Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil has given an update on the status of the band’s seventh album.
The frontman spoke to NME at the MTV European Music Awards in Glasgow, where he closed the ceremony performing alongside former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash on a cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Crazy Train’.
Neil said: “We’re getting [the next album] together. Realistically it won’t be out until the end of next year. We’re working on the songs now, but we don’t want to rush it – we’ve been in everyone’s faces for the last couple of years, so I think it’s important to disappear for a wee while and then come back all guns blazing.”
The frontman also shed some light on his new solo project, ZZC, the first material from which – debut single ’To The Bone’ – was used as part of Radio 1’s recent rescoring of the Drive soundtrack.
Neil said: “I’ve got seven or eight songs. After the first three Biffy albums, I went and made the Marmaduke Duke stuff [Neil’s other side-project, featuring Sucioperro guitarist JP Reid] to try and cleanse myself and come back to rock music re-charged. I’ve been in that zone for the last few months, working on piano and electronic stuff, more kind of soundtrack-y things. So I’ll get that out while we’re making the Biffy record, because it reinstills my belief in rock music, my love of screaming and smacking guitars. It’s just what I need.”
Neil then went on to express his sympathy for fellow Scot Calvin Harris, who had to pull out of his scheduled EMAs appearance due to sudden heart problems.
Neil said: “I just hope he gets better – it’s a shame when any young man has problems with his heart,” he said. “I’ve had a few health scares myself – I basically have to be at death’s door to cancel a show and we cancelled a few last year, where I was under doctor’s orders to stay in my bed for a week. It’s horrific: you feel terrible, you’re so helpless and the last thing you want to do is let down people who like your music, so it’s a horrible position to be in.”