Dave Miller

Dave Miller (born 1941/1942, Christchurch, New Zealand) is a New Zealand former rock music singer-songwriter and journalist. He was the founding mainstay of Dave Miller Set (1967-1970, 1973), which were based in Australia. Long-term fellow members included Leith Corbett on bass guitar, Mike McCormack on drums and John Robinson on lead guitar. Their cover version of "Mr Guy Fawkes" (July 1969) peaked in the top 30 on the Go-Set national singles chart. The group disbanded early in 1970 and Corbett, McCormack and Robinson founded the fellow rock group, Blackfeather. Miller and Corbett combined for a studio album, Reflections of a Pioneer (September 1970) by Dave Miller/Leith Corbett and Friends (McCormack on drums for some tracks). In February 1973 Miller and Robinson briefly revived Dave Miller Set. Before the end of that year Miller travelled to the United Kingdom and worked as a music journalist. He returned to Australia in 1980 and lived in New South Wales. In September 2017 Miller curated a compilation album, Mr Guy Fawkes: Complete Spin Recordings & More 1967-1970, which included tracks by Dave Miller Set and by Dave Miller/Leith Corbett and Friends on CD.

Biography

Dave Miller was born in 1941/1942 in Christchurch, New Zealand. His younger brother, Graeme Miller, started working as a drummer with various local groups from 1962.

In November 1964 the Playboys relocated to Auckland, in the following month they changed their name to the Byrds and later to Dave Miller and the Byrds. Dave Miller and the Byrds released three singles, "Bright Lights, Big City", "How You've Changed" and "No Time" (all in 1965) and an extended play, Dave Miller & the Byrds (1966) on Zodiac Records.

During 1968 Brus was replaced on bass guitar by Bob Thompson who was replaced in turn by Leith Corbett (ex-Heart 'n' Soul), while in the following year Mulholland was replaced on drums by Mike McCormac (ex-Sect). Dave Miller Set's rendition peaked at No. 28 on the Go-Set National Top 40. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, observed, "[it] ranks alongside the Russell Morris psychedelic classic 'The Real Thing' as the high-water mark of Australian pop production in the late 1960s."

Members

The Playboys Phil Garland – lead vocals Mark Graham – rhythm guitar Dinah Lee ( Diane Jacobs) Dave Martin – guitar Graeme Miller – drums John O'Neill – bass guitar Brian Ringrose – lead guitar Dave Miller – lead vocals Kevin O'Neill – guitar

The Byrds/Dave Miller and the Byrds Mark Graham – rhythm guitar Dave Miller – lead vocals Graeme Miller – drums Brian Ringrose – lead guitar John O'Neill – bass guitar Kevin O'Neill – rhythm guitar Al Dunster – rhythm guitar Chris Collier – bass guitar

Dave Miller Set Dave Miller – lead vocals Harry Brus – bass guitar Mick Gibbons – guitar Greg Hook – keyboards Ray Mulholland – drums John Robinson – lead guitar Bob Thompson – bass guitar Leith Corbett – bass guitar Mike McCormack – drums Steve Hogg – bass guitar Steve Webb – drums

Discography

Albums

Dave Miller/Leith Corbett and Friends Reflections of a Pioneer (September 1970) – Spin Records/Festival Records Reflections of a Pioneer (re-release on CD, 1998) – Vicious Sloth Collectables Dave Miller Set Mr Guy Fawkes: Complete Spin Recordings & More 1967-1970 (compilation, 22 September 2017) – Frenzy/RPM

Extended plays

Dave Miller and the Byrds Dave Miller & the Byrds (1966) – Zodiac Records Dave Miller Set Dave Miller Set (1968) – Spin Records/Festival Records Mr Guy Fawkes (1969) – Spin Records/Festival Records

Singles

The Byrds/Dave Miller and the Byrds "Bright Lights, Big City" (1965) – Zodiac Records "How You've Changed" (1965) – Zodiac Records "No Time" (1965) – Zodiac Records

Dave Miller Set "Why? Why? Why?" (1967) – Spin Records/Festival Records "Hope" (1968) – Spin Records/Festival Records "Let's Get Together" (1968) – Spin Records/Festival Records "Mr Guy Fawkes" (1969) – Spin Records/Festival Records

Dave Miller "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" (1969) – Spin Records/Festival Records

Dave Miller / Leith Corbett and Friends "Reflections of a Pioneer" (1970) – Spin Records/Festival Records