James Johnston (Scottish musician)

James Johnston
Johnston with Biffy Clyro at Southside Festival 2025
Background information
Born	James Robert Johnston (1980-04-25) 25 April 1980 (age 45) Carmunnock, Glasgow, Scotland
Origin	Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland
Genres	Rock, alternative rock, progressive rock, nu prog, art rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, bass guitar, synth
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Beggars Banquet, 14th Floor
Member of	Biffy Clyro

James Robert Johnston (born 25 April 1980) is a Scottish bassist, vocalist, and songwriter for Scottish group Biffy Clyro.

Early life

Johnston was born and raised in Carmunnock, Glasgow before the family moved to Kilmarnock, with his twin brother Ben (who became the drummer for Biffy Clyro), and his younger brother, Adam Johnston (who was Biffy Clyro's drum tech ^[1] ).

Career

Biffy Clyro

Main article: Biffy Clyro

Johnston with Biffy Clyro at the Eurockéennes 2008

Having previously played bass with schoolfriend Simon Neil and brother Ben Johnston in a band called Skrewfish in 1995, ^[2] the trio moved to Glasgow, and were discovered by manager Dee Bahl, and then signed to Beggars Banquet, in 2001.

Marmaduke Duke

Main article: Marmaduke Duke

Johnston plays bass guitar when the conceptual rock duo Marmaduke Duke plays live.

Personal life

Johnston is fond of cycling, and cycles around the hills of Ayrshire. ^[3]

On 15 December 2025, Johnston announced that he would be absent from Biffy Clyro's upcoming tours to seek treatment for addiction issues caused by mental health problems. ^[4]

Musical equipment used

The following is a list of musical equipment used by James Johnston.

Bass guitars

Johnston's basses are usually tuned to Biffy Clyro's preferred tuning of (DADG), but sometimes (BADG) for "Pause it and Turn It Up" and (CGCF) for "Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies", as well as "That Golden Rule", "The Captain" and "Got Wrong".

• Ashdown Engineering ^[5] - Ashdown The Saint - Seen in his playthrough of "End Of" on YouTube
• Fender Jazz Bass ^[6] – Lake Placid Blue USA model with upgraded pickups.
• Fender Jazz Bass ^[6] – White USA model with tortoise shell plate.
• Fender Precision Bass ^[7]
• Fender Jazz Bass - American Standard - Black and Sunburst
• Fender Precision Bass - American Standard - Olympic White
• Fender Jazz Bass - American Deluxe - Natural
• Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingray ^[6]
• Rickenbacker 4003 - Mountains music video
• Squier Jazz Bass - Squier James Johnston Signature Jazz Bass - Lake Placid Blue
• Nik Huber Rietbergen Bass - Nik Huber Rietbergen Bass - Red
• Gibson Grabber - Black, used in some acoustic sessions
• Fender Jazz Bass - American Standard - Frost Metallic (Q-Awards Acoustic Set - Camden Jazz Cafe, London 2013)

Effects pedals

• Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI Preamp ^[6]
• BOSS LS-2 Line Selector ^[6]
• BOSS ODB-3 Overdrive ^[6]
• BOSS TU-2 Chromatic Tuner ^[6]

Amplifiers

• Ashdown CTM-300 Head ^[6]
• Ashdown ABM 900 Head ^[6]
• Ashdown Classic Cabinets ^[6]
• Eden World Tour WT550 Amplifier Head ^[6]
• Eden WTDI Preamp Di box ^[6]

Other

• 1.0mm bass pick

His tech is Dave White

Notes

1. Puzzle Album Booklet, p. 2
2. Beggars Banquet USA – Biffy Clyro Biography Archived 19 September 2002 at the Wayback Machine
3. Kerrang! #1159, p. 21
4. Dunworth, Liberty (15 December 2025). "Biffy Clyro's James Johnston will sit out 2026 tour: "The time has come to properly address my illnesses and deal with them"". NME. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
5. "Biffy Clyro - End of (Bass part by James)". YouTube. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
6. BiffyTabs Equipment – James Archived 22 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
7. Fender Interview with Biffy Clyro Archived 22 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine