SAXON Frontman Has Seven Songs Written For His Solo Album

SAXON frontman Biff Byford has confirmed in a new interview with "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" that he is continuing to work on material for his upcoming solo album. Asked how the record will be different from the music he has released with the legendary British heavy metal band, Biff said (hear audio below): "I think it's probably gonna be a bit more rock and roll, a bit more classic rock. I mean, I've got seven songs, and it's quite mixed, really. But I'll have to wait and see."

Byford added that he doesn't compose music with a specific direction in mind. "The way I write is I write individual songs — I don't write albums, per se," he said.

"People say, 'What's the concept behind the album?' I go, 'There's no concept,'" he explained. "The concept is write as many great songs as possible and see if our fans like it."

With regards to when he expects to see his solo album completed, Biff said: "Well, I'm writing on the road already. I'm writing some stuff with Nibbs [Carter, SAXON bassist], I'm writing a bit of stuff on my own. We [SAXON] finish [touring] here in May, in America. I think we've only got two weeks off, and we start again. So I'm gonna try to get some time. It's the writing that takes the time, not the recording. You can record things really quickly."

Biff went on to say that his solo album will probably feature a number of guest musicians. "I'm gonna ask various people [to appear on the record]," he said. "It's not easy for guitarists to work with you, because they just smack down their signature solo and off you go. Singers, I might do some duets and things. We'll see. I wanna get the songs written first, and then see who wants to work on them. I'll probably have a nucleus of a drummer and a bass player, although I might play bass myself. I've still got my Rickenbacker."

Asked why he just doesn't use the extra material for a future SAXON album instead of setting it aside for his solo disc, Biff said: "Well, I did. Actually, 'Roadie's Song' [off SAXON's 2018 album 'Thunderbolt'] was a solo album project. And I do move them across all the time. And actually, originally, 'They Played Rock And Roll' was a solo-album idea [that also ended up on 'Thunderbolt']. So I do that all the time. And I do have songs that me and Nibbs have written for SAXON that I didn't think were right for SAXON that might end up on my solo album."

"Thunderbolt" was released on February 2 via Militia Guard (Silver Lining Music). The follow-up to 2015's "Battering Ram" was once again helmed by producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH, ACCEPT and TESTAMENT, among others. The disc features original artwork by longtime SAXON collaborator Paul Raymond Gregory.

SAXON is supporting JUDAS PRIEST on the North American leg of the "Firepower" tour, which kicked off on March 13 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and will wrap on May 1 in San Antonio, Texas.