Scottish rock trio Biffy Clyro have been forced to postpone their eagerly anticipated US tour after a catastrophic error was discovered in their work visa applications, leaving frontman Simon Neil feeling 'incredibly embarrassed'.
The Visa Blunder That Grounded a Tour
The band was just days away from launching a series of intimate American shows, scheduled to begin on December 2, in support of their acclaimed tenth studio album, 'Futique'. However, their plans came to a screeching halt when the visas finally arrived. In a frustrated video posted on Instagram, Neil explained the shocking mistake: 'Some genius put the wrong start date into our work visa, so when we received our visas in the last couple of days, we realised it doesn't begin until after our tour is meant to finish.'
The singer, visibly angry and using strong language, detailed the band's desperate attempts to rectify the situation. 'We are so angry about this,' he said. 'We've been in touch with four or five immigration lawyers, we've been in touch with Congress.' Despite these high-level appeals, the band was told there was nothing anyone could do to fast-track a correction, leaving the tour dead in the water.
An Apology to Fans and Future Plans
Addressing the band's loyal followers directly, Neil expressed his profound regret. 'I'm incredibly embarrassed and truly, truly, sorry to postpone these shows,' he stated. He fully acknowledged the significant inconvenience caused to fans who may have already booked non-refundable flights and accommodation, saying he understood if they had 'lost faith in us' and sought refunds.
There is a silver lining, however. The band is already working to reschedule the entire run of dates for early next year, with April or May 2026 being targeted as potential windows. The band has confirmed that all existing tickets will be honoured for the new shows once they are announced.
A 'Cursed' American History
This is not the first time the group's plans for US performances have fallen through. Neil shared that the last time they were scheduled to play in Los Angeles, he contracted Covid-19, forcing another cancellation. He wryly joked that the Scottish rockers feel 'slightly cursed' when it comes to performing in America, but affirmed their determination to 'keep the faith' and return.
Signing off with a final apology, Neil showed deep empathy for his audience's disappointment: 'I get it and I'd be raging at us too. You can't be any madder at us than I am... Thanks for your time and sorry for wasting it.'
This setback comes during a resurgent period for the band, who have been a staple of the British rock scene since the 2000s with hits like 'Many of Horror' and 'Bubbles'. They recently announced their biggest ever headlining show at London's Finsbury Park, set for July 2026, following a successful performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2025.
