Neil at Rock am Ring 2013 | |
| Background information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Simon Alexander Neil |
| Born | 31 August 1979 (age 41) Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Origin | Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Genres | Alternative rock, post-hardcore |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Beggars Banquet 14th Floor Roadrunner |
| Associated acts | Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke ZZC Empire State Bastard |
| Website | www.biffyclyro.com |
Simon Alexander Neil (born 31 August 1979) is a Scottish vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter.
- Biffy Clyro performed on the Main Stage at the T in the Park, Oxegen and Reading and Leeds music festivals in 2010. The band were also slated to perform at New Zealand's largest music festival Rhythm & Vines at Waiohika Estate Vineyard in Gisborne on 29 December, but had to pull out due to 'minor medical procedures' required by two band members.
- Exclusive to the official Biffy Clyro store, ‘A Celebration Of Endings’, Collector’s edition boxset. Includes: 20 pages of special photographs, notes and drawings from Simon. Three 11.5” x 11.5” art prints. One exclusive postcard print. Sheet music from the album. Clear and blue yolk vinyl album with bonus track. CD album with bonus.
- Ethan 2nd: Perhaps the pivotal moment in Biffy Clyro’s discography, Puzzle is a complete departure from Infinity Land, while still remaining heavy enough to keep longtime fans happy, Puzzle ventured into more accessible territory that widened their audience. For that reason Puzzle was a crossover success, and deservedly so as it contains.
He is known for his work in the bands Biffy Clyro and Marmaduke Duke.
Career[edit]
Find Biffy Clyro bio, music, credits, awards, & streaming links on AllMusic - Scottish power trio makes melodic, anthemic rock.
Biffy Clyro[edit]
Born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, Simon Neil formed Biffy Clyro in 1995 at 15 years old recruiting Kilmarnock-born James Johnston and someone known only as Barry on bass and drums respectively, calling themselves Skrewfish.[1] Barry was soon replaced by Ben Johnston, James's twin brother, and Biffy Clyro was effectively formed. In 1997, the trio moved to Glasgow, where Neil studied Electronics with Music at the University of Glasgow. He also Studied Film and TV for a year before leaving to pursue music full-time. By then, Simon's musical tastes had expanded; In 2000, the band were spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park by a Beggars Banquet representative. Soon after, the band was signed to the independent Beggar's Banquet.
Biffy Clyro have since released eight albums, signed to a major record label, and toured relentlessly. Neil has stated that Biffy Clyro lyrics often come from phrases he writes down in a notebook he keeps by his bed.
Marmaduke Duke[edit]
Neil plays with JP Reid of fellow Ayrshire group Sucioperro in Marmaduke Duke, under the pseudonym 'The Atmosphere', which released their first album, The Magnificent Duke, in 2005.
Biffy Clyro Band
It was announced in late 2008 that the Duke was to make a return in 2009 with the follow-up album and second in the trilogy, Duke Pandemonium. The first single from the second album, 'Kid Gloves' was released on 9 February 2009.
Solo career[edit]
Neil performs under the name ZZC. His debut single, 'To the Bone', was used in the BBC's ‘Radio 1 Rescores: Drive (curated by Zane Lowe)’ project. In 2017, Neil released a 7-minute instrumental track entitled 'The Myth' under the ZZC moniker. Two tracks from an unreleased ZZC solo album, 'Plead' and 'Fever Dream' were released on the 2019 Biffy Clyro soundtrack album Balance, Not Symmetry.
Personal life[edit]
Neil lives in Ayr with his wife Francesca, whom he married at St. Columba Church in Ayr on 5 January 2008. The song 'God Only Knows' by The Beach Boys was used for their first dance, and Neil has the song's chorus, 'God only knows what I'd be without you', tattooed on his chest.[2] Neil is a lifelong fan of the football team Rangers F.C.
Musical equipment used[edit]
The Biff Song
The following is a list of musical equipment used by Simon Neil:
Guitars[edit]
Electric
- Fender Standard Stratocasters[3] – Various different Mexican models, including White, Red, Sunburst (with neck pickup & controls removed), Black, and Metallic Blue.
- Fender 1960 Custom Shop Stratocasters[3] – Fiesta Red, Frost Metallic, Lake Placid Blue, and White.
- Fender 50s Stratocaster Relic[3]
- Fender Telecaster Standard[3] – USA model, owned by James Johnston, three tone sunburst, can be seen in the music video for 'Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies'.
- Fender Telecaster '62 Custom[3] – Japanese model, three tone sunburst, can be seen in the music video for 'Only One Word Comes to Mind'.
- Fender Telecaster Custom 1972 reissue, black. Can be seen in the music video for 'Mountains'.
- Squier Simon Neil Signature Stratocaster[3]
- Patrick Eggle New York[3] – Red.
- Gretsch White Falcon Used live for the song 'Diary of Always' and is seen in the music video for 'Folding Stars'
- Gibson ES-335 – used live for 'God & Satan'
- Gretsch G2420T – used for music video of 'Howl'.
Effects pedals[edit]
- BOSS TU-2 Chromatic Tuner[3]
- BOSS MD-2 Distortion[3]
- BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone[3]
- BOSS DD-6 Digital Delay x2[3]
- BOSS LS-2 Line Selector[4]
- Origin Effects Cali76 Compressor[3]
Previous effects pedals[edit]
- BOSS DS-1 Distortion[3]
- BOSS HM-2 Heavy Metal[3]
- Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Wah[4]
- Electro Harmonix Micro POG[4]
Amplifiers[edit]
- Peavey Delta Blues Combo[3]
- Marshall 1959SLP Head[3]
- Peavey Classic Head[3] and Peavey Classic 412 Cabinet[3]
- Hayden MoFo 30W tube head with Hayden 4x12[3]
- Fender Super Sonic 100 BLK Head[3]
- Kemper Profiling Amplifier PowerHead[3]
Discography[edit]
Biffy Clyro[edit]
Biffy Clyro Discography Blogspot
- Blackened Sky (2002)
- The Vertigo of Bliss (2003)
- Infinity Land (2004)
- Puzzle (2007)
- Only Revolutions (2009)
- Opposites (2013)
- Ellipsis (2016)
- MTV Unplugged: Live at Roundhouse, London (2018)
- Balance, Not Symmetry (2019)
- A Celebration of Endings (2020)
Marmaduke Duke[edit]
- The Magnificent Duke (2005)
- Duke Pandemonium (2009)
Other appearances[edit]
| Year | Song | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 'Zionist Timing' | Aereogramme | A Story in White |
| 2002 | 'Hangover' | Sucioperro | Why Bliss Destroy |
| 'Love in the Guise of Friendship' | |||
| 'Capable of More' | |||
| 2009 | 'Graves' | Gallows | Grey Britain |
| 2010 | 'It's My Tail and I'll Chase It If I Want To' | Oceansize | Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up |
| 2014 | 'Sun Riders' | Krokodil | Nachash |
| 2016 | 'Reason to Stay' | Good Charlotte | Youth Authority |
| 2020 | 'Halogen Eye' | O'Brother | You and I |
| 2021 | 'Goliath' | Architects | For Those That Wish to Exist |
| 'Nervous' | While She Sleeps | Sleeps Society |
References[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simon Neil. |
- ^Biffy Clyro BiographyArchived 8 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine on Beggar's Banquet USA
- ^Ayshire Post, 9 January 2008, Sweet music
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuBiffyTabs Equipment – SimonArchived 7 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ abc'Biffy Clyro – Simon Neil Guitar Rig Gear and Equipment'. uberproaudio.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)