Tag Archives: Biff Byford

Gig review: STONEDEAD FESTIVAL – Newark Showground – 23,24 August 2024

Posted on September 3, 2024 by david.wilson

Since the first Stonedead (or Stonedeaf as it was back then) the festival has gone from strength to strength driven by word of mouth and a very active Facebook group. Each year has sold out that bit sooner than the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24th August, Biff Byford, blues, Bonafide, Chris Sumby, Doro, Ecilipse, festival, KK Downing, KK's Priest, Krusher, Lemmy, live, metal, Motorhead, Newark Showground, Paul Di'Anno, rock, Saxon, Scarlet Rebels, Spike, Stonedead, Tailgunner, The Bites, The Hot One Two, The Quireboys, Warlock | Leave a comment

Gig review: JUDAS PRIEST/Saxon/Uriah Heep – Wembley Arena, London, 21 March 2024

Posted on April 14, 2024 by andynathan

JUDAS PRIEST- Wembley Arena, London, 21 March 2024

For a band that so proudly proclaims their British roots, there is a case that Judas Priest have simply not toured their home country enough. In the eighties they largely neglected it for the USA with the result that I … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andy Sneap, Bernie Shaw, Biff Byford, Brian Tatler, Doug Scarratt, gig, Glenn Tipton, heavy metal, Judas Priest, Mick Box, Nibbs Carter, Phil Lanzon, Richie Faulkner, Rob Halford, Saxon, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Hell, Fire and Damnation

Posted on January 18, 2024 by andynathan

Silver Lining Music [Release Date 19.1.24] The fact that Saxon were one of the inductees in GRTR!’s ‘Grotto of Greatness’, marking significant acts from our first 20 years, tells you all you need to know about the ability of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Biff Byford, Brian Blessed, Brian Tatler, Doug Scarratt, Hell Fire and Damnation, metal, Nigel Glockler, Saxon | Leave a comment

News: SAXON are the latest entrants in The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness (November 2023)

Posted on October 23, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Heavy metallers Saxon are the latest entrants to “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness” a year long promotion to tie in with rock website Get Ready to ROCK!’s 20th anniversary. The band’s more recent ascendancy parallels the lifetime of the classic … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged Biff Byford, feature, Get Ready to ROCK!, heavy metal, heavy rock, news, November 2023, Saxon | Leave a comment

Gig review: SAXON- Hammersmith Apollo, London, 29 January 2022

Posted on February 4, 2022 by andynathan

Saxon’s 40th anniversary show was a case of deferred pleasure even by current standards. It was actually first scheduled as long ago as October 2019 but delayed when singer Biff Byford underwent heart surgery, and subsequently rescheduled at least twice … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Biff Byford, Diamond Head, Doug Scarratt, gig, GIRLSCHOOL, metal, Nigel Glockler, Paul Quinn, Saxon, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Carpe Diem

Posted on January 12, 2022 by jason

Silver Lining [Release date 04.02.22] Saxon, one of the world’s most consistent and reliable classic metal bands, a name synonymous with the New Wave Of British Heavy (NWoBHM); there were there at the start in the late 70s. Hits such … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, The Best of 2022 | Tagged album, Biff Byford, Carpe Diem, classic metal, classic rock, heavy metal, metal, NWOBHM, review, Saxon, Silver Lining | Leave a comment

Album review: HEAVY WATER – Red Brick City

Posted on July 8, 2021 by jason

Silver Lining Music [Release date 23.07.21] With, amongst others, the sons of both Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris and Bruce Dickinson’s sons kicking up serious dust in The Raven Age and As Lions respectively, it’s no surprise that Seb Byford stepped … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Biff Byford, hard rock, Heavy Water, metal, Red Brick City, review, rock, Saxon, Seb Byford, Stereophonics | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Inspirations

Posted on March 19, 2021 by jason

Silver Lining [Release date 19.03.21] Four decades into a career that has seen them conquer the globe, there seems to be no stopping the mighty Saxon, their own brand of Heavy Metal Thunder still ringing out loud and proud. Whilst … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Biff Byford, Black Sabbath, Covers, Inspirations, Motorhead, review, Saxon, The Beatles, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

Feature: What SAXON mean to me…

Posted on April 23, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Saxon have been a life-long passion for Joe Geesin who has followed the band since the mid-1980s. More recently he has contributed sleeve notes and curation to several re-issues. And now he’s ready to write the band’s biography… Barnsley born … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, What a Band/Artist means to me... | Tagged albums, Biff Byford, heavy metal, heavy rock, history, Paul Quinn, review, Saxon | Leave a comment

Album review: BIFF BYFORD – School Of Hard Knocks

Posted on February 9, 2020 by jason

Silver Lining Music [Release date 21.02.20] One of British heavy metal’s finest icons, vocalist (and occasional bassist) Biff Byford has fronted Saxon since the mid 70s, when they were called Son Of A Bitch. And after talk of a solo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic rock, interview, metal, NWOBHM, OPETH, review, rock, Saxon, School Of Hard Knocks | Leave a comment

Gig review: SAXON – Barrowlands, Glasgow,18 October 2018

Posted on October 22, 2018 by david.wilson

Saxon, as Biff reminded us during tonight’s show, are rapidly approaching their 40th anniversary. With this in mind the band would be forgiven if they decided to slow down a bit and started taking things a bit easier. However, on tonight’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18th October 2018, Barrowlands, Biff Byford, Denim And Leather, FM, gig, Glasgow, heavy metal, Iron Maiden, Jim Kirkpatrick, live, Nigal Glockler, review, rock, Saxon, Steve Overland, Toby Jepson, Wayward Sons, Wheels Of Steel | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – The Eagle Has Landed

Posted on October 21, 2018 by jason

BMG [Release date 19.10.18] To coincide nicely with their latest opus Thunderbolt, we get this reissue of Saxon’s classic 1982 live album. This rounds off the BMG reissues of the Carrere and Phonogram catalogue. Originally a single LP, this comes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic metal, heavy metal, live, metal, MWOBHM, re-issue, review, Saxon, The Eagle Has Landed | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Thunderbolt (Tour edition)

Posted on August 19, 2018 by jason

Silver Lining [Release date 07.09.18] To promote their forthcoming tour, Saxon’s latest opus gets a swift rerelease with a couple of bonus tracks. Formed in the late 70s, Saxon were front runners in the era’s New Wave of British Heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic metal, Motorhead, NWOBHM, review, rock, Saxon, Thunderbolt, tour edition | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Reissues (Innocence Is No Excuse, Rock The Nations, Destiny)

Posted on July 30, 2018 by jason

BMG [Release date 10.08.18] BMG complete their run of the CD remasters from Saxon and take in the mid to late 80s. This trio of albums by the NWoBHM legends are often overlooked, and looking back now they are far … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Biff Byford, Destiny, heavy rock, Innocence Is No Excuse, metal, reissue, review, Rock The Nations, Saxon | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Denim And Leather, Power And The Glory, Crusader (reissues)

Posted on May 7, 2018 by jason

BMG [Release date 25.05.18] BMG continue with their Saxon reissue campaign and have produced fine editions of their fourth, fifth and sixth albums. And we can announce these the same week as the first three remasters (Saxon, Wheels Of Steel … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Biff Byford, classic rock, Crusader, Denim And Leather, heavy metal, Power And The Glory, re-issue, Saxon | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – 10 Years Of Denim And Leather Live 1990/The CD Hoard (reissues)

Posted on March 19, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel [Release date 27.10.17*, 16.03.18**] Saxon seem to be enjoying a resurgence even more impressive than their 2007-2010 revival. With a remarkably relevant new album ‘Thunderbolt’ and a raft of reissues and box sets, we can at least luxuriate in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 10 Years of Denim And Leather Live 1990, album, Biff Byford, box set, heavy metal, heavy rock, live, review, Saxon, The CD Hoard | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Thunderbolt

Posted on January 15, 2018 by jason

UDR [Release date 02.02.18] Bastions of British heavy metal, NWoBHM stalwarts, basically if you like trad heavy metal, Saxon are where it’s at and have been for longer than I can remember. Album number 22 comes two and a half … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Biff Byford, heavy metal, metal, Motorhead, NWOBHM, review, Saxon, Thunderbolt | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Decade Of The Eagle

Posted on October 24, 2017 by jason

BMG [Double CD/4 vinyl 180gm LPS Release date 17.11.17] British metal legends Saxon, still going strong, released what is considered the first album of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal genre. Originally called Son Of A Bitch, the band formed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Biff Byford, Christopher Cross, Decade Of The Eagle, double, Elton John, metal, NWOBHM, Paul Quinn, review, rock, Saxon | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Solid Book Of Rock (Box set)

Posted on September 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel/Demon Music Group [Release date 18.08.17] It seems that – exhausting the market for CD expanded or deluxe editions – 2017 might be the “Year of The Box Set” as labels try and find new income streams. We’ll be getting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Biff Byford, box set, Dogs Of War, Forever Free, heavy metal, heavy rock, Into The Labyrinth, Killing Ground, Lionheart, Metalhead, review, Saxon, Solid Book Of Rock, Sollid Ball Of Rock, The Inner Sanctum, Unleash The Beast | Leave a comment

Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 1 – Mote Park, Maidstone, 28 July 2017

Posted on August 7, 2017 by david.wilson

RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR –Mote Park, Maidstone, 28 July 2017

The Ramblin’ Man Fair is now in its third year and is going from strength to strength. It is situated in Mote Park right in the centre of Maidstone in Kent, it is a bit bizarre passing a children’s playpark … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 28 July 2017, Biff Byford, Dave Meniketti, Dio, gig, Graham Bonnet, Last In Line, Maidstone, metal, Mote Park, Rainbow, Ramblin' Man Fair, review.rock, Saxon, The Eagle Has Landed, Vivian Campbell, Y&T | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Eagles And Dragons (9-vinyl box set)

Posted on February 21, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Demon Records [Release date 18.03.16] Nine albums, nearly twenty years in timespan, and another chance for recycling under the auspices of 180 gram vinyl. This means you don’t get bonus tracks, just the original albums in original sleeves and inners … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Biff Byford, box set, Dogs Of War, Eagles And Dragons, Forever Free, heavy metal, heavy rock, Into The Labyrinth, Killing Ground, Lionheart, Metalhead, review, Saxon, Solid Ball Of Rock, The Inner Sanctum, Unleash The Beast, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FESTIVAL Day 1 – Mote Park, Maidstone, 25 July 2015

Posted on August 6, 2015 by david.wilson

Photo: Paul Rodgers Another summer and yet another new festival joins the ranks of the many. This one however had the classic rock fraternity foaming at the mouth with a line up which comprised some of the biggest names in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 25 July 2015, Anathema, Biff Byford, Blue Oyster Cult, Camel, Dream Theater, FM, gig, Klaus Meine, Maidstone, metal, Mote Park, No Hot Ashes, prog, Ramblin' Man Festival, review, rock, Rudolf Schenker, Saxon, Scorpions, Toseland, Touchstone | Leave a comment

News: BIFF BYFORD (Saxon) interview and special features on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio

Posted on November 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Sunday 30 November 2014, 17:00 Thursday 4 December, 22:00 repeat Saxon frontman Biff Byford chooses the music in Get Ready to ROCK! Radio’s ‘Favourite Tracks from Favourite Artists’ sequence. He chats to GRTR!’s David Randall about the band’s progress and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Biff Byford, blues, Bluesbreakers, Chicken Shack, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, interview, John Mayall, Jon Poole, Mike Vernon, producer, Saxon, THE DOWLING POOLE, Tour, Warriors Of The Road, Willie Dowling | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – December 2014 highlights

Posted on November 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

December 2014 Highlights More information at the dedicated website Check back here as we add new features throughout the month. All times, GMT We are posting selected shows to our Mixcloud page. Photo: Simon Dunkerley Special features this month Christmas … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Biff Byford, blues, Christmas, December 2014, feature, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, interview, Mike Vernon, progressive metal, radio, rock, Saxon, session | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – The Complete Albums 1979-1988

Posted on April 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Parlophone/Warner Music [Release date 17.03.14] Saxon get the “complete albums” treatment with a 10-disc set, essentially the 2009/2010 remasters in facsimilie sleeves. All of Saxon’s albums have appeared on CD before, some on different labels, including the strange 2-on-1 packages … Continue reading →