Simon Neil On Grassroots Venues: "If The Government Doesn’t Get It Right, We’re Losing One Of The UK’s Most Valuable Assets"
Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil stresses the importance of the grassroots scene: “If venues disappear, we’re losing a generation, if not more, of talent.”
Not for the first time this year, Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil has spoken out against the UK government for their handling of various issues amid the coronavirus pandemic. Back in May, the frontman criticised Prime Minister Boris Johnson for neglecting the NHS, and now he has stressed that not enough is being done to protect grassroots venues as the live music scene struggles to keep afloat in this time.
Speaking to Music Week about the band's incredible journey through these smaller, independent rooms and onto the world's biggest stages, Simon laments that, “If venues disappear, we’re losing a generation, if not more, of talent.”
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He continues: “Be it a hip-hop star or a rock band or an electronic act, that’s how the next generation blossom. If the government doesn’t get it right, we’re losing one of the UK’s most valuable assets. The music that comes from this small island is, across the board, astounding. There’s generations of kids that are going to lose opportunities from study to job opportunities, we cannot fucking rip the culture away from them as well. All they have is this expression. Yes, airlines are important, but should they get bailed out before the fucking culture of the country? No, I don’t think so.”
Simon ponders that those in charge clearly have never been to see “Eyehategod at the Limelight in Belfast” – but, crucially, they need to experience gigs like that in order to understand how the live music scene thrives.
“That’s the fucking problem,” he says. “The government are saying, ‘We can have the crowd six metres away’ and, ‘Band members three metres away’ – are you fucking joking? Have you ever been in a venue? If everyone’s playing an arena, maybe!”
Next month, Biffy are set to perform at “an iconic Glasgow venue” for a livestream celebrating the release of their new album, A Celebration Of Endings.
“We are really excited to launch A Celebration Of Endings with such a unique and ambitious live performance from one of our favourite venues,” says Simon.
“We would love to be playing live shows to our fans across the world, but as this is not possible we are going to bring the biggest Biffy album launch imaginable direct to your living room.”
Tickets go on sale from July 24 at this link, with the gig airing globally via YouTube at the following:
Livestream #1
UK & Ireland 8pm BST / IST – Saturday 15 August
Livestream #2
Europe: 9pm CEST / 8pm BST – Saturday 15 August
Livestream #3
North America & Central/South America: 6pm PDT / 9pm EDT – Saturday 15 August
Livestream #4
Australia, New Zealand and Asia: 8pm AEST / 10pm NZST / 7pm JST and KST – Sunday 16 August
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