Tony Clarkin
| Tony Clarkin | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anthony Michael Clarkin |
| Born | 24 November 1946 |
| Genres | Hard rock, blues rock, melodic rock |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Associated acts |
Magnum Hard Rain |
| Website | www.magnumonline.co.uk |
Tony Clarkin (born Anthony Michael Clarkin, 24 November 1946) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist of the rock band Magnum. He has been the primary songwriter throughout Magnum's history, writing all of the material on their 19 studio albums.
Clarkin was born and grew up in the Shard End area of Birmingham, which spawned a number of bands tagged with the 'Brum Beat' label. Leaving school to train as a Ladies hairdresser he soon quit to join his first band The Boulevards with former school friends.
Formed in 1972, Magnum have undergone several changes in personnel over the years, however the core of vocalist Bob Catley and guitarist/songwriter Tony Clarkin remain today.
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 Kex Gorin and bassist Dave Morgan (later a member of ELO) and Mark Stanway keyboard player joined in 1980 and remains to date. Their most notable success during these early years was the Jeff Glixman produced Chase The Dragon (1982) which reached #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".
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