Metal Anarchy

Saxon’s Biff Byford has revealed that he recently had “a small tumor” removed from his prostate gland. The surgery was a success, but the frontman will now have to undergo a “short period of chemotherapy.”

Saxon commented:

“Following SAXON’s June announcement with regards to Biff’s emergency procedure we would like to share with you a special message from Biff for fans as to his ongoing recovery from cancer and all he has been going through since his recent diagnosis following the band’s Japanese tour in late April.

Biff also discusses the postponement of SAXON’s imminent French and Spanish shows until April and May of next year while he undergoes a short period of chemotherapy but has been told by doctors that his prognosis going forward is positive. All tickets will remain valid for the new rescheduled dates which will be announced on SAXON’s socials imminently.

Sadly, Biff’s treatment also impacts on the band’s forthcoming festival performances at both Trutnoff Open Air, with the band’s appearance later this month having to be cancelled, and Neuborn Open Air, also later this month, now postponed until the festival’s 2026 edition.

Biff would like to reassure fans that both the band’s special Hell, Fire and Steel UK & Ireland Tour this November will be going ahead as planned along with SAXON’s headline performance at Metal Hammer Paradise in Lübeck, Germany. The band’s Hell Fire and Steel UK Tour is currently close to being SOLD OUT, so fans are advised to grab the last few tickets quickly to avoid disappointment, as this will be the last opportunity to see SAXON this year in UK and Ireland and to hear the band’s classic Wheels of Steel album played in full for the last time from start to finish.

For more information and tickets go to saxon747.com“

Byford added:

“Hi, it’s Biff here from SAXON. I wanna keep you up to date on what’s happening with my health and why we’ve had to cancel some shows.

So, yeah, I got sick and, obviously, as you know, I had a heart problem. So this time it wasn’t my heart. I went for an MRI scan on my prostate gland before I went to America a few months ago, which was okay, but they found a shadow, a tumor, a small tumor, which they didn’t know was there. So, that’s why I had to have an operation done really quickly on the 8th of July.

We never like canceling shows or postponing shows — it’s absolutely rubbish — so I’m over the operation now,” he continued. “It’s been five weeks since I had the operation. It was a small tumor. Unfortunately, I have to have a short period of chemotherapy, what they call a mop-up, just in case there was something there that they didn’t miss. The operation was successful, they got all the cancer out, but they just need to make sure there’s none floating around in my bloodstream.

So we’re gonna have to cancel the show on the 22nd of August and the 29th and also we’re gonna postpone the Spanish shows and the French shows. They’re gonna go into May and April of next year. The shows in November in the U.K. and Ireland are gonna be going ahead. That’s gonna be great. I should be over it by then. So everything will be going well for then.

So, yeah, sorry, because we hate canceling shows, but I wanna let you know what’s happening, ’cause a lot of people speculated it was my heart and things,” Biff added. “So they just found this small tumor and they took it out straight away. So, yeah, the prognosis — I think that’s the right word — is good. My cure is progressing. I’m feeling okay at the moment.

So, yeah, I’m writing the [next SAXON] album, finishing the album, arranging, writing lyrics and doing melodies. That’s the upside of having some free time. Obviously I’ve lost quite a bit of weight, which is also a plus.

So we’re gonna see you all in November. And keep the faith. Have a fantastic summer, and I’ll keep you in the loop on what’s happening. Okay? So, yeah, come on. Peace and quiet.”

[via Blabbermouth]