Some Kind of Bliss

A surprise slot on Limp Bizkit's recent UK shows has shot scotsmen Biffy Clyro into the spotlight.  uk-fusion's Mr Tom joined frontman Simon Neil and drummer Ben Johnson for a wee chat about Fran, Fred and festivals

How were the Reading and Leeds festivals this year?
S: They were awesome. It was a shock to play the main stage, as that is where some of our favourite bands have played.  
Is that one of your ambitions?
S: Yeah.  It’s bizarre when you do things that you’ve always wanted to do, you know.  The other night we played the Barrowlands in Glasgow and we’ve seen all our favourite gigs there. Once you’ve played somewhere you’ve always wanted to play, it’s a wee bit over whelming - kinda like “Shit, what do we do now?”
Have performing at the summer festivals been the highlight of 2003 so far?
S: I think our highlight was probably the Barrowlands gig the other night.
B: Like a dream come true sort of thing.
S: There was like two thousand people and it was all sold out – everyone was singing the words. The festivals were such a mind blower at the time – playing Reading and Leeds main stage and T in the Park.  It was such a step up to what we were used to, but we don’t play main stages all the time.  We were in Middlesborough the other night where only about 20 people were there that knew us. It’s good when things like that happen because it stops you losing your head, you know.
How did the Limp Bizkit support come about?
S: (laughs)  We were basically asked if we wanted to do it by our agent.  We hummed and hoddled because we’re not Limp Bizkit fans, and we don’t have anything musically to do with them  - or anything to do with them!  But the fact was we got a chance to play to the ten or twenty thousand rock fans who wouldn’t have otherwise seen us because let’s face it, the people who are going to see Limp Bizkit are hardly on the pulse - not meaning to slate everyone there as I’m sure there were a few other curious parties.
B: As a result of Limp Bizkit, we’ve now got an Ozzy Osbourne support now, which we’re going to do.  Our agent said it was a really good thing to do, to get our feet in the door, you know that alternate gig reality where you play with big people.  It’s turned out since that it was a really good thing to do, but every interview we’ve done since they’ve said  “Why the fuck did you play with Limp Bizkit?”
S: Plus Fred Durst chose all the support bands - at least he’s got some good taste...it may have been a line we get fed.
Fred Durst doing a free gig - was it just clever publicity?
S: He seemed liked a nice guy. In Manchester he arrived by himself and there were about 100 kids who ran all around him and talked to them for a good 15 to 20 minutes. It was cool.  It’s a shame he doesn’t write good music because I’m sure he’s a nice guy.
B: He’s a businessman really, isn’t he?  He was in a struggling band and he’s a bit older now, helping other bands out and stuff.
S: But at least he believes in what he’s doing and he’s not a total bull-shitter or something.
You’ve done some in store signings this summer, was this something you’d thought about doing?
S: It’s good to do slightly different gigs.  It was quite weird playing in a shop because all the lights are up and everyone’s dotted amongst the CD racks.
B: I’ve only ever to been to one.  It was Wilco and it was crap (laughs), but it’s a really good idea because all the kids in store are watching and your CD is sitting there and they buy it.
Did you find any of them annoying?
S: No, everyone was cool. It’s funny the amount of people who are out on their lunch break, businessmen and guys in suits.  They hear a band playing in a shop, walk in and come and get a CD signed.   Families just come up to you and say "oh we’re on holiday and we just bought your CD".
B: It’s a totally different vibe for the people who come.
I’ve heard you rate Fugazi (who are on independent Dischord). Was signing to an independent label particularly important to you?
S: It just kind of came about at the time, but it was something we were aware of.  There’s no point when you’re starting a band to worry about the pressures of people expecting you to sell a certain amount of records or to look ‘this or that’ way.  It’s only now after our second album that we are really aware of what we want as a band and I think other people are starting to realise what we are about.  I mean, if you get chucked into a major label world on your first album, then the only way to go is down - unless you have a big fucking single in which case the company is just going to try and shape you into whatever that one single was about.
What do think of Ian McKaye (lead singer/guitarist with Fugazi and owner of Washington DC hardcore label Dischord) and the ethos behind his label?
S: I think it’s amazing. The important thing about Fugazi and Dischord and the fact they do everything themselves means they’re one of the best live bands in the world. A lot of bands try and do that whole DIY thing, but Fugazi are almost such a one-off that I can’t imagine another band ever making the same history.  I can’t see another band starting … B: (quickly interrupts) Well it wouldn’t work unless a new style comes along that changes this again, because it was so special and original. S: And the fact they can get a record in the shops for like seven pounds – you never see any other records in Virgin or HMV.
Apart from doubt, what other things would you like to see eradicated?
S: (laughs) Just shit music in general I suppose, but then, I don’t know.  I suppose we doubt shit music that isn’t good music, so keep shit music and eradicate everything and just have what’s left standing.
Are you called Biffy Clyro because of a Cliff Richard Biro discussion, or is that one of the things that you fob people off with?
S: Yeah, we’ll give you another one, an acronym.   It stands for Big Imagination For Feeling Young  ‘Cause Life Yearns Real Optimism.  How can you not believe these innocent faces?

Travis or Idlewild?
S: Idlewild – they’ve got some balls about them.
B: They’re like a good rock band, they have some good tunes.
S: I read an interview recently, not to slag off Travis particularly, he [Fran Healy] said he hates bands who don’t sing about anything.  Their first two albums are like "my outside's on my inside/ my left side's on my right side" and "flowers in the window".  Idlewild have done it perfectly.
The whole The Darkness ‘we’ve-got-massive-hair-and-cat suits type thing’.  What’s that all about?
S: You see, I’ve got a soft spot for it because it’s so different and there will be a whole spate of shit like AC/DC and Queen and I like the cheesiness of it.
B: The Darkness spent years on the road and they weren’t able to get signed.  At least they’ve done it the proper way, you know.
I really like that lighter, where do you get them?
S: You can get them from the Merch stall for about two quid.
Can I have that one?
S: Well, seeing as you’re a cheeky fuck! (hands it over)
Thanks!