ANYONE who has ever seen Biffy Clyro perform live will be aware that Simon Neil is fond of the odd tattoo.

The singer’s body art is on display again on the front of new album, Ellipsis, which shows all three of the band sans clothes.

And the frontman isn’t planning on stopping any time soon.

“I must have 50 or something,” he says, with a laugh.

“There’s an artist from California called Sean from Texas, who does these horribly nihilistic tattoos and his ones are as dark as you like. I almost got one of his when we were out recording in California, so I’ll be trying to see him again at some point.

“It’s so addictive it’s awful. I’ve promised my missus and my dad that I’ll never get my face or my neck tattooed, but I love it so much, and it’s an art form that’s really evolving.

“Once you pop you can’t stop I guess – I’m running out of space. I now don’t have room for full pieces, so it’s about trying to get some from different artists now.”

Should the singer ever get carried away, then another apology song to his wife Francesca might be in order.

The track Re-Arrange already serves as a way of him saying sorry on this record.

“She has to put up with a lot,” he admits.

“When I’m writing for an album music is all I live and breathe, and that song is saying I know we can get in certain situations where I get really unhappy, and I would happily unwrite everything I’ve ever done if I could make things smooth and happy.

“So it’s an apology song to my wife, saying I’d never ever mean to hurt you, but this is what you’re stuck with, romantic as that sounds!”