Miller Anderson Biography

Many thanks to Miguel Terol of The Musician's Olympus for the great work he has done with researching Miller's career!

Here is a recent Interview http://www.dmme.net/interviews/mander.html

Miller was born near Glasgow in Scotland.  Here is a list of the bands that he has been involved with...

The Royal Crests (circa 1964)

NOT ENOUGH INFO

Karl Stuart and the Profiles (1965)

The Royal Crests moved down to London in March 1965 and having chenged their name they released two singles in 1965 as Karl Stuart and the Profiles.

• 'Love of My Eyes / Not a Girl in a Million' (1965, Mercury)
• 'Haven't They Got Better Things / Touch of Your Hand' (1965, Mercury)

They later changed their name again to just The Profiles and recorded two more singles.

The Voice (1965)

The Voice only released one single, "Train To Disaster / Truth" (1965, Mercury). When Miller was planning to leave the band, he chose his replacement: none other than the great Mick Ronson, and they shared the guitar role in the band for a month.

The Scenery (1966)

Miller had been working in a duo with Dave Dufort on drums and he soon got Ian Hunter in on Bass and Dante Smith on keyboards to form this band.             PICTURE AVAILABLE---->>>>

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)

Ian Hunter (bass, vocals)

Dante Smith (keyboards)
Dave Dufort (drums) later replaced by John Vernon Smith

Ian Hunter and Miller recorded the song 'Queue jumping' as a demo, and it later turned up on a Japanese EP in Japan and Germany under the name The Scenery. 

Freddie Fingers Lee Band (1967)

This line up lost Miller soon after it was formed when he rejoined Dave Dufort.

Miller Anderson (guitar)

Ian Hunter (bass)

Freddie 'Fingers' Lee (piano, vocals)
John Vernon Smith (drums)

Paper Blitz Tissue (1968)

The full lineups are unknown but the guitar & drums certainly were!  Orginally it was..

Miller Anderson (guitar)
Dave Dufort (drums)

Dave left and was replaced by Bill Bruford (later to join YES etc)

At Last the 1958 Rock'n'roll show (1968)
 

In March 1968, Miller joined At Last the 1958 Rock'n'roll show.

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)

Ian Hunter (bass, vocals)

Freddie Fingers Lee (piano & vocals)
Pete Phillips (drums)

They were managed by Colin Johnson (Status Quo manager) and they released one single, "I can't drive / Working on the railroad" (1968, CBS), produced by Jimmy Duncan

CLICK HERE TO SEE THEM IN a Black & White 1968 Video!

Keef Hartley Band (1968 - 1971)

In November 1968 Miller joined Keef Hartley to record the Halfbreed album.  This lineup played in Woodstock Festival, on its second day, although unfortunately they don't appear on the movie or soundtrack.

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)

Gary Thain (bass)

Henry Lowther (trumpet, violin)

Jimmy Jewell (sax)

Keef Hartley (drums)

They released a second album, The battle of North West Six, another superb album. It was recorded with Spit James in the band, with contributions from Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones) on guitar on one track.

Lowther & Jewell left the band when the third album The Time Is Near was being recorded.

Dino Dines (keyboards), Lyle Jenkins (sax & flute) and Dave Casswell (trumpet) came and left during this period and the band became this four piece..

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)

Gary Thain (bass)

Mick Weaver (keyboards)

Keef Hartley (drums)

Around 1970 they release Overdog, with help from former member Dino Dines (keyboards) and Colosseum drummer Jon Hiseman. Next step was the opposite. Keef records a live album in the Marquee in London, with a big band. Appropiately called Little big band. They toured with a big line up, up to 20 members sometimes.

And soon later, Miller decides to pursue his solo career. They get a new guitarist, Junior Kerr. They were two guitarists for a few weeks, until Miller Anderson finally leaves in 1971.

Miller Anderson Band (1971 - 1973)

After releasing his solo album, Bright city, Miller assembled a band to make some concerts. Although he didn't tour, there are at least some sessions for the BBC in 1971. He called many of his friends that played in the album.

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)
Gary Thain (bass)
Dino Dines (keyboards)
Pete Wingfield (keyboards)
Lyn Dobson (flute)
Eric Dillon (drums)

They performed 4 songs for those sessions: 'To whom it may concern', 'Shadows 'cross my wall', 'On the ship to nowhere' and 'High tide, high water'

Hemlock (1973)

Miller formed this band and they recorded one album of the same name.  They toured supporting Savoy Brown.

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)

Pete Willsher (steel guitar)

Jim Leverton (bass)

Chris Mercer (sax)

Blue Weaver (keyboards, percussion)

Dino Dines (keyboards, guitar)

Eric Dillon (drums)

Savoy Brown (1974)

Miller joined the blues band Savoy Brown in January 1974. In the band, there was three superb guitarists at the same time: Kim Simmonds (the leader of the band, he still maintains the group active), Stan Webb (from another great blues band, Chicken Shack), and Miller:

Kim Simmonds (guitar)
Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)
Stan Webb (guitar, vocals)
Jim Leverton (bass)
Eric Dillon (drums)

They released an album Boogie Brothers and many of the songs were written by Miller.  They toured the USA extensively but they only stayed together till December 1974.

Blood Sweat and Tears (1975)

This was a very short episode. The band had lost their singer, David Clayton Thomas so Miller was called to join the band, but for some reason, it didn't work, so he really didn't spend any time with them

Dog Soldier (1975)

This band started with Keef Hartley on drums, who left after they recorded the album Dog Soldier. Keef was replaced by Eric Dillon and Jim Leverton joined too.

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)

Derek Griffiths (guitar, vocals)

Mel Simpson (keyboards, vocals)

Jim Leverton (bass)

Eric Dillon (drums)

With Mick Taylor

After the Dog Soldier separation, Miller and Mick Taylor met again (they had met in some sessions in the Keef Hartley Band). Mick had assembled a powerful band with ex-members from Stone the Crows, and they were looking for a lead singer. Miller came here.

Miller Anderson (vocals, guitar)
Mick Taylor (guitar, vocals)
Steven Thompson (bass)
Ronnie Leahy (keyboards)
Colin Allen (drums)

They recorded an album, but Mick Taylor finally chose being himself the lead singer in the album, so Miller left them. It was never released.

T.Rex (1976- 1977)

In August 1976 Miller joined Marc Bolan's T Rex. 

Marc Bolan (guitar, vocals)
Miller Anderson (guitar)
Herbie Flowers (bass)
Dino Dines (keyboards)
Tony Newman (drums)

They only released an album, Dandy in the underworld. With lots of guests: Gloria Jones (backing vocals, Marc Bolan's girlfriend), Scott Edwards (bass), Steve Currie (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums), Paul Fenton (drums), Davey Lutton (drums), and from Gonzalez: Chris Mercer (sax), Steve Gregory (flute), Bud Beadle (flute, sax), Colin Jacas (backing vocals).

Miller left the band to join Donovan for a tour. When he was thinking of coming back to T.Rex, Marc Bolan's sad death happened in a car accident, on September, 16, 1977.

Donovan (1977 - 1978)

Miller joined Donovan for a tour but didn't record with him.   PICTURE AVAILABLE -->>>>>

Donovan (vocals, guitar)
Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)
Ronnie Leahy (keyboards)
Colin Allen (drums)

In 1978, Miller and Ronnie leave Donovan to form their own band, The Dukes.

The Dukes (1979)

Miller and Ronnie Leahy in 1979 and were soon joined by the young Jimmy McCulloch.  Thye toured supporting Wishbone Ash and recorded a single "Hearts in Trouble" but the band broke up soon after Jimmy sadly died of an overdose.

Stan Webb's Speedway (1982)

Some years after they had shared the stage in Savoy Brown, Stan Webb called Miller again, to join his band. This was 1982.

Stan Webb (guitar, vocals)

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)

Andy Pyle (bass)

Russ Adler (drums)

Chicken Shack (1984)

Stan Webb called his band Chicken Shack again and Miller is present again from September to December 1984, although playing bass this time.

Stan Webb (guitar, vocals)

Roger Saunders (guitar)

Miller Anderson (bass, vocals)

John Gunzell (drums

Mountain (1985)

This started as a collaboration between Ian Hunter and Corky Laing, who was the drummer in Mountain. They wrote several songs together, and Ian called Miller to sing and play guitar there.  But next step was calling Leslie West, so the project was called Mountain again. Miller then had to switch to bass without much notice!

Leslie West (guitar, vocals)

Miller Anderson (bass, vocals)
Corky Laing (drums)

They started recording an album, Go for your life, but Miller realized his part was not challenging anough so he left them. Some of his contributions are in the album, although most of it went uncredited. Mark Clarke (from Uriah Heep, now again in Colosseum) was called to record the bass tracks, and Pete Solley was the producer. It still keeps Ian Hunter appearance too, on keyboards.

Spencer Davis Group (1985 to now)

A reunion of veteran musicians, under the name of the historical group. They usually reunite every year under the command of Spencer Davis and Pete York, both original members of the band.

Spencer Davis (vocals)
Chris Farlowe (vocals)
Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)
Colin Hodgkinson (bass, vocals)
Zoot Money (keyboards, vocals)
Pete York (drums)

They released a live album, Extremely live at Birmingham Town Hall.   They get together pretty much every year. 

The European line up is the most recent one..

Spencer Davis (guitar, vocals)
Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)
Colin Hodgkinson (bass)
Eddie Hardin (keyboards, vocals)
Pete York (drums, vocals)

Pete York Superblues

Miller was part of a band called Pete York & Superblues, based in Germany. The band reunites some veterans from the British blues-rock scene, many of them were part of Spencer Davis Group in the 80s.

Chris Farlowe (vocals)
Miller Anderson (guitar)
Colin Hodgkinson (bass)
Tony Ashton (keyboards)
Pete York (drums)

Jon Lord Band

After having played in Jon Lord's Pictured within album , Jon assemble a live band for touring Europe to promote it.

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)
Colin Hodgkinson (bass)
Jon Lord (keyboards)
Wolfgang Norman Dalheimer (keyboards)
? (keyboards)
Sam Brown (vocals)
Pete York (drums)

Deep Purple

Deep Purple decided recording their concerto with orchestra after 30 years. It was followed by a long tour, where the band tried to enjoy a wide celebration with friends. Apart from the concerto itself, every member of the band played some of his solo material, backed with assorted friends and colleagues. Miller Anderson went with them in order to sing some of the Jon Lord material, thus appearing in the live double CD.

Roger Chapman and the Shortlist

Miller was asked to join the band in April 2000, when their usual guitarist, Steve Simpson, was busy and not available for touring. This was the new line up, where Miller and Gary Twigg met again:
 

Roger Chapman (vocals)

Miller Anderson (guitar, vocals)

Anthony Glynne (guitar)

Gary Twigg (bass)

Ian Gibbons (keyboards)

Mick Clewes (drums)

Helen Hardy (backing vocals)

Currently?

Miller is back from his last stint with Deep Purple and is doing gigs with Maggie Bell & Zoot Money as well as many solo gigs.

He is till doing plenty of Spencer Davis Group gigs in Germany as well. 

Go to the HOME PAGE to see what gigs are coming up.