"},{"product_id":"when-empires-burn","title":"When Empires Burn","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Bob Catley Story is indeed one of “Legends”, born in Aldershot in 1947 he moved at an early age to Birmingham where he decided on a musical career. He joined several bands at college. One of these bands was “Paradox” where he was noticed by Status Quo members Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhen Paradox disbanded in 1970 Bob joined up with Tony Clarkin and Magnum were formed, who need no introduction in the world of quality British hard rock. They had a really good break when Jeff Glixman produced “Chase The Dragon” in the early eighties, by then Magnum had crafted their own classic rock sound. They further enjoyed commercial success with “Just like an Arrow” in 1985.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHowever, when Clarkin veered to a different style with his band “Hard Rain” Bob Catley decided to go solo and this is when “The Tower” was released with a strong input from Gary Hughes of “Ten”. It was a great success and led to the release of “Legends” and “Middle Earth”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThese three releases have all now been reissued by Escape Music on both CD and double vinyl with lavish new artwork from Rodney Matthews and bonus tracks \u003cem\u003eThe Tower, Legends\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMiddle Earth\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIt seems fitting that the journey should continue with “When Empires Burn” and so here it is given the same treatment as the others, a timeless addition to the  Bob Catley collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Escape Music","offers":[{"title":"2LP - Savannah and Ash","offer_id":53199053062475,"sku":"R6518-9962","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":53199053095243,"sku":"R6518-7634","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Bob_Catley_-_When_Empires_Burn_ESMV1030.jpg?v=1755517388"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/bob-catley.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}