Biff Byford is best known as the lead vocalist of British heavy metal outfit Saxon, but his career has intertwined itself into the metal scene via collaborations, guest spots, and his own 2020 debut solo album, School of Hard Knocks. Born and raised in Yorkshire, England, Byford grew up in the industrial and mining heartland of Britain, finding himself working in one of the many mining pits across Yorkshire. Alongside his work, Byford was taught guitar by a friend, and then he took up bass and played in numerous local bands. In 1973, Byford formed his first group, the power trio Coast, with drummer Al Dodd and guitarist Paul Quinn (who would later go on to be a member of Saxon). Lasting for just a few years, the band eventually split before Byford was joined by Quinn, Graham Oliver, and Pete Gill as the first incarnation of Saxon. The group delivered their eponymous debut album in 1979 and became a firm fixture of the burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal, along with Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Diamond Head. With Byford as the driving force behind Saxon, the band continued to fly the metal flag throughout the '80s and '90s, earning eight consecutive U.K. Top 40 album places with releases such as Wheels of Steel, Denim and Leather, and Crusader. However, the group split in two in the early 2000s -- with Oliver and former bassist Steve Dawson creating their own version of the band. Byford continued to lead the original Saxon into the 2010s, and the group gained a new audience. Over the intervening years, Byford had also guested on numerous records by other metal acts, including Helloween, Doro, and Avantasia, but in 2019 he branched out on his own and recorded his debut solo album. Featuring a roster of guests, including Phil Campbell, Cradle of Filth's Nicholas Barker, and Saxon member Nibbs Carter, the resulting record, School of Hard Knocks, appeared at the beginning of 2020. ~ Rich Wilson