Following his health adventure, Saxon frontman Biff Byford announced the release of his first solo album, “School Of Hard Knocks”. It will be released early next year, with the first single expected on October 25th and the second on December 13th. Opeth guitarist Fredrik Åkesson is also involved, who also wrote some songs. Biff himself described his album as “probably a bit more rock and roll, a bit more classic rock” than Saxon’s recent works, talking to Rock Bottom. He also mentioned that the music will be “a bit similar” to Saxon, “but not the same. He also promised a few surprises. Plus, his intention is to include several special guests: “I’m gonna ask various people.” he said. “It’s not easy for guitarists to work with you, because they just smack down their signature solo and off you go. Singers, I might do some duets and things. We’ll see. I wanna get the songs written first, and then see who wants to work on them. I’ll probably have a nucleus of a drummer and a bass player, although I might play bass myself. I’ve still got my Rickenbacker.”
