Biffy Clyro’s James Johnston has announced he’s quitting their UK and European tour but despite the news, the bass player said he did feel there was “light at the end of the tunnel”
Biffy Clyro bass player James Johnston has pulled out of their UK and European tour citing “mental health and addiction issues”.
The 45-year-old posted a statement on the band’s instagram page and other social media platforms explaining his decision. The Scottish band are due to start their tour on 9 January in Belfast and will continue to perform over the summer with dates in Australia and New Zealand.
James wrote: “I am heartbroken to let you know that I will not be joining the band on the upcoming tours. For some time, I have been living with mental health problems which have led to addiction issues that I have kept concealed for a long time.
“This has caused significant problems for myself and everyone around me – the time has come to properly address my illnesses and deal with them.”
He went on to apologise to frontman Simon Neil and his twin brother Ben – the band’s drummer – and thanked them “for their continued love, patience, support and understanding throughout this time”.
He added: “I have recently started to receive the professional help I need and would like to reassure you all that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
James went on to say their “dear friend” Naomi MacLeod, a session bassist, will step in for the band for the new tour. In response to the Instagram post, there was an outpouring of support from fans.
Biffy Clyro are due to play the biggest show of their career next year which will see them headlining London’s Finsbury Park in July. They are a Scottish rock band that formed in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire in 1995. They made a chart breakthrough with their fourth album Puzzle, released in 2007. Puzzle became not only the band’s first Top 40 album, but it also powered all the way to Number 2.
According to the official charts Biffy scored their first UK Number 1 album with 2013’s Opposites and further Number 1s followed with 2016’s Ellipsis and A Celebration Of Endings in August 2020.
Their international breakthrough came with 2009’s Only Revolutions – which went platinum in the UK and received a Mercury Prize nomination. Their latest album Futique was released in September and is the band’s first LP in four years.
If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk
Source: Mirror
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