Pictures: Prog Rockers Magnum Roll Back The Years At Islington Academy

The mighty Magnum tread the boards at the O2 Islington Academy a decade into their reformation

Though reforming your old act is all the rage these days, progressive rockers Magnum managed to put their differences aside a full ten years ago and have been rocking through the course of six new studio albums since 2002. The Islington Academy crowd in London found them full throttle, with only Harry James on drums and Al Barrow on bass not around during the bands first run between 1972 and 1995. 

For those about to rock, we salute you... Magnum tear it up at the O2

Front man Bob Catley looked to be in the most righteous form, flinging himself around the stage with an energy that belied his advanced years, and it has to be said fellow older members, guitarist Tony Clarkin and keyboardist Mark Stanway, were in good fettle too as they rocked the London venue to its core. 

Bob Catley in exuberant form

Magnum have been on tour in Europe since October and have spent the last month of that rocking around their native UK. The group have just two dates left, including a homecoming show in Wolverhamption near Birmingham. Although a band since 1972, they didn't hit any great success until the 1980s, with 82's Chase The Dragon making the top 20 of the UK album charts, and subsequent success with 85's LP On A Storyteller's Night catching the attention of Queen drummer Roger Taylor - who produced their 1986 effort Vigilante. Though never reaching the heights of that since their comeback in 2002, the band have managed to keep a steady fanbase and look in no danger of going away any time soon.

Bob Catley looks out at the crowd