MAGNUM – On Christmas Day (2014)

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British melodic hard rock legends MAGNUM are releasing tomorrow the EP “On Christmas Day” on Steamhammer / SPV. “On Christmas Day” is a 2014 re-recorded new version of the song which appeared on the original version of the 1994 album Rockart.
The single contains a long version of the song, a shorter radio edit and on top, a brand new version of “Born To Be King”.

“On Christmas Day” is about commemorating 100 years since Xmas Day 1914, when both the Germans and English called temporary truces so that they could mingle and play football matches in ‘no man’s land’ during World War 1.

Guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin reveals how it all happened; “It was Olly Hahn at SPV/Steamhammer who said if could I write a Christmas song? I replied we had already had done that in the past and told him about ‘On Christmas Day’ and that it was on the ‘Rockart’ album, so if he wanted to check that out to see if it was suitable, because it’s not the normal Christmas song that people would expect.
I had not heard it myself for a long, long time. We were in Germany at the time and so we all sat round the computer to listen to the track; we were all impressed, and I was really looking forward to redoing it.
That’s really the story of how it came about; but I also thought a new recording of “Born To Be King” (originally appeared on 1990’s Goodnight LA) could also fit with On Christmas Day as a strong B-side for the whole package!”

Bass player Alan Barrow, who created the single’s artwork, explains that the idea for the cover “was based on some documented facts about the men in the trenches around Christmas in 1914. Carol singing was said to have been heard going back and forth between the trenches from both sides.
Some documents state that on Christmas day a small amount of soldiers ventured in to ‘no mans land’ where they exchanged food, cigarettes and souvenirs. There are unconfirmed reports that a game of football was also played.”

“On Christmas Day” precedes MAGNUM’s another European Tour starting 23/11 in Switzerland
The digital version will be available worldwide (except UK) on November 14th, the 10″ vinyl version in Germany on November 14th and Europe (except UK) on November 17th.
Great Britain will have to wait until December 1st to see “On Christmas Day”, released on a 3-track MCD.

1 – On Christmas Day 2014 (radio edit) [4:13]
2 – Born To Be King 2014 [5:30]
3 – On Christmas Day 2014 [7:14]

Bob Catley – vocals
Tony Clarkin – guitars
Mark Stanway – keyboards
Al Barrow – bass
Harry James – drums

PRE-ORDER:
www.nuclearblast.de/en/products/tontraeger/vinyl/10-mini-lp/magnum-on-christmas-day.html
itunes.apple.com/us/album/on-christmas-day-single/id917389129
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