Biffy Clyro are an alternative music trio, formed in 1995 in Ayrshire, Scotland. Initially called Screwfish, they soon changed the name to Biffy Clyro, allegedly as a result of a spoonerism relating to a Cliff Richard biro, although many other tales for the current name are given by the band members themselves. They have firmly established themselves within the alternative rock music scene in Britain, enjoy support from a fiercely devoted fanbase as well as praise from their peers (such as Hundred Reasons, Hell Is For Heroes and Reuben) and have a reputation for scintillating live shows.
While their music is challenging, often experimenting with time signatures and song structure, the sheer ferocity of music created by only three people has earned comparisons to Nirvana - even if only in terms of stage presence, if not their music. Generically, the group can only really be safely categorised as a rock band; beyond that, they defy all the common restrictions of genre, often straddling several generic boundaries within one song. Their influences remain diverse - according to the band themselves, their sound has been shaped as much by post-emo indie luminaries like Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral as it has by prog legends Rush. Their sound also wouldn't be the same without the heavy influence of Sacremento emo godfathers Far.
The band have yet to have a top 20 hit single, yet they have had several singles in the top 40 including Questions and Answers, Glitter and Trauma, My Recovery Injection and Only One Word Comes To Mind.
It has often been said that Biffy Clyro is a band without a frontman, and this is most apparent in the band's vocal arrangements - whilst guitarist Simon Neil bears most of the vocal responsibility, both drummer Ben Johnston and bassist James Johnston have their fair share of (usually harmonic) vocal parts. Some songs even have vocal harmonies reminiscent of barbershop groups, something often associated with Weezer, another great musical influence on the band. This, coupled with their refreshing disregard for the verse-chorus-verse-chorus song structure, means they manage to retain a flair for the experimental, without being obscure just for the sake of it.
