January 26, 2026 • 9 mins
It's been 8 years since Biffy Clyro last toured NZ and they're back in April 2026 to tour their new album Futique.We caught up with drummer Ben - one third of the band to chat about the tour, getting ripped as a drummer and new spots to check out in NZ
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome So Radio Hodo Keys Off the Record podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
With Big Sandy's.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
So it's been a few years, of course since KIWI
fans have had the chance to see Scottish three piece
Biffy Clyro live, but fresh off the release of their
new album Futique Loyal, KIWI fans are in for a
treat because they're bringing the Air Futique Tour to New
Zealand next April with two shows that were April thirteenth
at the James Hay Theatre in christ Church and April
fifteenth at the Auckland Town Hall. And I'm stoked to
(00:33):
have one third of Biffy Clyro with me right now.
The man with the best seat in the house at
any gig We've got, drummer Ben Johnson cureda welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Hello, are you theing. It's love to you be on
your show. Thanks for having me, Thanks.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
For giving us the time to just sit down and
have a chat now if you teak. It was your
tenth album and it's the first and four years that
you released back in Setimber, I think it was. How
does it feel to finally get back on the road
and bring this music to your fans? Including your loyal
Kigwai ones.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
It's been I mean, christ by the time we get
to New Zealand, that have been eight years I think
since we were last there. So some pesky thing called
COVID gotten the way of all that of us coming back.
So this album here feels incredibly fresh because it's the
first album we've got, first album in three we've recorded
that we get to actually tour properly without the fear
(01:26):
of somebody getting ill or something getting canceled. So it's
the first it feels like our first proper album in
three albums, if that makes sense. And we're stoked with
with how it's turned out, if everyone seems really happy
with it. It's been met with with great reviews and
the fantasym to love it, so we're just happy to
bring it down your way.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yeah, well, you've got quite the pocket of loyal fans
in New Zealand, Like I feel that Kay fans have
been massive supporters of you right from the get gout.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
That's really cute, like that fantastic.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
So what goes into you know, like you when you
put an album together. The white people listen to albums
is a lot different in the days of streaming. So
when you guys cut your first album, you put a
lot of thought into in what order you want people
to listen to music, And now with streaming, it's more
about people just kind of stream on shuffle when you go.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So when you've got to put your album out on tour,
what goes into deciding the order of the set list
and the order of the album.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
They're both quite similar, to be honest. You want an
album to be as much of a journey as you
do the same as with a gig. There used to
be highs and lows, and you know, fast and slows
and a different textures, different different kind of emotions and
you have to spread them throughout the journey of the album,
(02:42):
which I think we did well in this one. Picking
set lists these days is a is a mighty task
because we'll get, as you know, ten album ten studio albums,
plus other kind of soundtrack albums and B size albums
and stuff. So we can't please everyone, which is is
tough unless we want to do a Bruce Spinsteaed and
play for three and a half four rivers. But I
don't let me want to fancy down that quite yet.
(03:03):
But yeah, we're gonna We're gonna come round down and
play about seven or eight news songs I think out
of the eleven ones on the album, which I guess
sounds like a lot, but because album has been so
well received, we feel the space and the set to
do so. But yes, it's getting tougher and tougher every
day to make that, make that journey work.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
And you've got quite a big tour head of you.
It's eight months on the route, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, pretty much. We get to dip home every so often.
But yeah, we start early next year. We I think
our first shows in the tenth so we're going to
be in rehearsals from like the day after Hogmany. I
guess to get get start, get yourself too ready, But
I'm looking forward to it. Like I say, we haven't
had a chance to tour properly since before COVID, and
(03:46):
that just feels like a lifetime and going so much
has changed, so I just hope we're still young enough
to do it.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
I was gonna say, you know, drumming is probably the
most physical sport when you're on stage, So when you
first after, MAT's completely ripped. But how do you prepare
going into it.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Well, this is a really good question because I mean
I'm going to be I'm gonna have some holiday weight
on me from Christmas. So the old classic taps half
you know, Biffy with her shirts off that that may
not happen on this tour. We'll see maybe maybe on
the later tours towards the end of the year. Like
you say, when I'm ripped in your words, but I'll
be a little bit more with ton to think in January.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, so everyone's kind of feeling it after Christmas because
I'll be here at summer. So we've got a we've
got that pressure of like shirts off bikini way the
straight after Christmas dinner which is on.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Summer summer board ready after eating all that cheese.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
It's difficult, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
So you've been to New Zealand a number of times
before any stand up memories from previous times here?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Absolutely, I love New Zealand. It wasn't what I expected
the first time. I thought the weather was going to
be the same as Australia, and they on the map
it's just right beside Australia. See you think it's going
to be the same. It was more like scot You know,
it rained the entire time we were there. The people
were more like Scottish people than the Nausies are sorry
to just talk about it, Stuio, but it's just because
it's close. It's a natural thing can do. But yeah,
(05:12):
great memories. We did the classic tourist stuff, like we
went to Hobbit on it's raining, it's terrible, but one
day with when there was no rain is when we
went to carry Carry Beach, and that memory will stay
with me forever. I've got a picture of that on Instagram.
It's probably my favorite picture I've ever taken with myself
in it. And I'm a huge Charny Touse fans. I've
(05:33):
always wanted to go to carry Carry Beach, so that
memory is just etched in my brain and I can't
I can't wait to go back. Hopefully we can get
a sunny day and I can go and visit again.
The end of the world. It really did it.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Spectacular because you'll be here in outpro so that's pretty
good with it. That's good, Pickens, because you'll be ingcrast
it in Oakland. You got couple of dozed in the twin. Yeah,
hopefully there's some other new spots you'll discover on this next.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
To give me some chips and I'll go visit them
for somewhere killed to look then I'm down.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So have you been to christ Us before.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Donekland before? So looking forward to that new experience.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, christ Urch is cool. It's because Ivon river. You
have to go punting on the ivon if the if
the chance arises. Do you know what that No, it's
like you sit in a bout and a dude has
a long poll and he punts you around the river.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
That sounds great. Yeah, sounds great in.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Venice pretty much pretty much and good old christ It
just a random question here. Being a drummer, of course,
there's probably drummers that you admire. Top three greatest drummers ever.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Ringo Star has to be up there because he was
a master of writing drum parts. The guy gets like
so much flak. A lot of people who especially who
are non drummers, say that he's not a good drummer.
But that's complete bs because he's one of the best.
I'm got got to give Dave Groul a shout because
you know, it was a drummer Nirvana. He was the
guy that made me want to start band. So Dave
(06:59):
Girl has to be up there, and then I'm going
to going to go with the late great Neil Pair
from Rush because he was the best flair drummer of
all time.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
It is.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
It is a hard question to answer because do.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
You know what I did, and I had an interview
I had to pick my ten favorite albums like three
days ago and it was a drumming magazine. So I
was so ready for that question right there. That was perfect.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Synergy, Yeah, I know, I could not have gone better.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
So going back to the tour. In the album are
They you were saying that there's round about seven the
semn songs you'll be playing from the new album. What
are the what are the greatest like the songs that
you've that you know that the Kiwi audiences will really
respond to from previous tours that you might be bringing through,
Like what can Kiwi fans the old album?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
The Kiwi's definitely love bubbles, but we noticed starts from
that from a couple of times we being they loved
that Golden Rule. I get the guest the ones that
are kind of the longer ones that get kind of
heavy towards the end that that seems to be the
recurring theme that you people like, which is great. That's
that's the music we love to make, you know, pop
music that's kind of hidden in obscurity and has a
(08:08):
bit of a journey to it and hopefully gets people
in a bit of a wash pit by the end.
So that's the two usually, but there's some often your
album that they are just going to be great live
hunting season and Two People in Love is going to
be incredible as we all lives. So is just the
first time we're bringing not maybe not the full band.
I guess we won't have strings with us unfortunately, but
(08:28):
we bill have our extra musicians with his lives. It's
going to sound full and fat and demonstrative. Definitely.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
I love that full fat, full fat music for I
love it for an amazing to it. Well, we are
very much looking forward to saying you play live. Yeah,
the fans here have been wedding a long time, so
looking forward to seeing you in April. Thanks so much
for your time today.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Thank you very much for having me that. It's been
a pleasure. By Raches of the Record podcast.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Why not subscribe so they download automatically and don't forget
to rate us five stars.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Thanks mate. Find out more about this
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Podcast and the people who make it at hodache dot
co dot nz.
Welcome So Radio Hodo Keys Off the Record podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
With Big Sandy's.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
So it's been a few years, of course since KIWI
fans have had the chance to see Scottish three piece
Biffy Clyro live, but fresh off the release of their
new album Futique Loyal, KIWI fans are in for a
treat because they're bringing the Air Futique Tour to New
Zealand next April with two shows that were April thirteenth
at the James Hay Theatre in christ Church and April
fifteenth at the Auckland Town Hall. And I'm stoked to
(00:33):
have one third of Biffy Clyro with me right now.
The man with the best seat in the house at
any gig We've got, drummer Ben Johnson cureda welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Hello, are you theing. It's love to you be on
your show. Thanks for having me, Thanks.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
For giving us the time to just sit down and
have a chat now if you teak. It was your
tenth album and it's the first and four years that
you released back in Setimber, I think it was. How
does it feel to finally get back on the road
and bring this music to your fans? Including your loyal
Kigwai ones.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
It's been I mean, christ by the time we get
to New Zealand, that have been eight years I think
since we were last there. So some pesky thing called
COVID gotten the way of all that of us coming back.
So this album here feels incredibly fresh because it's the
first album we've got, first album in three we've recorded
that we get to actually tour properly without the fear
(01:26):
of somebody getting ill or something getting canceled. So it's
the first it feels like our first proper album in
three albums, if that makes sense. And we're stoked with
with how it's turned out, if everyone seems really happy
with it. It's been met with with great reviews and
the fantasym to love it, so we're just happy to
bring it down your way.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yeah, well, you've got quite the pocket of loyal fans
in New Zealand, Like I feel that Kay fans have
been massive supporters of you right from the get gout.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
That's really cute, like that fantastic.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
So what goes into you know, like you when you
put an album together. The white people listen to albums
is a lot different in the days of streaming. So
when you guys cut your first album, you put a
lot of thought into in what order you want people
to listen to music, And now with streaming, it's more
about people just kind of stream on shuffle when you go.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So when you've got to put your album out on tour,
what goes into deciding the order of the set list
and the order of the album.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
They're both quite similar, to be honest. You want an
album to be as much of a journey as you
do the same as with a gig. There used to
be highs and lows, and you know, fast and slows
and a different textures, different different kind of emotions and
you have to spread them throughout the journey of the album,
(02:42):
which I think we did well in this one. Picking
set lists these days is a is a mighty task
because we'll get, as you know, ten album ten studio albums,
plus other kind of soundtrack albums and B size albums
and stuff. So we can't please everyone, which is is
tough unless we want to do a Bruce Spinsteaed and
play for three and a half four rivers. But I
don't let me want to fancy down that quite yet.
(03:03):
But yeah, we're gonna We're gonna come round down and
play about seven or eight news songs I think out
of the eleven ones on the album, which I guess
sounds like a lot, but because album has been so
well received, we feel the space and the set to
do so. But yes, it's getting tougher and tougher every
day to make that, make that journey work.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
And you've got quite a big tour head of you.
It's eight months on the route, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, pretty much. We get to dip home every so often.
But yeah, we start early next year. We I think
our first shows in the tenth so we're going to
be in rehearsals from like the day after Hogmany. I
guess to get get start, get yourself too ready, But
I'm looking forward to it. Like I say, we haven't
had a chance to tour properly since before COVID, and
(03:46):
that just feels like a lifetime and going so much
has changed, so I just hope we're still young enough
to do it.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
I was gonna say, you know, drumming is probably the
most physical sport when you're on stage, So when you
first after, MAT's completely ripped. But how do you prepare
going into it.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Well, this is a really good question because I mean
I'm going to be I'm gonna have some holiday weight
on me from Christmas. So the old classic taps half
you know, Biffy with her shirts off that that may
not happen on this tour. We'll see maybe maybe on
the later tours towards the end of the year. Like
you say, when I'm ripped in your words, but I'll
be a little bit more with ton to think in January.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, so everyone's kind of feeling it after Christmas because
I'll be here at summer. So we've got a we've
got that pressure of like shirts off bikini way the
straight after Christmas dinner which is on.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Summer summer board ready after eating all that cheese.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
It's difficult, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
So you've been to New Zealand a number of times
before any stand up memories from previous times here?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Absolutely, I love New Zealand. It wasn't what I expected
the first time. I thought the weather was going to
be the same as Australia, and they on the map
it's just right beside Australia. See you think it's going
to be the same. It was more like scot You know,
it rained the entire time we were there. The people
were more like Scottish people than the Nausies are sorry
to just talk about it, Stuio, but it's just because
it's close. It's a natural thing can do. But yeah,
(05:12):
great memories. We did the classic tourist stuff, like we
went to Hobbit on it's raining, it's terrible, but one
day with when there was no rain is when we
went to carry Carry Beach, and that memory will stay
with me forever. I've got a picture of that on Instagram.
It's probably my favorite picture I've ever taken with myself
in it. And I'm a huge Charny Touse fans. I've
(05:33):
always wanted to go to carry Carry Beach, so that
memory is just etched in my brain and I can't
I can't wait to go back. Hopefully we can get
a sunny day and I can go and visit again.
The end of the world. It really did it.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Spectacular because you'll be here in outpro so that's pretty
good with it. That's good, Pickens, because you'll be ingcrast
it in Oakland. You got couple of dozed in the twin. Yeah,
hopefully there's some other new spots you'll discover on this next.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
To give me some chips and I'll go visit them
for somewhere killed to look then I'm down.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So have you been to christ Us before.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Donekland before? So looking forward to that new experience.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, christ Urch is cool. It's because Ivon river. You
have to go punting on the ivon if the if
the chance arises. Do you know what that No, it's
like you sit in a bout and a dude has
a long poll and he punts you around the river.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
That sounds great. Yeah, sounds great in.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Venice pretty much pretty much and good old christ It
just a random question here. Being a drummer, of course,
there's probably drummers that you admire. Top three greatest drummers ever.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Ringo Star has to be up there because he was
a master of writing drum parts. The guy gets like
so much flak. A lot of people who especially who
are non drummers, say that he's not a good drummer.
But that's complete bs because he's one of the best.
I'm got got to give Dave Groul a shout because
you know, it was a drummer Nirvana. He was the
guy that made me want to start band. So Dave
(06:59):
Girl has to be up there, and then I'm going
to going to go with the late great Neil Pair
from Rush because he was the best flair drummer of
all time.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
It is.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
It is a hard question to answer because do.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
You know what I did, and I had an interview
I had to pick my ten favorite albums like three
days ago and it was a drumming magazine. So I
was so ready for that question right there. That was perfect.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Synergy, Yeah, I know, I could not have gone better.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
So going back to the tour. In the album are
They you were saying that there's round about seven the
semn songs you'll be playing from the new album. What
are the what are the greatest like the songs that
you've that you know that the Kiwi audiences will really
respond to from previous tours that you might be bringing through,
Like what can Kiwi fans the old album?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
The Kiwi's definitely love bubbles, but we noticed starts from
that from a couple of times we being they loved
that Golden Rule. I get the guest the ones that
are kind of the longer ones that get kind of
heavy towards the end that that seems to be the
recurring theme that you people like, which is great. That's
that's the music we love to make, you know, pop
music that's kind of hidden in obscurity and has a
(08:08):
bit of a journey to it and hopefully gets people
in a bit of a wash pit by the end.
So that's the two usually, but there's some often your
album that they are just going to be great live
hunting season and Two People in Love is going to
be incredible as we all lives. So is just the
first time we're bringing not maybe not the full band.
I guess we won't have strings with us unfortunately, but
(08:28):
we bill have our extra musicians with his lives. It's
going to sound full and fat and demonstrative. Definitely.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
I love that full fat, full fat music for I
love it for an amazing to it. Well, we are
very much looking forward to saying you play live. Yeah,
the fans here have been wedding a long time, so
looking forward to seeing you in April. Thanks so much
for your time today.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Thank you very much for having me that. It's been
a pleasure. By Raches of the Record podcast.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Why not subscribe so they download automatically and don't forget
to rate us five stars.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Thanks mate. Find out more about this
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Podcast and the people who make it at hodache dot
co dot nz.
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