Biffy Clyro have shared a message from bassist James Johnston, who has revealed that he won’t be joining the band on their upcoming tour dates, which include Australia in April.

In a statement, Johnston revealed that he’s “heartbroken” that he won’t be joining the band on their upcoming tours, citing “mental health problems which have led to addiction issues” which he’s kept “concealed for a long time.”

Adding that said issues have caused “significant problems” for himself and those around him, Johnston admitted that it’s now time to “properly address” his illnesses and deal with them.

Johnston also apologised to his bandmates, who include singer and guitarist Simon Neil and his twin brother, drummer Ben Johnston. He thanked them for their “continued love, patience, support and understanding throughout this time.”

He continued, “I have recently started to receive the professional help I need and would like to reassure you all that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

He closed the statement by sharing that the band’s close friend, Naomi Macleod, who has played with Empire State Bastard, Simon Neil's other band with longtime Biffy Clyro touring guitarist Mike Vennart, will fill in for him at the upcoming shows. “I cannot think of a better person for the job,” Johnston concluded.

You can read his statement in its entirety below.

In November, Biffy Clyro announced their long-awaited return to Australia, which marks their first tour dates Down Under in eight years.

They’ll play shows along the East Coast, locking in gigs at Melbourne’s Forum on Tuesday, 7 April. The gigs continue at Sydney’s Roundhouse on Wednesday, 8 April, and at Brisbane’s The Tivoli on Thursday, 9 April. You can find tickets here.

Touring in support of their tenth album, Futique, which was released in September, the record marked Biffy Clyro’s first album in four years, following 2021’s The Myth of the Happily Ever After. The album debuted at #1 on the UK and Scottish album charts.

Reviewing their show at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre in 2018, The Music’s Lewis Isaacs wrote: “Biffy Clyro are the archetypal band that captures musical technicality, and the rawest elements of turning everything up to 11 and making a racket.”

In Melbourne, The Music’s Bryget Chrisfield declared, “It’s all so effortless, and this Scottish clan of musical thoroughbreds are just about as versatile as they come.”

View this post on Instagram