I first became aware of Magazine during what Tony Wilson and Factory Records billed ‘The 10th Summer’ – a series of events marking the 10th anniversary of the infamous Sex Pistols gig June 4th 1976 at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall . I swear, I wasn’t there – but it was in the music papers and significantly Channel 4 ran an amazing compilation of tv clips drawn from ‘So it Goes’, Granada Reports and other shows mostly helmed by Tony Wilson. These featured amazing archive footage of the Pistols, Buzzcocks, Siouxsie, a mesmerising Joy Division performance, Iggy Pop, The Fall – and Magazine (you can spot a very young Mick Hucknall down the front- pre fame and presumably just beginning to work his way through his “3,000 women”)

I remember being particularly struck by how downright weird they were, especially the keyboard player who was doing some very un-punky things which I couldn’t work if they were a throwback to Prog Rock or were throwing forward to Gary Numan, Visage and all things synth pop. Maybe both. I later saw this clip on one of those Punk/Post Punk clip shows (from the Whistle Test this time) – even more alien, oddly out of place and yet particularly with the late great John McGeoch, Moss Side hero Barry Adamson accompanying Formula (a sort of Whalley Range Brian Eno) they were a a formidable musical beast no doubt about it. I’d missed out and as time went by I did more research and listened to those extraordinary records. I had no idea a lot of the band were also responsible for Visage and pretty much invented the 1980s. Maybe they would get back together one day…

Fast forward to 2009 and I finally get to see Magazine on a brief comeback trail with the great Barry Adamson on Bass, Devoto behind a lectern holding forth, Formula on the keys and standing in for the late McGeoch, the singularly named Noko (aka Norman Fisher-Jones) who did a remarkable job – so much so that he became an official member and played on their final LP ‘No Thyself’.

Fast forward to 2026, and despite their reputation growing, and their music aging exceptionally well, seems there is no chance of more Magazine. Except it seems Formula really wanted to dust off his synths and play a few old tunes, as did Noko. Howard Devoto wasn’t coming out to play – he hasn’t so much given the gig his blessing as said online he’s “Officially Neutral” and Barry Adamson is busy making his own creations, so we have perhaps 1.5 Magazine members, but we have, it turns out 100% of the drama and power tonight

We already know Noko can nail the sound and atmosphere of McGeoch, and as the band strike up with moody instrumental ‘The Thin Air’ we’re eyeing up the unfamiliar rhythm section stepping into the formidable shoes – and who will sing? A man in a dapper hat and suit takes to the stage, turns out this is Peter Petersen, a frenchman with a bit of a background in early 80s post-punk – and it turns out a perfect front for this band tonight. It’s a family affair and on drums is Dave’s son Max, and on bass is Peter’s son Tim. As they launch into ‘Back to Nature’ (a fave of mine) all worries are cast aside as the drums and pass surge with just the right amount of drive and woomph. Noko tears a hole in the fabric of space with his scything guitar and Dave Formula coaxes his instantly recognisable signature sounds from the bank of keyboards around him. As on the records, he deftly switches between Mike Garson-esque piano flourishes, proto-synth pop squeels, reeling organ and vamping chords. It’s apparent he’s here to have fun and with each crescendo and epic soundtrack this band – let’s call it a version of Magazine (hey, Soft Machine can do it with zero orginal members after all) slowly reels all those gathered here toward the stage.

It is a perfectly paced set with the hits (lest we forget they did make it to Top of the Pops) and the hight points from the classic albums and imperial phase of Magazine – and they don’t shy away from a waltz (The Great Beautician in the Sky) and songs which weren’t played on the 2009 reunion show – including the aforementioned ‘Back to Nature’ which has it’s first live outings since 1979.

Singer Peter adds a distinctively European, chanson vibe, switching in and out his native tongue or reading prose from a paperback book (cue a room full of Manc post-punkers with O-level French at best – nodding approvingly to whatever it is he’s saying). His style fits the songs perfectly – not an impersonation of Howard Devoto but a sort of noir-ish reimagining.

They close with a thundering ‘The Light Pours Out Of Me’ and, of course, ‘Shot by Both Sides’ with all the musicians absolutely living and breathing every note and every lyric.

Close your eyes and Magazine have entered the building.