Biffy Clyro bassist quits over addiction and mental health issues as he seeks professional help

by

James Johnston, the bassist for Biffy Clyro, is leaving the band to focus on getting help for addiction and mental health challenges.

The band announced on Monday that he will no longer be part of their tour.

The band features Simon Neil, James, and his twin brother Ben, and they’re often joined by additional musicians when they perform live.

James shared on Instagram that he’s deeply saddened to announce he won’t be able to join the band for their upcoming tours.

I’ve been struggling with my mental health for a while, and it’s led to some hidden addiction problems.

Honestly, things have been really tough for me and those I care about lately. I’ve realized it’s time to finally get serious about my health and start tackling these issues head-on. It’s something I’ve put off for too long, and I’m ready to make a change.

He added that he was deeply sorry to Ben and Simon, and grateful for their ongoing love, patience, support, and understanding during this difficult time.

I’ve recently begun getting the professional support I need, and I want you to know things are starting to look brighter.

To all of our fans, thank you so much for your incredible support. Our friend Naomi McCleod will be stepping in to play bass, and I know she’ll do a fantastic job. Sending you all my love, James.

The band’s next tour begins in January, with the first show in Belfast before continuing across Europe.

After that, the band will tour Australia and New Zealand before returning to the UK to play at several major festivals, including Leeds & Reading, Download, Isle of Wight, and TRNSMT.

The band’s tenth album, Futique, came out in September, and lead singer Simon has already started writing new songs. He’s been trying out different musical styles, like garage rock and country rock, for their next project.

He explained to NME that the new songs are more open and less structured, which he prefers. He enjoys the raw quality that comes from not overworking them, allowing for greater creative freedom.

Now that the initial hype has died down, we can really be ourselves and focus on what makes our music unique. It’s freeing to know that the people who truly connect with our band will still be listening. This feels like the final piece of the puzzle, completing our artistic vision.

Simon mentioned the collection includes some garage rock tracks, and he believes it features one of his best country rock songs ever.

Fans will have to wait and see if the new tracks make it onto their next album.

The incredibly productive songwriter says Biffy Clyro intends to continue making music for many years, and working on their latest project confirmed to him that the band is far from finished.

Simon admitted it sounds crazy to say after ten albums, but they’re still evolving and discovering new approaches to their music.

Read More

2025-12-16 13:36