60 3pickup
"'Softly spoken James Johnston'? Who ever said I was soft-spoken?"
exclaims James when reading another publication's cover story. Of
course he isn't softly spoken, just mild-mannered and an example
where misrepresentation can end up giving readers the wrong shade
or colour of a band, even if it seems inconsequential. Of course, cover
stories in major UK publications were a distant goal back in the heady
days of 1999 when they released their first single Iname or 2000's
thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow EP or even 2002's debut album
Blackened Sky.
"We really, really genuinely care about what we do and we don't just say
that because we're in an interview situation. I think it's obvious by what we've
done for the last 10 years that we really care about what we do and I think
that's where our strength lies. That's where we get enjoyment out of doing
what we're doing and having communication with people through our music
and when you're in a sweaty club with everyone singing along you can't tell
me that isn't a community vibe. I think that's where fulfilment comes, from
doing it together"
A gang mentality? Maybe. James is at pains to describe it more like a family,
or as he says several times, "brothers". Clearly he and Ben feel Simon is family
as much as the Johnston's are twins. Having been together for so long, sealed
within the registration county of Ayreshire, Scotland for most of their lives, that
they've shared so much goes without saying.
"I think it's very important to everybody really. It informs everything about
your life," agrees James, when describing the need to explore the notion of
place as a key ingredient to any artist's work. "I think it so happens that
because we're brothers coming together, who've had the same sort of
experiences, it makes us very strong and I guess the attitude of people in our
town influenced us in good ways and bad ways. It definitely informs a lot of
the choices you make. We've all been fairly cynical guys maybe, glass half full
kind of guys, we don't get too carried away with things and I think they're
quite typical traits of a Scotsman. Some people talk of it as being dour but I think
as a nation our people are warm and friendly but it's in a different way. I think
where you come from informs many things about your life, not just music.
Your attitude, the way you dress, the way you interact with different people.
We don't ever talk about it unless somebody asks but I think it's important."
Perhaps, and this is just conjecture, the fact that Biffy have one singular
place they've always called home, and practice their art in relative seclusion,
they've given themselves foundations other bands lose when searching
unknown musical territory. Biffy's records have all been full of far-flung ideas,
some even outlandish, but Biffy Clyro has been right at the centre of the storm
they've whipped up, and it may be because they have a place to come back to.
"We've always felt strong as a three piece. The heart of the band lies in our
relationships together and that's what's kept us so vital, hopefully, as a band
and that'll be what allows us to continue in ten years time. The fact that all
three of us sing and we work really hard on the dynamics and, not just the
dynamics of trying to go loud and quiet, but the dynamics of having a pretty
song against an ugly song, and sometimes both within one song. I think that's
really important and we've always worked hard for that We just love the fact
that it's just the three of us up there doing it and sometimes people are like
`this will sound shit, there's just three people up there!'. I think the element of
surprise has always been a big thing for us. We've always felt like underdogs."
Sat around with Greggs wrappers on desks from a hastily devoured lunch
earlier, reading their own press with good humour, watching the snooker on
the plasma screen TV, organising a taxi to the airport to get back home to
Scotland, they look every bit the unassuming, if slightly overdressed Scottish
lads. These same men have constantly re-evaluated their own take on music,
redeveloped and re-shuffled everything to fit around it. So what do we think
of when we think success? Unique personal expression, endurance in the face
of adversity, inspiring in both achievement and humility, remaining true to your
origins � whether all of these apply to a bunch of musicians really depends on
how seriously you take music, but if it were applicable, then success could be
described as Biffy Clyro. PM
Simon Neil: Fender Stratocaster, Marshall 1959 100w with a
Marshall Mode 4 cab, a Fender Deville 212 combo, a Peavey
Delta Blues combo and a Hayden Mofo with Hayden 412 cab.
James Johnston: Fender Jazz basses, 4 x Ashdown 810 cabs,
powered by ABM900 and BTA400 amps.
Ben Johnston: Custom Pearl Reference kit, with 12" rack, and
14" and 16" floor toms with Pearl hardware and Sabian Paragon
cymbals. Sticks are custom signature Japanese oak drum sticks
from Pro-Mark
FLIGHTCASE
BIFFY CLYRO
"We still practice on
a little farm in a little
village. There's nobody
around, just cows in
a field next door and
nobody bothers us."

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16Page 17Page 18Page 19Page 20Page 21Page 22Page 23Page 24Page 25Page 26Page 27Page 28Page 29Page 30Page 31Page 32Page 33Page 34Page 35Page 36Page 37Page 38Page 39Page 40Page 41Page 42Page 43Page 44Page 45Page 46Page 47Page 48Page 49Page 50Page 51Page 52Page 53Page 54Page 55Page 56Page 57Page 58Page 59Page 60Page 61Page 62Page 63Page 64Page 65Page 66Page 67Page 68Page 69Page 70Page 71Page 72Page 73Page 74Page 75Page 76Page 77Page 78Page 79Page 80Page 81Page 82Page 83Page 84 Produced by PageSuite