Saxon’s Biff Byford launches video for foot-stomping new single School Of Hard Knocks

Biff Byford
Biff Byford (Image credit: Silver Lining Music)

Biff Byford (opens in new tab) has released a video for his new single School Of Hard Knocks.

It’s the title track from the Saxon (opens in new tab) frontman’s upcoming solo album, which will launch on February 21 through Silver Lining Records and follows Welcome To The Show (opens in new tab) which arrived back in October.

Biff says: “The title track to the album is basically biographical about my early years. Have a listen to the lyrics. I hope you like it.”

As for the themes running through the record, Biff adds: “With this album I’m singing about my past, of course, and about things I like. But mostly I wanted it to reflect me, my personality and my life.”

Biff is joined on the album by Opeth (opens in new tab) guitarist Fredrik Åkesson, bassist Gus Macricostas and drummer Christian Lundqvist, while special guests include Motorhead ex Phil Campbell, Rhapsody Of Fire’s Alex Holzwart, Voices’ Nick Barker, Dave Kemp from Wayward Sons and his Saxon bandmate Nibbs Carter.

The vocalist will head out on tour across the UK in April for a run of 10 spoken word and music shows.

Prior to that, Biff and his Saxon bandmates will play four shows which were postponed earlier this year due to the singer’s heart surgery.

Biff Byford: School Of Hard Knocks (opens in new tab)

Biff Byford: School Of Hard Knocks (opens in new tab)
Saxon frontman Biff Byford is poised to release his first-ever solo album. It'll feature a selection of new material along with a couple of cover versions.

Biff Byford: School Of Hard Knocks
1. Welcome To The Show
2. School Of Hard Knocks
3. Inquisitor
4. The Pit And The Pendulum
5. Worlds Collide
6. Pedal To The Metal
7. Hearts Of Steel
8. Throw Down The Sword
9. Me And You
10. Black And White

Biff Byford UK tour poster

Saxon rescheduled 2020 tour dates
Mar 07: Dusseldorf Mitsubishi Electric Halle, Germany, 
Mar 27: Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom, UK
Mar 28: London Eventim Apollo, UK
Mar 29: Manchester O2 Apollo, UK

Scott Munro
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Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers and magazines as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. After initially joining our news desk in the summer of 2014, he moved to the e-commerce team full-time in 2020. He maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott grew up listening to rock and prog, cutting his teeth on bands such as Marillion and Magnum before his focus shifted to alternative and post-punk in the late 80s. His favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Drab Majesty, but he also still has a deep love of Rush.