Simon alexander neill biography
Simon Neil
Scottish musician
Musical artist
Simon Alexander Neil (born 31 August ) is a Scottish singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Biffy Clyro.
Simon Alexander Neil born 31 August is a Scottish singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Biffy Clyro. Born in Irvine, North AyrshireScotland and grown up in AyrNeil formed a band in at 15 years old, recruiting Kilmarnock -based Ben Johnston and someone known only as Barry on drums and bass respectively, calling themselves Skrewfish. He also studied Film and TV for a year before leaving to pursue music full-time. By then, Simon's musical tastes had expanded; Inthe band was spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park by a representative of the independent log label Beggars Banquet.In , Neil formed the side plan Marmaduke Duke with JP Reid, releasing two studio album's The Magnificent Duke () and Duke Pandemonium (). Another side undertaking fronted by Neil, Empire Articulate Bastard, released their debut studio album Rivers of Heresy in September , reaching number three in Scotland, forty six in the United Kingdom, number three on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Charts and sixty-nine in Germany.[1][2][3][4]
With Biffy Clyro, Neil has released nine studio albums, five of which have topped the Scottish Albums Charts (Puzzle, Opposites, Ellipsis, A Celebration of Endings and The Myth of the Happily Ever After).
The band has achieved considerable mainstream success across continental Europe, with Opposites topping the UK Albums Charts, whilst Ellipsis topped the charts in Switzerland, Ireland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. A Celebration of Endings also topped the UK Albums Charts.[5]
Career
Biffy Clyro
Main article: Biffy Clyro
Born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland and grown up in Ayr, Neil formed a band in at 15 years old, recruiting Kilmarnock-based Ben Johnston and someone known only as Barry on drums and bass respectively, calling themselves Skrewfish.[6] Barry was soon replaced by James Johnston, Ben's twin brother, and Biffy Clyro was effectively formed.
In , 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 vanishing to pursue music full-time.
The frontman of the Scottish rock band talks about their surprise new album, mental health - and how a puppy helped him find his musical mojo. Like half the country, Simon Neil bought himself a pandemic puppy. That was liberating, and it fed into the tune. It gave it more of a carefree element musically.By then, Simon's musical tastes had expanded; In , the band was spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park by a spokesperson of the independent record labelBeggars Banquet. Soon after, the band was signed to the label.
Biffy Clyro have since released nine albums, signed to a major record label, and toured relentlessly.
Neil has stated that Biffy Clyro lyrics often enter from phrases he writes down in a notebook he keeps by his bed. In , the band was nominated for the Brit Awards for Top British Group.[7] At the NME Awards, they received the award for Best British Band.[8] On 25 August Biffy Clyro headlined the main stage at Reading and Leeds Festival.
As of , in total, the band have spent weeks in the top seventy-five of the UK Album Charts, with three of those weeks being at the top position at number one and 76 weeks within the main top forty of the album charts.
Simon Neil biography - Last.fm: Simon Alexander Neil (born 31 August ) is a Scottish singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Biffy Clyro. In , Neil formed the side project Marmaduke Duke with JP Reid, releasing two studio album's The Magnificent Duke () and Duke Pandemonium ().The band's singles have spent a total of 79 weeks in the UK Singles Charts, with six weeks in the top ten and 42 in the foremost forty.[9]
Marmaduke Duke
Main article: Marmaduke Duke
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 It was announced in late that the Duke was to make a return in with the follow-up album and second in the trilogy, Duke Pandemonium.
The first single from the second album, "Kid Gloves" was released on the 9th of February, Marmaduke Duke own thus far only played two small tours, during which they played at venues in Edinburgh, Dundee, London, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff, and Birmingham.
On the 9th of June, , they were added to the Reading & Leeds Festival lineup, headlining the Festival Republic Stage on the Friday in Reading and the Sunday in Leeds. They also played the T in the Park festival in , on the Radio 1/NME stage.
Live, the group consists of JP Reid (vocals, guitar) and Simon Neil (vocals, synth, guitar and bass). The duo are accompanied by James Johnston (bass, vocals) and drummers Fergus Munro and Ben Johnston. There is usually also a cloaked/masked figure on stage during performances, famous only as "The Duke"; played by Sucioperro's ex-bassist Michael Logg (also known as "The Enormous Slice").
He also Studied Movie and television for a year before leaving to pursue harmony full-time. He is known for his work in the bands Biffy Clyro and Marmaduke Duke. Barry was soon replaced by Ben Johnston, James"s twin brother, and Biffy Clyro was effectively formed. By then, Simon"s musical tastes had expanded.This ethics might be construed as the band's own version of Universal Enemy's Flavor Flav or the Happy Mondays' Bez.
Regarding the inclusion of Ben and James, Neil's Biffy Clyro bandmates, Neil states: "It wouldn't feel right to be out and playing without them, you know?".[10]
Empire Articulate Bastard
Empire State Bastard is an extreme metal duo composed of Neil and ex-Oceansize frontman Mike Vennart.
The project has been described as "grindcore extreme metal" by Neil,[11] with Mike writing the songs and recording all guitars, and Simon focused on vocals and lyrics.[12] The band currently tours with Dave Lombardo on drums and Naomi Macleod on bass.
Empire State Bastard released their debut single "Harvest" in March , with their debut album Rivers of Heresy released in September
Solo career
Neil performs under the name ZZC. His debut single, "To the Bone", was used in the BBC's 'Radio 1 Rescores: Trip (curated by Zane Lowe)' proposal.
In , Neil released a 7-minute instrumental track entitled "The Myth" under the ZZC moniker.
Simon Alexander Neil born 31 August is a Scottish singer, guitarist and songwriter, best recognizable as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Biffy Clyro. Born in Irvine, North AyrshireScotland and grown up in AyrNeil formed a band in at 15 years old, recruiting Kilmarnock -based Ben Johnston and someone known only as Barry on drums and bass respectively, calling themselves Skrewfish. He also studied Film and TV for a year before leaving to pursue music full-time. By then, Simon's musical tastes had expanded; Inthe band was spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park by a representative of the independent record label Beggars Banquet.Two tracks from an unreleased ZZC solo album, "Plead" and "Fever Dream" were released on the Biffy Clyro soundtrack album Even out , Not Symmetry.
Personal life
Neil lives in Ayr with his wife Francesca, whom he married at St. Columba Church in Ayr on 5 January The ballad "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.[13]
In , he presented a series of shows on BBC Radio Scotland.[14] Neil is an avid fan of Rangers F.C.
and attended matches at Ibrox Stadium in his youth.[15]
Musical equipment used
The following is a list of musical equipment used by Simon Neil:
Guitars
Electric
- Fender Standard Stratocasters[16] – Various different Mexican models, including White, Red, Sunburst (with neck pickup & controls removed), Black, and Metallic Blue.
- Fender Custom Shop Stratocasters[16] – Fiesta Red, Frost Metallic, Lake Placid Navy, and White.
- Fender 50s Stratocaster Relic[16]
- Fender Telecaster Standard[16] – 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[16] – Japanese model, three tone sunburst, can be seen in the music video for "Only One Word Comes to Mind".
- Fender Telecaster Custom reissue, black.
Can be seen in the tune video for "Mountains".
- Squier Simon Neil Signature Stratocaster[16]
- Patrick Eggle New York[16] – Red.
- Gretsch White Falcon Used live for the song "Diary of Always" and is seen in the music video for "Folding Stars"
- Gibson ES – used live for "God & Satan"
- Gretsch GT – used for harmony video of "Howl".
Effects pedals
Previous effects pedals
Amplifiers
Discography
Biffy Clyro
Main article: Biffy Clyro discography