Simon Neil

Latest about Simon Neil

Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro wears a custard-colored jacket and green T-shirt and poses with a sunburst Fender Stratocaster
Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil on why he fell in love with Kirk Hammett’s Greeny – even if he’s still Team Strat

By Amit Sharma Published

With their 10th album, Futique, Biffy Clyro remind us exactly why they are one of the most important rock bands of the modern age

Guitarists
Simon Neil
One of the main guitars on Biffy Clyro’s new album was a tiny Fender with a built-in speaker – which is also beloved by Tom Bukovac

By Phil Weller Published

The forgotten ’90s oddball was employed for some “cheap-sounding warmth” and sludgy goodness

Guitarists
Collage of Simon Neil (left) and Kirk Hammett (right) playing guitar
Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil is a Strat player through and through – but here's why he couldn't say no to Gibson's ‘Greeny’ reissue

By Phil Weller Published

Buying such a pricey guitar wasn’t an easy decision, but he’s been making the most of his purchase

Guitarists
Empire State Bastard's Mike Vennart and Simon Neil
“So much metal is gridded and sterile. We call it ‘CGI metal’. It isn’t real, and it just doesn’t sound heavy”: Simon Neil and Mike Vennart are making metal heavy again with Empire State Bastard

By Jenna Scaramanga Published

The Biffy Clyro bandmates take us inside the uncompromising sound of metal’s hottest supergroup, revealing how they got Slayer legend Dave Lombardo to play drums, and the gear they used to “f**k up songs that were already completely f**ked up”

Artists
Simon Neil
Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil: “I swear to God I cannot get rid of the Boss Metal Zone. It’s the one thing that brings the Stratocaster into that real heavy world”

By Jonny Scaramanga Published

The Biffy frontman shares his fat Strat strategies, demystifies weird time signatures and tells us why the Scottish rockers’ latest album is all joy and togetherness

Guitarists
Gone Fishing Effects Booooom/Blast Simon Neil signature pedal
Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil and Gone Fishing Effects announce the Booooom/Blast 2.0

By Sam Roche Published

Boasting the same specs as last year's original, the new distortion/fuzz box is again limited to only 200 units worldwide

Effects & Pedals
Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro unveil signature Booooom/Blast distortion pedal

By Sam Roche Published

Each model is hand-built by Gone Fishing Effects, and painted and signed by frontman Simon Neil

Effects & Pedals
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Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil: ”I like my Strat to sound like someone losing their mind and clawing at the door”

By Amit Sharma Published

The guitar-toting frontman talks new gear discoveries, why the Boss Metal Zone continues to thrill, and the enduring influence of Soundgarden and Rush

Artists