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Byford sang and played bass with a band called Coast from around 1973 to 1976 along with drummer Al Dodd and future Saxon guitarist Paul Quinn,<ref>http://www.decibelgeek.com/wordpress/chat-steve-dobby-dawson-oliverdawson-saxon-interview/</ref> when he formed Saxon with guitarists Graham Oliver and Paul Quinn, bassist [[Steve Dawson]] and drummer [[Pete Gill]]. The band was originally called Son of a Bitch, but changed to Saxon in 1978. They released their [[Saxon (album)|self-titled debut album]] in 1979, and became part of what was known as the [[new wave of British heavy metal]], which also included bands like [[Iron Maiden]] and [[Def Leppard]]. The band had commercial success as well, charting eight UK [[Top 40]] albums and five Top 40 [[single (music)|singles]] between 1980 and 1986.
Byford sang and played bass with a band called Coast from around 1973 to 1976 along with drummer Al Dodd and future Saxon guitarist Paul Quinn,<ref>http://www.decibelgeek.com/wordpress/chat-steve-dobby-dawson-oliverdawson-saxon-interview/</ref> when he formed Saxon with guitarists Graham Oliver and Paul Quinn, bassist [[Steve Dawson]] and drummer [[Pete Gill]]. The band was originally called Son of a Bitch, but changed to Saxon in 1978. They released their [[Saxon (album)|self-titled debut album]] in 1979, and became part of what was known as the [[new wave of British heavy metal]], which also included bands like [[Iron Maiden]] and [[Def Leppard]]. The band had commercial success as well, charting eight UK [[Top 40]] albums and five Top 40 [[single (music)|singles]] between 1980 and 1986.


At the end of the 1980s, the band (along with the genre) declined in popularity, and Oliver and Dawson formed a new band with the same name,<ref>[http://www.swanturton.com/ebulletins/archive/DAFSTBSaxon.aspx BYFORD v OLIVER AND DAWSON – High Court Decides Saxon Name]. Swanturton.com (3 March 2003). Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref> though they were later forced to change it to [[Oliver/Dawson Saxon]]. (Byford's) Saxon maintained a recording and touring career centred on Germany for much of the 1990s, before coming back into broader attention with 2007's ''[[The Inner Sanctum]]''.<ref>[http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=11597 Retrieved 15 July 2009 Sputnik Music '&#39;The Inner Sanctum Review'&#39;]. Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref>
At the end of the 1980s, the band (along with the genre) declined in popularity, and Oliver and Dawson formed a new band with the same name,<ref>[http://www.swanturton.com/ebulletins/archive/DAFSTBSaxon.aspx BYFORD v OLIVER AND DAWSON – High Court Decides Saxon Name] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314061917/http://www.swanturton.com/ebulletins/archive/DAFSTBSaxon.aspx |date=14 March 2010 }}. Swanturton.com (3 March 2003). Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref> though they were later forced to change it to [[Oliver/Dawson Saxon]]. (Byford's) Saxon maintained a recording and touring career centred on Germany for much of the 1990s, before coming back into broader attention with 2007's ''[[The Inner Sanctum]]''.<ref>[http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=11597 Retrieved 15 July 2009 Sputnik Music '&#39;The Inner Sanctum Review'&#39;]. Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref>


In April 2007, Byford released his autobiography, entitled ''Never Surrender'' after the Saxon song of the same name. [[Gigwise.com]] reported on 18 January 2010<ref>[http://www.gigwise.com/news/54196/Campaign-Launched-To-Get-Heavy-Metal-Recognised-As-A-Religion Campaign Launched To Get Heavy Metal Recognised As A Religion]. Gigwise (18 January 2010). Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref> that Byford was launching a campaign to have Britons declare heavy metal as their religion in the [[United Kingdom Census 2011]], inspired by the [[Jedi census phenomenon]] (where 2001 Census results suggested that [[Jediism]] was the UK's fourth most popular religion).
In April 2007, Byford released his autobiography, entitled ''Never Surrender'' after the Saxon song of the same name. [[Gigwise.com]] reported on 18 January 2010<ref>[http://www.gigwise.com/news/54196/Campaign-Launched-To-Get-Heavy-Metal-Recognised-As-A-Religion Campaign Launched To Get Heavy Metal Recognised As A Religion]. Gigwise (18 January 2010). Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref> that Byford was launching a campaign to have Britons declare heavy metal as their religion in the [[United Kingdom Census 2011]], inspired by the [[Jedi census phenomenon]] (where 2001 Census results suggested that [[Jediism]] was the UK's fourth most popular religion).

Revision as of 12:21, 3 December 2017

Biff Byford
Byford in 2016
Byford in 2016
Background information
Birth namePeter Rodney Byford
Born (1951-01-15) 15 January 1951 (age 73)
Honley, West Yorkshire, England
GenresHeavy metal, hard rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass, drums, bagpipes, recorder
Years active1970–present

Peter Rodney "Biff" Byford (born 15 January 1951)[1] is an English singer best known as the lead singer of the heavy metal band Saxon.

Biography

Byford sang and played bass with a band called Coast from around 1973 to 1976 along with drummer Al Dodd and future Saxon guitarist Paul Quinn,[2] when he formed Saxon with guitarists Graham Oliver and Paul Quinn, bassist Steve Dawson and drummer Pete Gill. The band was originally called Son of a Bitch, but changed to Saxon in 1978. They released their self-titled debut album in 1979, and became part of what was known as the new wave of British heavy metal, which also included bands like Iron Maiden and Def Leppard. The band had commercial success as well, charting eight UK Top 40 albums and five Top 40 singles between 1980 and 1986.

At the end of the 1980s, the band (along with the genre) declined in popularity, and Oliver and Dawson formed a new band with the same name,[3] though they were later forced to change it to Oliver/Dawson Saxon. (Byford's) Saxon maintained a recording and touring career centred on Germany for much of the 1990s, before coming back into broader attention with 2007's The Inner Sanctum.[4]

In April 2007, Byford released his autobiography, entitled Never Surrender after the Saxon song of the same name. Gigwise.com reported on 18 January 2010[5] that Byford was launching a campaign to have Britons declare heavy metal as their religion in the United Kingdom Census 2011, inspired by the Jedi census phenomenon (where 2001 Census results suggested that Jediism was the UK's fourth most popular religion).

Discography

with Saxon
Main article: Saxon discography
with Air Pavilion
  • Kaizoku (1989) – vocals on "She's Hot Stuff"
with Fastway
  • Bad Bad Girls (1990)
with Freedom Call
  • Taragon (1999) – narration on "Tears of Taragon (Story Version)"
with Destruction
with Helloween
with Doro
with Avantasia
with The Scintilla Project

Bibliography

  • Never Surrender, 2007

References

  1. ^ Chloe Glover (30 August 2014). "Saxon's Biff Byford: He's sold 15 million albums, influenced Metallica and toured the world – but did you know he was from Huddersfield?". Examiner.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  2. ^ http://www.decibelgeek.com/wordpress/chat-steve-dobby-dawson-oliverdawson-saxon-interview/
  3. ^ BYFORD v OLIVER AND DAWSON – High Court Decides Saxon Name Archived 14 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Swanturton.com (3 March 2003). Retrieved on 2012-08-20.
  4. ^ Retrieved 15 July 2009 Sputnik Music ''The Inner Sanctum Review''. Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-20.
  5. ^ Campaign Launched To Get Heavy Metal Recognised As A Religion. Gigwise (18 January 2010). Retrieved on 2012-08-20.
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