Magnum In-depth Biography
This band must be the poster child of the "no one in the U.S. has ever heard of them despite an illustrious career elsewhere school" of progressive rock}. With 2002's Breath of Life} bringing their studio album total to 11, fewer people in the United States have heard of this group than have heard of Hawkwind}, Max Webster}, or Nektar} (three other bands from that same alma mater). Magnum} got its start in Birmingham, England, in the mid-'70s. The band's first album, Kingdom of Madness}, came out in 1978, right in the midst of the punk rock} musical revolution. That timing may be one factor contributing to the band's unknown status. 1979 saw the release of Magnum II}. After extensive gigging, the group released Marauder}, a live album in 1980, and Chase the Dragon} came two years later. Going back to their "album-a-year" pace, The Eleventh Hour} was released in 1983. The band went two years between discs again, with On a Storyteller's Night} not being released until 1985, but the time seemed to have done some good for them. The album was well-received and their fame was growing in Europe. Their next disc was produced by Roger Taylor} (Queen}) and Vigilante} (1986) continued the group's rise. The true fruition came with Wings of Heaven} the following year, as it made several charts in England. 1990 saw the next studio release, Goodnight L.A.}, and an album of rarities, entitled Spirit: A History}, came the next year. By 1992, the band had recorded their next release, Sleepwalking}. They decided to call it quits in 1994, releasing Rock Art} and commencing on a farewell tour. The tour was documented with the live album The Last Dance} (1996). Little did they know at the time that the breakup was not a permanent one and the band re-assembled in 2001 to record a new album, Breath of Life}, released in 2002. The disc reunited original members Bob Catley} and Tony Clarkin} with '80s keyboardist Mark Stanway}. ~ Gary Hill, All Music Guide
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