Deron Miller

Last updated

Deron Miller
DERONMILLER LIVE0709.jpg
Miller performing with CKY in 2009
Background information
Birth nameDeron John Miller
Origin West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • vocals
  • bass
  • keyboards
Years active1995–present
Member of
Formerly of CKY

Deron John Miller is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band CKY, which he co-founded in 1998. Other bands Miller fronts include the progressive metal band Foreign Objects, the melodic death metal band World Under Blood, the death metal band Malevolent Creation, and the alternative metal band 96 Bitter Beings.

Contents

Early life

Miller has stated that his first musical influence, at the age of three years, was Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley. [1] He started taking guitar lessons at the age of eight, after "losing interest" in playing the piano, [2] and was later influenced by death metal band Death, including vocalist Chuck Schuldiner and guitarist James Murphy, followed by "more extreme music ... and more underground musicians" such as Cynic, Pestilence and Malevolent Creation. [1] He has described his first guitar as a "$50 piece of crap", noting that it was possibly J.C. Penney-branded, followed by an "imitation B.C. Rich" and, later, an Ibanez RG570 in 1992. [1]

Career

1992–2002: Early career, Foreign Objects and CKY

Miller played in his first band This End Up in 1992, [1] [2] and later formed Foreign Objects with future CKY drummer Jess Margera, whom he originally met at high school. [3] The band released its debut EP The Undiscovered Numbers & Colors in 1995. [3] Along with bassist Ryan Bruni, the duo later performed under the name Oil, before meeting guitarist Chad I Ginsburg (who was then working as an audio engineer) and changing the name of the band to CKY. [3] Miller is credited with having conceived the name, which stands for "Camp Kill Yourself" and was believed by the frontman to be "a perfect title for a horror movie". [3]

CKY released its debut album Volume 1 in 1999, which originally featured songwriting credits exclusively for Miller. [4] 2002's follow-up Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild credited "Deron Miller w/ Chad I Ginsburg and Jess Margera", [5] with Margera being omitted from the formulation for An Answer Can Be Found and Carver City . [6] [7]

2002–2006: Death tribute album and controversies

Miller and James Murphy (pictured) worked together on a Death tribute album and the second Foreign Objects release. James Murphy in the dressing room at the Nokia Theater.jpg
Miller and James Murphy (pictured) worked together on a Death tribute album and the second Foreign Objects release.

In December 2002, it was announced that Miller would be working alongside guitarist James Murphy, drummer Dave Culross and vocalist Bret Hoffmann on a tribute album for the band Death, to benefit the family of founding member Chuck Schuldiner. [8] After Schuldiner's family approved the project, [9] [10] bassist Terry Butler, Slipknot members Mick Thomson (guitar) and Paul Gray (bass), and more joined the project, [11] which was titled Within the Mind: In Homage to the Musical Legacy of Chuck Schuldiner and scheduled for release through Mascot Records. [12]

In addition to their collaboration on the Death tribute album, Miller and Murphy also worked together again on Universal Culture Shock , the second album by Foreign Objects, released in 2004. [13] Murphy contributed lead guitar and mastering to the album, with Miller praising the guitarist for making the album "one thousand times better". [13]

During the build-up to the release of CKY's third studio album An Answer Can Be Found , Miller was involved in a number of controversies with the music media. First, he called out Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine for threatening to cancel shows at which "Satanic" bands were also scheduled to appear, asking him to "stop creating drama". [14] A few weeks later, he criticised a number of commentators on the website Blabbermouth.net for posting negative comments about CKY, describing them as "lonely, jealous music fans". [15] Following the release of An Answer Can Be Found, Miller also responded to Jenny Eliscu's one-star review of the album for Rolling Stone magazine, describing her as "juvenile" and an "ugly skank", and proposing that she was "not intelligent enough to understand" the band's lyrics. [16] Eliscu responded by complaining to CKY's label, The Island Def Jam Music Group, that the frontman had launched a "harassment campaign" against the journalist, alleging that he had posted her home phone number online, leading to fans calling her with death threats. [17]

2006–2011: World Under Blood and collaborations

Miller performing in 2009 CKY-Colchester09-Deron1-edited.jpg
Miller performing in 2009

In October 2006, it was announced that Miller was working with drummer Tim Yeung and producer Logan Mader on a demo for new death metal side project called World Under Blood. [18] The band later released a number of songs on its MySpace page. [19] [20] In 2008, Miller also performed with Malevolent Creation and recorded with thrash metal group Believer, [21] and later also recorded with progressive metal band The Alien Blakk. [22] His Believer contribution later surfaced in the form of a guitar solo on Gabriel opening track "Medwton". [23] World Under Blood's debut full-length album Tactical was eventually released in July 2011 by Nuclear Blast Records. [24]

After a CKY show in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2007, Miller reportedly had an altercation with Ginsburg in the tour bus, after which the guitarist claimed that the frontman had left the band. [25] Miller responded with claims to the contrary, while Ginsburg proposed that he would continue CKY with Margera. [25]

2011–present: CKY departure and recent events

The fate of CKY was cast into doubt in 2011, when the band released a video in which each member spoke about their desires for the future of the band; all members but Ginsburg wanted to record solo albums, while the guitarist favoured releasing another CKY album. [26] Miller elaborated on the situation on his Facebook page, claiming that Ginsburg had left the band, and that no one in the "CKY camp" kept him informed of plans and updates, which had led to tensions. [26] Miller was replaced in CKY for the first time since the band's formation in 2012, when former Year Long Disaster frontman Daniel Davies joined for a series of shows at Australian music festival Soundwave. [27] In 2014, Miller reunited with Ginsburg for a planned reunion of the band and a new album, [28] although no further activity was reported and by 2015 he had once again been replaced by Davies. [29]

Since the inactivity of CKY, Miller has released his debut solo album Acoustified! , featuring acoustic recordings of CKY and Foreign Objects songs, [30] as well as resurfaced the Foreign Objects moniker for a new album, Galactic Prey. [31] Both releases were funded via crowdfunding website Indiegogo. [32] [33] In 2016, Miller announced that he was concurrently working on a number of different projects: a deluxe vinyl reissue of CKY's Volume 1, the debut album by MechaCKY (later renamed 96 Bitter Beings), two albums by World Under Blood (Life Is Too Long to Like You and Tetanus Invasive), a new Foreign Objects album entitled Lean, Mean and Bleeding Green, and a sequel to Acoustified! [34] It was later announced that 96 Bitter Beings would be releasing two albums, Synergy Restored and Camp Pain, as part of an Indiegogo campaign. [35]

In 2022, Miller became the new frontman of death metal band Malevolent Creation. [36]

Other projects

In an interview in August 2015, Miller revealed that he was working on a pilot for a new show called The Chuck Draper Show with Funny or Die producer Matt Sweeney. He added that he would be playing the eponymous character Chuck Draper and that former CKY crew member Chris Raab was in line to play Draper's roommate. Speaking about the tone of the show, which he claimed was inspired by the work of Howard Stern and Christopher Guest, Miller described it as "very offensive" and "hilarious", joking that he wanted people "to be very angry with [him] after seeing it". [37]

Equipment

Speaking in an interview with Guitar.com in 2002, Miller noted that he played Parker Guitars, including the NiteFly M, P38 and P40 models, with d'Addario strings and the Marshall JCM2000 amplifier. [1] He signed a deal with Jackson Guitars in 2011, [38] then later with Esoterik Guitars in 2014. [39]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<i>Tactical</i> (album) 2011 studio album by World Under Blood

Tactical is the debut studio album by American melodic death metal band World Under Blood. Recorded at HIV + Cocksplitter and Keene Machine Studios in Los Angeles, California with Logan Mader and Michael Keene, it was produced by the band's frontman Deron Miller and guest musician James Murphy. The album was released on July 26, 2011, by Nuclear Blast Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jess Margera</span> American drummer (born 1978)

Jesse Margera is an American musician. He is best known as the drummer of the rock band CKY, which he co-founded in 1998. Prior to CKY, Margera performed in the band Foreign Objects with former CKY vocalist and guitarist Deron Miller, and he has since worked with Gnarkill, Viking Skull, The Company Band, Fuckface Unstoppable, and Sovereign Eagle. Margera has also appeared in the CKY video series and the Viva La Bam and Jackass television series alongside his brother Bam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKY (band)</span> American rock band

CKY is an American rock band from West Chester, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1998 by vocalist and guitarist Deron Miller, guitarist Chad I Ginsburg and drummer Jess Margera, the group currently features Margera, Ginsburg, and bassist Ronnie Elvis James. CKY found initial recognition through its contributions to the CKY video series and Jackass TV series, both of which featured Margera's brother Bam.

<i>An Answer Can Be Found</i> 2005 studio album by CKY

An Answer Can Be Found is the third studio album by American rock band CKY. Recorded at studios in California and New York City, it was produced by guitarist Chad I Ginsburg and released on June 28, 2005, by Island Records in North America and Mercury Records in Europe. The album reached number 35 on the US Billboard 200, the highest position achieved by the band to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign Objects (band)</span> American metal band

Foreign Objects was an American heavy metal band from West Chester, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1995, the band is centered on vocalist and guitarist Deron Miller, who is the only constant member. During its initial tenure, the band released one extended play (EP), The Undiscovered Numbers & Colors in 1995, before founding members Miller and Jess Margera (drums) went on to form CKY.

<i>Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild</i> 2002 studio album by CKY

Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild is the second studio album by American rock band CKY. Recorded between November 2001 and February 2002 at studios in Hawaii, Pennsylvania and California, it was produced by the band's lead guitarist and backing vocalist Chad I Ginsburg with lead vocalist and guitarist Deron Miller and released on September 24, 2002, by Island Records. The album was the band's first to chart, reaching number 99 on the US Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">96 Quite Bitter Beings</span> 1999 single by CKY

"96 Quite Bitter Beings" is the debut single by American rock band CKY. Written by the band's lead vocalist and guitarist Deron Miller, it was produced by the band's lead guitarist and backing vocalist Chad I Ginsburg and featured as the opening track on the band's 1999 debut studio album Volume 1. The song was also released as the album's only single in 1999. Despite not charting, it is considered to be CKY's most famous song and has been featured on a number of external releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Under Blood</span> American melodic death metal band

World Under Blood is an American melodic death metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2006, the band originally featured vocalist and guitarist Deron Miller and drummer Tim Yeung, with bassist Risha Eryavac and guitarist Luke Jaeger completing the four-piece lineup in 2007. The group released its debut album Tactical in July 2011, which featured contributions from guitarist James Murphy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKY discography</span>

CKY is an American rock band from West Chester, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1998 by Deron Miller, Chad I Ginsburg and Jess Margera, the group released its first two albums Volume 1 and Volume 2 on Teil Martin/Distant Recordings in 1999, supported by lead single "96 Quite Bitter Beings". After signing with Island/Def Jam, the band followed their debuts up in 2002 with Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild, which was their first release to chart when it reached number 99 on the US Billboard 200 and number 108 on the UK Albums Chart. Lead single "Familiar Realm" reached the US Mainstream Rock top 40. In 2005, CKY issued An Answer Can Be Found and reached number 35 of the Billboard 200, with "Familiar Realm" peaking at number 32 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

<i>Carver City</i> 2009 studio album by CKY

Carver City is the fourth studio album by American alternative metal band CKY. Recorded mainly at guitarist and producer Chad I Ginsburg's Studio CIG Pennsylvania in New Hope, Pennsylvania, it was released on May 19, 2009, by Roadrunner Records. The album reached number 46 on the US Billboard 200, number four on the Hard Rock Albums chart, and number 14 on the Rock Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afterworld (song)</span> 2010 single by CKY

"Afterworld" is a song by American rock band CKY. Written by Chad I Ginsburg and Deron Miller, it was originally featured on the soundtrack to the 2010 film Jackass 3D, and was later included on the band's 2011 compilation album B-Sides & Rarities. The song is the band's first to feature Ginsburg on lead vocals, and it was released as a single on September 30, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad I Ginsburg</span> American musician (born 1972)

Chad I Ginsburg, also credited as CiG, is an American musician. He is the guitarist, producer and current vocalist of West Chester-based rock band CKY, which he co-founded in 1998. Prior to CKY, Ginsburg performed in the rock band Rudy & Blitz, and in July 2015, released his debut solo album Rock n Roll Alibis.

<i>B-Sides & Rarities</i> (CKY album) 2011 compilation album by CKY

B-Sides & Rarities is a compilation album by American heavy metal band CKY. Produced by the band's guitarist Chad I Ginsburg, it was released by Distant Recordings and Mighty Loud on March 22, 2011. The album features a number of previously unreleased tracks, including live recordings and remixes, as well as songs from the 1999 album Volume 2. New song "Afterworld" was released as a single.

<i>Acoustified!</i> 2013 studio album by Deron Miller

Acoustified! is the first solo studio album by American rock musician Deron Miller. Released on December 9, 2013, by Distant Recordings, it features acoustic recordings of songs by Miller's bands CKY, Foreign Objects and Oil, as well as a number of other cover versions. The recording of the album was funded by Indiegogo, and the release was preceded by the single "Dressed in Decay".

<i>B-Sides & Rarities Volume II</i> 2011 compilation album by CKY

B-Sides & Rarities Volume II is a compilation album by American heavy metal band CKY. Produced by the band's guitarist Chad I Ginsburg, it was released by Distant Recordings on October 3, 2011. The album features a number of previously unreleased tracks, including demo and acoustic recordings, and acts as the successor to B-Sides & Rarities, released in March 2011. New song "3D" was released as a single.

<i>Galactic Prey</i> 2015 studio album by Foreign Objects

Galactic Prey is the second studio album by American alternative metal band Foreign Objects. Recorded at Manifest Productions Studios in Lake Forest, California, it was produced by the band's frontman Deron Miller and released by Distant Recordings on October 18, 2015. The album is the band's first to feature guitarist Kenneth Hunter, bassist Shaun Luera and Tim Luera, all of whom joined in 2014.

<i>The Phoenix</i> (CKY album) 2017 studio album by CKY

The Phoenix is the fifth studio album by American rock band CKY, released on June 16, 2017. It was the band's first album in eight years following Carver City (2009), marking the longest gap between two CKY albums. It is also the first album to feature guitarist Chad I Ginsburg providing lead vocals following the departure of Deron Miller, and the last album to feature bassist Matt Deis before his departure in 2019. Recorded primarily at Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, California, it was produced by Ginsburg as the group's first album on Entertainment One Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Days of Self Destruction</span> 2017 single by CKY

"Days of Self Destruction" is a song by American rock band CKY. Written and produced by the band's vocalist and guitarist Chad I Ginsburg, it features additional guitar by Mastodon's Brent Hinds. The track is featured on the band's 2017 fifth studio album The Phoenix, and was released as the first single from the album on May 1, 2017. "Days of Self Destruction" is the first song released by CKY since its return in 2016 following the 2011 departure of original frontman Deron Miller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Replaceable (CKY song)</span> 2017 single by CKY

"Replaceable" is a song by American rock band CKY. Written and produced by the band's vocalist and guitarist Chad I Ginsburg, it is featured as the opening track on the band's 2017 fifth studio album The Phoenix, and was released as the second single from the album on June 2, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">96 Bitter Beings</span> American metal band

96 Bitter Beings is an American alternative metal band from Los Angeles. Formed in 2016 by former CKY frontman Deron Miller, the group was originally known as MechaCKY and intended to serve as the vocalist and guitarist's own continuation of the group following his departure in 2011. Miller completed the band's initial lineup with the same three members as had been in the relaunched Foreign Objects – lead guitarist Kenneth Hunter, bassist Shaun Luera and drummer Tim Luera. Later that year, MechaCKY was renamed 96 Bitter Beings, after the CKY song "96 Quite Bitter Beings".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Sharken, Lisa. "Interview:10 Questions with Deron Miller of CKY". Musicians Friend. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Artists". Esoterik Guitars. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Prato, Greg. "CKY Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ Volume 1 (Media notes). Camp Kill Yourself. Distant Recordings/Teil Martin International. 1999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ↑ Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild (Media notes). CKY. The Island Def Jam Music Group. 2002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ An Answer Can Be Found (Media notes). CKY. The Island Def Jam Music Group. 2005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ Carver City (Media notes). CKY. Roadrunner Records. 2009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ "Ex-Death, Malevolent Creation Members Team Up To Record Death Tribute CD". Blabbermouth.net. December 24, 2002. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Ex-Death, Malevolent Creation Members Get Green Light To Record Death Tribute CD". Blabbermouth.net. February 23, 2003. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Chuck Schuldiner's Mother Endorses Upcoming Death Tribute". Blabbermouth.net. February 25, 2003. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Slipknot Members To Contribute To Death Tribute Album". Blabbermouth.net. July 17, 2003. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  12. ↑ "CKY's Deron MillerSpeaks Out on Upcoming DEATH Tribute: 'This Is The Real Deal'". Blabbermouth.net. February 6, 2004. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  13. 1 2 "CKY's Deron Miller Offers Updates on Death Tribute Album, Foreign Objects Side Project". Blabbermouth.net. October 17, 2004. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  14. ↑ "CKY Frontman Has A Message For Dave Mustaine: 'Stop Creating Drama'". Blabbermouth.net. May 8, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  15. ↑ "CKY Frontman Slams 'Lonely, Jealous' Blabbermouth.net 'Losers'". Blabbermouth.net. June 2, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  16. ↑ "CKY Frontman Slams Rolling Stone Journalist Over CD Review". Blabbermouth.net. July 9, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  17. ↑ "CKY Fans Wage 'Harassment Campaign' Against Rolling Stone Critic". Blabbermouth.net. August 12, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  18. ↑ "CKY Frontman Working On 'Brutal' World Under Blood Project". Blabbermouth.net. October 22, 2006. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  19. ↑ "CKY Frontman's Death Metal Project Uploads First Track". Blabbermouth.net. November 29, 2006. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  20. ↑ "World Under Blood: Another Song Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. March 11, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  21. ↑ "CKY's Deron Miller To Tour With Malevolent Creation, Record With Believer". Blabbermouth.net. April 17, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  22. ↑ "CKY Frontman Lays Down Vocals For New The Alien Blakk Album". Blabbermouth.net. January 27, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  23. ↑ Gabriel (Media notes). Believer. Metal Blade Records/Cesspool Recordings. 2009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ↑ "World Under Blood To Release Debut Album in July". Blabbermouth.net. April 11, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  25. 1 2 "Drama insues[sic] inside of CKY, band fight breaks out". Metal Injection. October 22, 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  26. 1 2 Shaw, Zach (August 2, 2011). "Shall We Wish CKY R.I.P. Now Or Later?". Metal Insider. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  27. ↑ Shaw, Zach (March 19, 2012). "CKY Replaces Deron Miller With Year Long Disaster's Daniel Davies". Metal Insider. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  28. ↑ wookubus (January 9, 2014). "CKY To Return in 2014 With Deron Miller". Theprp.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  29. ↑ wookubus (April 17, 2015). "CKY Confirm The Return of Daniel Davies For 'Amnesia Rockfest'". Theprp.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  30. ↑ wookubus (December 11, 2013). "Deron Miller Releases CKY, Etc. Acoustic Covers Album "Acoustified!"". Theprp.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  31. ↑ wookubus (March 31, 2014). "Foreign Objects (CKY, Etc.) Streaming New Track "Galactic Prey", CKY Working on New Album". Theprp.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Deron Miller – The Acoustic Album". Indiegogo . Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Foreign Objects Album 2014". Indiegogo . Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Ex-CKY Frontman Deron Miller Moves On With His Own Version Of The Band 'MechaCKY'". Theprp.com. February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  35. ↑ "96 Bitter Beings New Album 2016". Indiegogo . Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  36. ↑ "MALEVOLENT CREATION Recruits Former CKY Frontman DERON MILLER". Blabbermouth.net. October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  37. ↑ "The Sinner's Ball Radio Show : Episode # 9 Return of Deron Miller of CKY". BlogTalkRadio. August 10, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  38. ↑ MDuffy (November 17, 2011). "Deron Miller Joins Jackson's Stable". Jackson Guitars . Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  39. ↑ Deron Miller CKY. YouTube. April 24, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
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