Biography
Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro and J.P. Reid of Sucioperro make up the Ayrshire duo Marmaduke Duke, whose surreal sonic universe recalls the flamboyant progressive rock era of the early 1970s. They launched the side project in 2003 under the aliases “the Atmosphere” and “the Dragon” to score a trilogy of unpublished manuscripts centered on a 16th Century Duke, penned by a mutual Portuguese acquaintance. Following a deal with 14th Floor Records, the pair issued their lo-fi hardcore rock debut, the three-disc Magnificent Duke, in 2005, where it attracted scant notice. As their primary bands rose in prominence, the 2009 sequel Duke Pandemonium drew far wider interest. Rich Costey produced the album, which contained the singles “Kid Gloves,” “Rubber Lover,” and “Silhouettes,” each supported by animated videos from James Price, and it reached number 12 on the U.K. chart. Biffy Clyro’s Ben Johnston and James Johnston join the lineup for live shows; although Marmaduke Duke undertook only two small-venue tours, the group did headline the Festival Republic Stage at Reading/Leeds and the Radio 1/NME stage at T in the Park. The trilogy’s final installment, Death of the Duke, comprises a single 40-minute guitar piece scheduled for release in 2011.
Singles
