This UK band was formed in 1996 by singer Bob Catley (b. 11 September 1947, Aldershot, Hampshire, England) and guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin who had been members of Birmingham-based Magnum, a band they formed in 1972. In Hard Rain they were joined by Paul Hodson (keyboards), Al Barrow (bass), Rob Barrow (drums) and Sue McCloskey (vocals). Musically, Hard Rain was, like Magnum, a melodic band and it fell somewhere on the shadowed edges of hard rock and heavy metal. As with Magnum, many of the songs the band played were Clarkin’s compositions and appealed strongly to fans of the earlier band. Concurrent with his work in Hard Rain, Catley had a successful solo career. Interest in the band gradually waned although they had built a following, largely out of Magnum devotees. Some of these fans saw the band as a continuation of the tradition if in a somewhat more commercial form. The combination of Catley’s solo career and a resurgence of interest in Magnum led to a revival of that band and by the early 00s Hard Rain had faded.