After leaving school and starting an apprenticeship at the GPO it wasn't long before Bob Catley realised this wasn't the life for him! during his short time at the GPO he joined several bands, The Smokestacks, Capital Systems, Life and Clearwater.
Bob’s first professional band was Paradox, The line up was Bob Catley (vocals) Paul Sargent (guitar) Charlie Harrison (bass) replaced later by Dave Morgan. Dave Bailey (keyboards) and John 'Pank' Panteny (drums) . Bob recorded a single with them called ‘Ever Since I Can Remember’/’Goodbye Mary’ as well as ‘Mary Cilento’ and ‘Somebody Save Me’
It was in the mid-Seventies in the Midlands when Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin’s Magnum came together and released their debut album 'Kingdom Of Madness' in 1978, followed by 'Magnum II' in 1979 and their first live album 'Marauder' in 1980. During this period they toured relentlessly with the likes of Def Leppard, Blue Oyster Cult and Judas Priest.
1982's 'Chase The Dragon' album was the first to go Top 20, and was accompanied by a sold out UK tour and a tour of the States with Ozzy Osbourne. 1983's 'The Eleventh Hour', 1985's 'On A Storyteller's Night' and 1986's 'Vigilante' album (which was recorded and produced by Queen drummer Roger Taylor at Queen's famous Mountain Studios in Montreux) all fared similarly well but it was 1988's 'Wings Of Heaven' album which really broke the band into the mainstream, going gold, reaching number two of the UK chart and spawning three top 30 singles - 'Days Of No Trust', Start Talkin' Love' and 'It Must Have Been Love' which lead to numerous TV appearances including Top Of The Pops . During this period the band regularly graced the stages of such major UK Festivals as Reading and Castle Donington’s Monsters Of Rock.
1990's 'Goodnight L.A.' album which was recorded in the States with producer Keith Olsen also went Top 10, spawned the Top 40 single 'Rocking Chair' and was accompanied by a tour of the UK's Arena circuit, including venues such as Wembley Arena and the NEC. 1991's 'The Spirit', 1992's 'Sleepwalking' and 1994's 'Rock Art', were followed by the announcement of the band's demise and an extensive farewell tour, during which the band's 1995 live album, 'The Last Dance' was recorded.
Following the short demise of Magnum, Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin recorded their project Hard Rain in 1997 and 1999 (Hard Rain & When The Good Times Come) Hard Rain consisted of Bob Catley (vocals) Tony Clarkin (guitar) Al Barrow (bass) Rob Barrow (drums) Paul Hodson (keyboards) Sue McCloskey (backing vocals) then, almost precisely eight years after Rock Art, glorious times returned for Magnum with their 2001 album Breath Of Life which oozed present and past all at once and was followed by a number of celebrated sell out shows. With their current release, Brand New Morning, and the impending ‘On A Storytellers Night 20th Anniversary’ European tour in December 2005, Magnum will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come!
Then, almost precisely eight years after Rock Art, glorious times returned for Magnum with their 2002 album ‘Breath Of Life’ which oozed present and past all at once and was followed by a number of celebrated sell out shows. With their current album ‘Brand New Morning’ released in August 2004 and the impending ‘On A Storytellers Night 20th Anniversary’ European tour in December 2005, Magnum will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come!
Despite a busy touring and recording schedule with Magnum, Bob Catley has found time to embark on a highly successful solo career, he was first approached by Gary Hughes frontman of Ten in 1997 (a long time Magnum fan) to write a solo album, Bob teamed up with Gary who wrote all the songs on The Tower (as well as producing and playing bass and keyboards). The Tower was written with classic Magnum very much in mind and harks back to "On A Storyteller's Night" style pomp meeting "Wings Of Heaven" style AOR with a very 90s melodic rock production, The Tower was released in 1998 and was critically acclaimed. Powerplay gave The Tower a Highly Recommended rating and said: "What better way to start off your solo career than with an absolute belter!", "Gary has captured that special feel and vibe of "Storyteller's" perfectly and wrapped it up beautifully in renaissance/symphonic style instrumentation, with big grandiose almost epic film score like production schemes", "Spectacular - "On A Storyteller's Night Part 2" with balls!", “Far Away” is a ballad of epic proportions that propels Bob's vocals to heights rarely touched even in his Magnum days", "A production job worthy enough to grace the Titanic soundtrack" and "Essential listening for all fans of vintage Magnum"
Bob made his debut solo appearance at The Gods '98, performing a show stopping set featuring tracks form "The Tower" as well as classic Magnum songs. Such was the response to the show that Now & Then decided to release an "official bootleg" of the set. "Live At The Gods" which was released in January 1999 and features the full set list performed on the day. Bob's backing band for the concert was made up of Vinny Burns (Ten) on lead guitar, Paul Hodson (Hard Rain) on keyboards/backing vocals, Mike Dmitrovic (Emerald Rain) rhythm guitar, Sean Gregory (Emerald Rain) on bass, Murray Daigle (Emerald Rain) acoustic guitar/backing vocals and Kyle Lazenka on drums. Bob and Emerald Rain also undertook a successful UK tour.
During the summer of 1999 recording commenced on Bob's second solo album Legends. Gary Hughes once again wrote and produced the album (as well as playing keyboards) with Ten's Vinny Burns and Steve McKenna and Dante Fox's John Cooksey providing the musical backing. Entitled Legends the songs are based on various Legends, factual, fictional, historical and mythological.
Legends was launched at The Gods 99 where Bob headlined the Saturday night with Emerald Rain and Paul Hodson once again providing backing. Bob toured the UK extensively during 2000 with Hodson and Native Cain providing his backing band. In the run up to Christmas 2000 Bob toured the UK again, and for one Spanish date, with special guest Kip Winger.
German magazine Rock Hard gave“Legends’ 7/7 and had the following to say: ‘Bob Catley (most of you certainly know him from Magnum) is probably one of the best melodic rock singers of the millennium. His new album Legends is a dream album. It can be placed on a level with the best Magnum CDs. He has changed partners and Gary Hughes (Ten-Mastermind) now writes the songs for him. Vinny Burns (guitar player with Ten) puts the finishing touches to the dashing songs of Hughes. I cannot remember the last time I heard an album of this genre which was so exciting and varied. On this album everything is great. The hardest rocker melts away when listening to the ballads, and the fast songs have the right balance between hardness and melody. Brilliant’
2001 saw the release of Bob's third album ‘Middle Earth’ which is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece ‘The Lord Of The Rings’. The songs, once again from the pen of Gary Hughes, are based on various parts/incidents/characters from the book but the album is not a literal telling of the story. Musicians on ‘Middle Earth’ include Vinny Burns, Steve McKenna, John Cooksey and Gary Hughes plus a guest appearance by Landmarq vocalist Tracy hitchings. Bob toured extensively in 2001 with Kip Winger opening acoustically early in the year and then a months co-headlining UK and European tour with Ten later in the year.
Hard Roxx gave ‘Middle Earth’ 9.5/10 and had the following to say: ‘Only rarely, an exceptional artist produces an exceptional album.
Inspired by Tolkein's 'Lord of the Rings', Middle Earth is Bob Catley's third solo album.
The fantasy literature theme, carefully crafted melodies and epic instrumentation means 'Middle Earth' is the most courageous project to date for both Catley, in solo capacity, and for songwriter Gary Hughes.
Here Hughes shows a different angle to his talent. 'Middle Earth' is a miles away from his solo AOR, and far removed from Ten material; much more so than 'The Tower' or 'Legends'. Musically the recording has to be Hughes' proudest achievement, with the album including some of the finest verses, choruses and writing of his career.
'The Wraiths of the Ring' holds out the taster. A track with a hypnotic rhythm, before Catley's vocals add that mystical tone in true classic style. 'The Fields That I Recall/Emissary', like other tracks, is unafraid to scene-set, here with some great keyboards, before the main body of the song breaks out of its wrapping. Superb!
It's hard not to draw comparisons with Magnum with such a strong circa 'Storytellers Night' feel. The spiritual overtones of Magnum's earlier albums are apparent throughout, whilst the heavy pomp on 'Return of the Mountain King' has a 'Wings of Heaven/Goodnight L.A.' feel. The Magnum elements, on occasions, are mixed with elements of epic 'Out of The Silence' era Dare (listen to some of Vinny's guitar work!).
Anyone expecting a full blooded rock album could be in for a shock. The excellent 'This Gallant Band of Strangers' is as bombastic as it gets, but elsewhere there's plenty of guts, fire and outright quality to satisfy.
If there is a high point, then 'Where You Lead I'll Follow/Stormcrow and Pilgrim' is it. The song has so much within. An unfolding keyboard intro, dramatic undertones, poignant vocals and pomp rock extraordinaire; Vinny Burns holding the whole thing together with a supreme rhythmic riff.
Nearly always avoiding the obvious, or a tried formula, Hughes' thoughtful melodies, provide a legendary singer with a near perfect platform
Sense-provoking, unashamed escapism, 'Middle Earth' will be compulsive listening for many a year.
2003 sees a change in writing partners for Bob, ‘When Empires Burn’ was written and produced by Bob’s long time keyboard player Paul Hodson, ‘When Empires Burn’ deservedly received World wide critical acclaim, the band consisting of Bob Catley (vocals) Paul Hodson (keyboards) Vince O’Regan (guitars) Al Barrow (Bass) and Jamie Little (drums) ‘When Empires Burn’ was again backed by a full European tour, this time touring with the Yorkshire based band Lost Weekend.
Destiny had the following to say about ‘When Empires Burn’ After a trio of finely sculpted studio albums with Ten man Gary Hughes at the writing and production helm, circumstances have decreed that it's time for 'Uncle Bob' to move on. Into the breach, somewhat tentatively at first perhaps, steps long time touring band keyboard player Paul Hodson, pretty much an unknown quantity before now. However, as soon as 'When Empires Burn' hits the streets, I guarantee that there'll be queues around the block for his services, because to put it simply, this is absolutely amazing! Easily the heaviest and most audacious album of Catley's distinguished career (solo or otherwise), this is a remarkable achievement on virtually every level. Contrary to the pronounced dip in quality some might have been expecting, songs such as 'Meaning Of Love', 'When Empires Burn', 'Gonna Live Forever', and 'The Prophecy' take things majestically on to the next level. A bombastically overblown, gloriously pompous blend of some of the best elements of Ten, Dare, and Magnum (with some seriously heavy duty guitars courtesy of Pulse man Vince O'Regan - very Kee Marcello circa 'Out Of This World' at times), everything about this release is a joy to behold. Brash and powerful, bold and dynamic, 'When Empires Burn' sets the standards which others (Magnum included) now have to aim for. Stunning!
Work is well underway for Bob’s highly anticipated 5th solo album due for release early next year, the new album ‘Spirit Of Man’ has been written by Dave Thompson and Paul Uttley of Lost Weekend and Vince O’Regan of Pulse, it has been recorded at KRT Studio’s in Wolverhampton which is owned and run by Bob’s guitarist Vince O’Regan, Bob and Vince have co-produced the album, it is the first time that Bob has had a hand in the production of one of his albums. The musicians featured on the album will be Bob Catley (vocals) Vince O’Regan (guitars) Al Barrow (bass) Jamie Little (drums) and Irvin Parratt (keyboards).
Despite Bob’s busy recording and touring schedule with both Magnum and his own band, Bob has still found time to add his vocal talents over the years to various rock opera projects such as Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman’s ‘Jabberwocky’ in which Bob plays the part of the boy, he joined Clive and Oliver again as Sir Henry Baskerville in ‘Hound Of The Baskervilles’. He took the part of Merlin in ‘Once And Future King’ written by Gary Hughes of Ten and one of his favourite parts was with his good friend Tobias Sammet of Edguy in ‘Avantasia’ in which Bob takes the part of the tree of knowledge!