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SAXON’s BIFF BYFORD: ‘We Feel Privileged And Lucky To Still Be Here Writing Music’
SAXON frontman Biff Byford has reflected on nearly 50 years in music, telling Poland's Mystic Festival that the band feels "privileged and lucky" to still be writing new material. He credited the group's longevity to a genuine love of songwriting and staying connected with both longstanding and younger fans, aided in part by social media, and said he sees little real difference between metal audiences today and those from SAXON's early days in 1980.
The interview comes as SAXON prepares to release its new studio album, "Gods Of Thunder", in January 2027, the follow-up to 2024's "Hell, Fire And Damnation". It also follows a difficult period for Byford, who completed chemotherapy last October after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, having earlier undergone surgery and cancelled several 2025 shows; he had also been treated for a heart rhythm condition in 2024 and suffered a heart attack requiring emergency triple bypass surgery in 2019.
In short
- Byford says SAXON still loves writing music after nearly 50 years
- New album "Gods Of Thunder" due January 2027
- Byford finished chemotherapy for bowel cancer last October
Explained simply
SAXON are a British heavy metal band who emerged in the late 1970s, during a wave of groups that helped shape the genre. Biff Byford has been the band’s lead singer for most of its history, and the group has continued to record and perform for audiences across generations.
The story concerns how a long career can be sustained through songwriting and a connection with fans, including younger listeners reached through social media. Byford’s return to music also comes after serious health problems, including bowel cancer treatment and heart surgery, which led to cancelled performances.
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