From small town to big time for Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro

Frontman Simon Neil tells Ed Power Biffo Clyro is re-energised and ready for a summer of stadiums and festivals.

SIMON Neill’s jaunty Scottish burr lowers an octave. “As much as this band means the world to me, I don’t want anyone dying because of it,” says Biffy Clyro’s lead singer. “On our previous album things got out of control — we neglected ourselves.”

Biffy Clyro had spent nearly two years on the road, determined to take their music to as many as possible. But, as the months flashed by, they relied increasingly on alcohol as a coping mechanism. Eventually, it all crashed inwards. Their very survival as a group was in doubt. You come back from tour a shell of a man,” says Neill. “You forget what it is to be a person. You operate in this bubble of being a musician. As much fun as it is, that’s not real life. We had to sit down and have a serious chat. We didn’t want the band to fall apart for some stupid reason like drink or drugs — the usual pitfalls. They are a cliché for a reason.”