Biff Byford does not think that Saxon ever reaped the financial rewards of their successes

Biff Byford does not think that Saxon ever reaped the financial rewards of their successes

Saxon frontman Biff Byford was recently interviewed by Rob Cavuoto for Metal-Rules. Byford was promoting Saxon‘s upcoming studio album Carpe Diem, which will be available via Silver Lining Music on February 4, 2022.

In terms of when Saxon started reaping the financial rewards of their success, Byford indicated (with slight edits): “I don’t think we ever did. I don’t think I can ever remember cashing a big fat check. [Laughing] You have to remember in 1983 around Power & the Glory is when we started to break in America. I think something happened with the record company at that point. We were on a pretty big tour with [Iron] Maiden, and about halfway through, we just sort of stopped. I really don’t know what happened, just that we were taken off the bill. Fastway was moved up and someone on before that as well. Perhaps there was some talking going on behind the band; who knows. There were people who said that we got kicked off because Bruce Dickinson didn’t like us [laughing]. He may not have liked the way we were going down; I’m not sure if that is true or not.

At that point, we could have broken America quite big and should have. We should have broken America for Wheels of Steel [1980], but the record company was French and didn’t know what the fuck they were doing. Crusader [1984] was the first headline tour we did in America with Accept. It was very successful. I just think Wheels of Steel didn’t have enough momentum in America as Maidens albums did. I think it comes down to management and the record company. I think Denim and Leather [1981] and Strong Arm of the Law [1980] are just as good as [The] Number of the Beast [1982].”

You can read the rest of the interview with Biff Byford at Metal-Rules‘ website.