Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro | |
|---|---|
| Simon Neil | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Scotland, UK |
| Years active | 1995 – present |
| Members | Simon Neil – Guitar, Vocals James Johnston – Bass, Vocals Ben Johnston – Drums, Vocals |
Biffy Clyro are an alternative music trio, formed in 1995 in Ayrshire, Scotland.
History
The band started back in the mid-late ’90s, when school friends Simon Neil and Ben Johnston got their first guitar and drums respectively, soon after bringing Ben’s twin brother James in on bass. Initially called Screwfish, they soon changed the name to Biffy Clyro, allegedly as a result of a spoonerism relating to a Cliff Richard biro, although many other tales for the current name are given by the band members themselves, no one knows for sure how they got their name. In 1997, the trio relocated to Glasgow to study audio engineering and electronics in music, but primarily to turn Biffy Clyro into a full-time proposition. Biffy Clyro first started by playing their aggressive pop tunes in the Glasgow club scene, eventually enjoying a stable and enthusiastic response from their audiences. After releasing their first EP, Thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow, via the Electric Honey record label, the band managed to secure some airplay on Scotland's BBC, which opened the way for even more notability within the Scottish music scene and opened the way for the band to tour the festival circuit, including Scotland's prestigious T In The Park gathering. It was whilst playing the unsigned stage at T in the Park in 2000 that they were spotted by the Beggars Banquet label and signed to a recording contract.
The band played numerous live shows, including an opening slot for their longtime idols, Weezer. A relentless bout of touring swelled the Biffy fanbase and won them new friends among fellow musicians, and they recorded material with Paul Corkett (Placebo, Six By Seven) and Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Idlewild, Roger Waters).
The band released the single Justboy in October 2001, followed by the simply-titled 57 in February 2002. Their debut full-length album, Blackened Sky, was issued that March. Promoting the album by touring with the Cooper Temple Clause helped Blackened Sky become one of the most critically acclaimed underground albums of 2002.
Released in June 2003 and recorded in only one day, follow-up album The Vertigo Of Bliss was produced by Sheldon. The result was a rich, diverse album of angular post-hardcore/alt-rock. Taking its title from a phrase in Glen Duncan's novel I Lucifer.
Their third album, Infinity Land, was released in October 2004. The album included their singles Glitter and Trauma, My Recovery Injection and Only One word comes to Mind.
They also contributed a cover of the Weezer song Buddy Holly to Kerrang!'s "High Voltage - A Brief History of Rock" CD.
Genre & Influences
Generically, the group can only really be safely categorised as a rock band; beyond that, they defy all the common restrictions of genre, often straddling several generic boundaries within one song. So in their own words "Don't pigeon hole, just listen". Their influences remain diverse - according to the band themselves, their sound has been shaped as much by post-emo indie luminaries like Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral as it has by prog legends Rush. Their sound also wouldn't be the same without the heavy influence of Sacremento emo godfathers Far.
Chart success
They have released three albums and twelve singles, and while they are yet to achieve a top 20 hit. Their first single, ‘27’, was promptly awarded Single Of The Week at Kerrang! Questions and Answers reached #26, while The Ideal Height narrowly missed out on a top 40 chart position, Both from the Vertigo of Bliss. The leading single from most recent album Infinity Land ('Glitter And Trauma') reached #21, and second single 'My Recovery Injection' reached #23. There's no such thing as a Jaggy Snake was also a #1 download only single before downloads were counted along side physical singles.
The Phrase
A phrase is often heard at the group's gigs, "Mon the Biffy!" - originating as a heckle from friends at early shows, it soon became a catchphrase used by fans to express their love for the band, and has become synonymous with the band, with many journalists and interviewers, including Zane Lowe, using it to greet the band, or to sign off articles.
Media coverage
The band's popularity within the UK underground has not always been reflected by critical acclaim. While Kerrang! magazine have supported them since their early days (partially due to ex-editor Ashley Bird's love for their music), the same opinion was not held by influential British rock tabloid New Musical Express until recently. Other music publications such as Q magazine tend not to see past the band's taste for unusual song titles (examples of which include "Toys, toys, toys, choke, Toys, toys, toys" and "Kill The Old, Torture Their Young"), not to mention the oft-ridiculed band name itself. Nevertheless, the band have gone from strength to strength upon each new release.
Literary Influences
Lyrically, the band display a strong literary influence. Song and album titles include Joy.Discovery.Invention (Chuck Palahniuk), and Infinity Land, taken from Jeffrey Dahmer's concept of heaven. The bands second album The Vertigo Of Bliss is taken from a phrase in the contemporary novel I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan. New songs appear to continue in this vein, with 'Asexual Meat Kitchen' seeming to contain literary references to the work of John Donne and Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley . "to the west, to the west she's gone. I watched my mother, until she drowned Out of faith, a little late, what a strange design" from A-sexual meat kitchen (also known as 'to the west') resemble parts of "Hymn to God, My God, in my Sickness"; the references to the ocean, diving away beneath and "to the west".
Side-projects
All three members of the band play in Marmaduke Duke but only at live shows, a side-project initiated by JP Reid, aka The Dragon, from fellow Ayrshire band Sucioperro. Predictably, the general sound is not far-removed from that of Biffy or Sucioperro's but has an experimental, playful side, and is also reminiscient of other influences such as Mr Bungle and Minus the Bear.
New Album
Template:Future album The new album is being produced by GGGarth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine/Red Hot Chili Peppers/Mudvayne/The Melvins) and the band is currently recording in Vancouver, Canada. It will be the first release for the band's new record label, 14th Floor Records/WarnerMusic and is the bands fourth album.
The new album is tentatively titled 'Puzzle'. New songs include 'Semi Mental', 'Who's Got A Match', 'As Dust Dances', 'Now I'm Everyone', 'Love Is A Diameter' and 'Asexual Meat Kitchen'. The band have stated that they have 40 tracks to choose from.
The band have put live versions of new material up on their Myspace although these have not been confirmed for the new album.
Team Biffy
- Dee Bahl - Manager
- Warren Entner - US Manager
- Alex Gilbert - A&R
- Neil Anderson - Tour Manager
- Steve Zapp ITB - Booking Agent
- Adam Johnston - Drum technician and brother of the twins.
- Churd - Guitar technician 'borrowed' from labelmates Oceansize.
Discography
Albums & EPs
- thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow (EP) (2000, Electric Honey Records)
- Blackened Sky (2002, Beggars Banquet)
- The Vertigo of Bliss (2003, Beggars Banquet)
- Infinity Land (2004, Beggars Banquet)
Singles
- Iname (1999, Babi Yaga)
- 27 (2001, Beggars Banquet)
- Justboy (2001, Beggars Banquet)
- 57 (2002, Beggars Banquet)
- Joy.Discovery.Invention / Toys Toys Toys Choke Toys Toys Toys (2002, Beggars Banquet)
- The Ideal Height (2003, Beggars Banquet)
- Questions and Answers (2003, Beggars Banquet)
- Eradicate the Doubt (2003, Beggars Banquet)
- There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake (2004, Beggars Banquet)
- Glitter and Trauma (2004, Beggars Banquet)
- My Recovery Injection (2004, Beggars Banquet)
- Only One Word Comes To Mind (2005, Beggars Banquet)