Gary James' Interview With Biff Byford Of
Saxon
They've just released their twenty-fourth studio album, titled "Hell, Fire And Damnation", which has received rave reviews. In fact, Rock Tribute wrote, "Could very well be the album of 2024." Global Minds writes, "The performances are nothing short of world-class, the songs destined to become timeless classics." To support the album they are kicking off a European tour with Judas Priest and Uriah Heep titled "Hell, Fire And Chaos - The Best of British Rock And Metal." Brutal Planet magazine calls them "One of the best British Metal bands of all time." And it's easy to see why. They've toured with Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Accept, and of course Judas Priest and Uriah Heep. In 1986, they headlined the Reading Festival. The group we are talking about is Saxon. We spoke with Saxon's lead singer and founder, Mr. Biff Byford.
Q - Biff, I see the first single and video off your new album is called "There's Something In Roswell". That's a pretty timely thing to put out with the congressional hearings on UFOs these days.
A - Yeah. It's a bit coincidental really. We wrote the song quite awhile ago. It's always good when it's topical, when something is happening and you do a song that sort of keys into what's happening. It's great.
Q - Do you have fans who have followed Saxon from the earliest of days? Do people come up to you and say, "I saw Saxon in 1980 or 1981"?
A - Yeah, yeah. They do all the time actually. "I saw you on tour with so-and-so in 1980." Yeah, definitely. We get people all the time. We also get a lot of younger fans who get into the album and the last album. It's a great thing, really.
Q - Did you ever think you would have a career as a singer in a Rock band?
A - I think you have to have a bit of faith, obviously a lot of faith and a bit of luck. I just think if you love what you're doing you're going to keep doing it. That's the secret I think. We've been through ups and downs. We survived through people leaving and people joining. Yeah, I mean, we're survivors. Writing great songs is important to us, so we keep trying to write the perfect song, if that's possible.
Q - Were you ever tempted to walk away from music? Have you ever done anything else job-wise in your life?
A - Not really. Not after 1980. We were pretty popular quite quickly in 1980. We sort of decided that's what we wanted to be, in a professional band.
Q - You've worked quite a bit over the years with Judas Priest. I take it you guys must really get along well.
A - Yeah, we do get along well. We've known them since 1980 really. We've toured together a few times. We've toured the States a few times with Judas Priest, and so we get along well together. I think the music is a good match. It's not the same, but it's the same genre, if you know what I mean. I think it's a good package for the fans, to go out with Judas Priest.
Q - I see you and Uriah Heep will be headlining in the States. Which band is the headliner?
A - Well, we're swapping and changing. Sometimes it's Uriah Heep and sometimes it's Saxon. We'll see how that goes. But I've done that before in America. It's quite common for bands to do that. It should be good. It's not really down to us. It's really down to the promoters who they want to headline. So, we'll see. It should be good fun.
Q - How difficult is it for Saxon to get radio airplay in the States?
A - I don't think we get played on any of the major, mainstream stations. I think we get played on college radio. We'll be played in towns where the band is popular. They'll play the odd track here and there. I think getting country-wide airplay these days is very difficult. I think you have to rely on social media instead really.
Q - How did you get Elton John to play on two tracks of your album "Rock The Nations"? Is he a fan of Saxon?
A - We were in the same studio, working. He was doing one of his albums and we were doing the "Rock Of Nations" album. The producer, I've worked with a couple of times before. It was just between the bands really. We asked him if he wanted to play on a track and he said, "Yeah." So, that's really how it happened. Just a friendly banter between bands. We were there together in the same studio for about three months, so we got to know him quite well.
Q - What album was he recording?
A - I can't remember what album it was. I know he kept leaving on a helicopter to go to various Royal weddings. I don't know what album it was.
Q - Too bad he didn't invite Saxon to play on his album.
A - (laughs) There probably was no space for Metal Heads to get on an Elton John album. It was good fun.
Q - Before the group was known as Saxon, you guys were called SOB, Son Of a Bitch. Who in the group ever thought you'd go very far with a name like that?
A - Well, to tell you the truth, we used that name around '75, '76, because Punk music was very massive in the U.K. So, we wanted a name where it was a little bit more off the wall than say a Saxon or Iron Maiden or Judas Priest. We wanted something of a shock value, and that's what we used really. The record company said, "We don't like the name. You have to change your name." And we changed our name. There was really no argument. We just did it. And the rest is history.
Official Website: www.Saxon747.com
© Gary James. All rights reserved.
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