Monday, January 15: Tig’s Rock Birthdays

Happy Birthday today (Jan. 15) to singer Biff Byford of Saxon. He's 67. Also celebrating is guitarist Adam Jones of Tool (53).

Saxon formed in 1977 out of South Yorkshire, England and were one of the leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal. The band had success in the U.K. and the U.S. in the 1980's and influenced bands like Metallica, Motley Crue, and Pantera. The band is probably best known for their 1981 song "Denim and Leather". Cheers to one of my favorite names in heavy metal, Biff Byford! I'm hoping to see Saxon live for the first time in March as they'll be opening for Judas Priest on their Firepower U.S. Tour. Check here for dates.

Adam Jones is a three-time Grammy Award winning guitarist for Tool who ranked 75th on Rolling Stone magazine's Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. Tool formed out of Los Angeles in 1990. The band’s lineup features Maynard James Keenan on lead vocals, guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bassist Justin Chancellor. Chancellor joined the band in 1995 replacing Paul D’Amour. The band came onto the heavy metal scene with the 1993 album Undertow and would later be a big part of the alternative metal movement.