SAXON Frontman Recalls Near-Fatal House Fire

October 3, 2005

SAXON frontman Biff Byford has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"Well, it's about time I said something!

"First of all, I would like to say 'Thank you' to everybody who sent messages after the fire it was a bad period in our lives but you have to go on and try and make something good from out of the bad. We are now in a new house much bigger than the last one and everybody is starting to put their lives back together. The fire started at five in the morning when we were all in bed [you may believe this or not?] But somebody or something shouted 'Wake up' really loud and I just shot up bolt upright. The room was full of smoke. I woke my wife and we got the children out of there bedrooms by this time the flames were dropping though the ceiling so we had a very lucky escape. Who it was I do not know. I have lost both my parents and some good friends along the way.

"Anyway, that's how it was.

"On a lighter note, Nigel [Glockler] is back in the band after 7-8 years we have been rehearsing in the U.K. and it sounds great like he never left! We have to say farewell to Jörg [Michael, STRATOVARIUS] who has left the voyage early and we did not have time say a drunken farewell, but we will real soon, Jörg.

"Anyway, we are all looking forward to the tour."

Confirmed SAXON tour dates:

Nov. 04 - The Sterling Hotel - Allentown, PA
Nov. 05 - Double D's - Morristown, NJ
Nov. 06 - The Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, OH
Nov. 07 - House Of Blues - Chicago, IL
Nov. 08 - Shank Hall - Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 11 - The Galaxy - Dallas, TX
Nov. 12 - Sunken Garden Amphitheatre - San Antonio, TX

As previously reported, SAXON were originally slated to embark on an American tour in May but ended up cancelling the dates as a result of Byford wanting to stay by his family's side after his house in the Normandie area of France burned down.

SAXON have been confirmed for the Sweden Rock kick-off concert on December 3 at Globen Annexet in Stockholm, Sweden. Also appearing on the bill are CLAWFINGER and KROKUS.

SAXON are continuing to tour in support of their latest CD, "Lionheart", available now on SPV Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Killing Ground" features artwork by Paul R. Gregory, who has previously worked with the group on the now classic "Crusader" album.

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