Biffy Clyro might well be British rock’s most grounded titans. A trio who met aged eight, started playing music together aged 15 and, in the 30 years since, have scaled hurdle after hurdle — decimating Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage this summer with a career-peak penultimate headline set and landing their fourth No 1 shortly after with 10th LP, Futique — the essence of the East Ayrshire group has remained remarkably un-starry throughout.
There have been no line-up changes and no gossipy tabloid headlines; they all still live in Scotland as a purposeful way to keep their “male egos” in check away from the hubbub of the London industry. Which is why, when frontman Simon Neil begins reminiscing about the band’s recent afternoon out at north London party institution Rowans, you can imagine the piss-taking going on within camp. “We did daytime karaoke, got a little bit half cut, sang our own songs — all in the spirit of promoting the show,” he caveats. And how was that…? “It was exhilarating!” Neil grins. Turns out even if you’re in Biffy Clyro, it can be a pretty thrilling experience listening to Biffy Clyro.
