Mike Miller
Guitarist
Washington County, MD
Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, MAJOR health issue has me sidelined again, possibly permanently! In the mean time feel free to look around my site.
Welcome to my website
Brief Bio
I have been playing guitar for about 53 years, and I have played in several bands local to Washington DC and its suburbs, as far north as Hagerstown, MD, and south to Waldorf, MD. Most recently I played with the Frederick, MD classic rock acts, Steel Rose, from January through September of 2013; and Burn the House, which I formed in the Summer of 2010 and left in July of 2012.
For the past 42 years I also nurtured a successful career in software engineering, most notably & recently with Lockheed Martin Corporation. In fact, I designed, developed, and maintain this and many other websites–just look for the "© Schloss Merle Productions" bug at the bottom of the page and you'll know it's one of mine!
I started playing during high school, and had the distinct honor of collaborating in "garage bands" with some future DC-Baltimore-area notables. In fact, I have a very minor mention in Mark Opsasnick's book about the history of the DC-area music scene, "Capitol Rock."
After high school and during the 70's, I played with the DC-based "Top 40" band, Aspex. Starting out in 1976, Aspex played a mix of rock, disco and R&B, and toured the East Coast, from Florida to Pennsylvania. The repertoire eventually evolved into all rock before we disbanded in late 1979.
In 1980 I became a founding member and songwriter in the all-original progressive rock act, Julian Daze. While this band started out as a progressive rock cover band, covering well-known bands like Yes, Kansas, Genesis, and Rush, we eventually limited the repertoire to only the material written by the band's members. Julian Daze was a short-lived project, with live performances confined most notably to The Stardust Inn in Waldorf, MD, the Wild West Theater in Springfield, VA, and The Coast to Coast Club in Baltimore, MD, before disbanding in 1982.
During the rest of the 80's, the 90's & the early 2000's I concentrated on furthering my software engineering career, occasionally attending an open mic jam or reuniting with my Aspex and Julian Daze band mates for private jam sessions & reunion parties.
Audio Tracks
Here are some recordings on which I have performed over the years. I have been truly blessed to play with some of the musicians you'll hear.
After Midnight
Eric Clapton (JJ Cale)
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) & lead vocal, Bruce Bloom on drums, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left).
Angel from Montagomery
Bonnie Raitt (John Prine)
BTHv1.0
2008 recording sessions featuring Liz Springer on lead vocal, Vincent Romano, Jr., on slide guitar, Doug Thiel on keyboard, Paul Wecklinsky on bass, Andy Taylor on drums, I played acoustic guitar and sang backup.
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Rolling Stones (Temptations)
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left) and sang backup.
All Right Now
Free
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) and backing vocal, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left) and sang backup.
Badge
Cream
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on lead vocal & guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums, Vincent Romano, Jr. on keyboards, I played bass.
Before You Accuse Me
Eric Clapton (Bo Diddley)
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left).
Born to be Wild
Steppenwolf
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording, I sang lead vocal & played guitar (mix-left), Bruce played drums & sang backup, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), and Steve Chambers on bass.
Boys Are Back in Town
Thin Lizzy
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording, I sang lead vocal & played guitar (mix-left), Bruce played drums & sang backup, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), and Steve Chambers on bass.
Bring it on Home to Me
Sam Cook
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) & lead vocal, Bruce Bloom on drums & backing vocal, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left).
Can't Get Enough
Bad Company
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) and backing vocal, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left) and sang backup.
Can't Get Next to You
Savoy Brown (Al Green)
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on lead & backing vocals & guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums, Vincent Romano, Jr. on rhythm guitar, keyboards & backing vocals, I played bass.
Cosmik Debris
Frank Zappa
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums & kreestal bawl, I sang lead vocal & played bass. A hastily worked-up track, which was apparently oblivious to the proper blues-turn-around ending of the song. Om Shanti Om.
Crosscut Saw
Eric Clapton (Tommy McClennan)
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Vincent Romano, Jr. on lead vocal & guitar, Charley Bass on guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums, I played bass.
Crossroads
Cream (Robert Johnson)
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording, I sang lead vocal & played guitar (mix-left), Bruce played drums & sang backup, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), and Steve Chambers on bass.
Dirty Love
Frank Zappa
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums & introductory comments about confusion & tequila, I sang all vocals & played bass & rhythm guitar.
Down the Road
Kansas
Aspex
Live recording at the University of MD Grand Ballroom in 1978, featuring Ricky Chrismer on lead vocal & keyboards (the latter is woefully under the mix in this recording, but from the stage he was killing it!), Charley Bass on Lead guitar, Ron Chrismer on bass, and Vinny galeano on drums. Charley, Ricky & I were trading solos all over the place, including some some harmony & unison melodies. John Rohland recorded this while mixing sound FOH.
Feelin' Alright
Dave Mason/Joe Cocker
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) & backing vocal, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left) and sang backup.
Forecast Calls for Pain
Robert Cray
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left).
Gimme Some Lovin'
Spencer Davis
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on lead vocal & guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums, Vincent Romano, Jr. on rhythm guitar & backing vocals, I played bass and sang backup.
Gimme Three Steps
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) & backing vocal, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left).
Hard to Handle
Black Crows
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left).
Have You Ever Loved a Woman
Freddie King (Billy Miles)
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on lead vocal & guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums, Vincent Romano, Jr. on keyboards, I played bass.
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Rolling Stones
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left) & sang backup.
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Vincent Romano, Jr. on lead vocal & guitar, Charley Bass on guitar & backing vocals, Vinny Galeano on drums & backing vocals, I played bass and sang backup.
My Own Worst Enemy
Lit
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left) & sang backup.
One
U2
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on lead vocal & guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums, Vincent Romano, Jr. on keyboards, I played bass.
Parting Shot
Mike Miller Original
Mike Miller
A very stupid "message" song, composed in anger and recorded on a the Tascam 238 (8-track cassette) in the late 90's. I sang, played guitar, played bass, programmed a bunch of midi stuff. Stupid song, but better here than on another website… Did I mention, stupid song?
Please Come Home for Christmas
Eagles
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) & backing vocal, Steve Chambers on bass, I sang backup and played "piano" on a Roland GR-1 guitar-synthesizer (mix-left).
Rack 'Em Up
Johnny Lang
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) & lead vocal, Bruce Bloom on drums, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left).
Rocky Mountain Way
Joe Walsh
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording, featuring Bruce Bloom on lead vocal & drums, Kenny Barfield on killer slide guitar (mix-right), Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left).
Seamen
Mike Miller Original
Mike Miller
Recorded on a Tascam 238 (8-track cassette!) some time during the late 90's and inspired by several business trips to South America (with apologies to mi amor). A somewhat Zappa-esque piece that I never finished. I sang, played guitar, played bass, programmed the drums and "horns." Maybe I'll get back to it some day.
She Loves My Automobile
ZZ Top
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) & lead vocal, Bruce Bloom on drums & backing vocal, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left).
She talks to Angels
Black Crows
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on lead vocal & all guitars, Vinny Galeano on drums, Vincent Romano, Jr. on keyboards, I played bass.
Spooky
Atlanta Rhythm Section (Classics IV)
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right), Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left) & sang backup.
Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) & lead vocal, Bruce Bloom on drums & backing vocal, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left) & sang backup.
Technoschmertz
Mike Miller Original(?)
Mike Miller
My first (and likely last) foray into "acid loops." This is an assembly (and NOT a composition) of commercially-available loops and some strategically placed, Internet-pilfered "voice-overs." No known musicians played on this track.
Up on Cripple Creek
Band
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on lead vocal & guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums, Vincent Romano, Jr. on guitar, I played bass and sang backup. Aside note, the final take for this track was recorded at about 3:AM and after way too much Pura Sangre tequila. Backing vocals were recorded later, and probably the last time my falsetto ever worked.
Whiter Shade of Pale
Procol Harum
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on all vocals & guitars, Vinny Galeano on drums, Vincent Romano, Jr. on keyboards, I played bass.
Wind Cries Mary
Jimi Hendrix
Bukkake Boyz
2005/6 recording sessions featuring Charley Bass on lead vocal & guitar, Vinny Galeano on drums, Vincent Romano, Jr. on keyboards, I played bass.
Young Blood
Bad Company (Coasters)
Burn the House
2010 rehearsal recording featuring Bruce Bloom on Lead vocal, Kenny Barfield on guitar (mix-right) & backing vocal, Steve Chambers on bass, I played guitar (mix-left) and sang backup.
Video
Video performances where I play guitar, play bass & sing. Some of it is a little off the beaten track, but then, so am I!
Photos
Following are a few selected photos from my life's musical journies.
Burn the House
In 2010 I fielded the classic rock band, Burn the House, playing guitar and singing until I left in 2012. This photo was taken in my studio and is actually a composite where the original bass-player, Spencer Leckleiter, was Photoshop-replaced by Steve Chambers. L-R, Bruce Bloom, me, Kenny Barfield, Steve Chambers. In the not-too-distant future I hope to put together a website with more photos from this project.
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