Meet Michael Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Miller.

Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Born in Knoxville, TN 1966. When I was four or five, we had that big Sears catalog and it had musical instruments in it, there were three drum kits, I was obsessed. I found music at an early age and had a diverse taste. From Country, Funk, Rock and Adult Contemporary to Disco. Whatever moved me. Growing up around the Washington DC area in the 70’s it was bands like Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen, Rush and The Eagles. My first live concert was KISS in 1977 that forever changed me. Live music was magical and that’s what a great band is, it’s something magical. Drums are also magical, for me; I can’t explain it.

As a kid, our family spent weekends at a ski resort in Virginia, the local nightclub had a top 40 band. My parents would be at the bar, I would be over by the band. I was young, but nobody cared back then it was great. I loved the environment live music created; the nightlife, the lights, the energy. I was a late-night sort of kid anyway. They played the 70’s hits of the time and they were cool, but I liked the gear too. The drum kit, amps, electronics, cables and the components that comprise a live band that really had my attention. I was attracted to the technical aspect of things and theatrics. Taking music, shop, art, photography and drafting classes throughout school and later a background in rigging and metalwork; I had acquired a unique set of skills that apply to what I do today.

At 18 or 19, I moved to the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. The live music scene was on fire, it was amazing. In 86’ after befriending a few bands and crews, helping with load-ins & load-outs to learn the ropes, I got a break -I was in the right place at the right time. I was on the road a week later and my dream was reality. That band led to the next and so on, I was soon touring the US and Canada fairly extensively. I have made a living in the entertainment industry since. I’ve worked as a Drum Tech, Tour Manager, Agent and took a 10-year diversion into Feature Film production in the middle of it all. I moved to LA in 2000 and it’s been nonstop. I get to travel the world and work with some pretty great people. As hard as the work can be, it’s awfully hard to call it a job. It’s a lifestyle and at the end of the day, it is incredibly rewarding.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Today there is a strong network of techs on social media, we all know each other and keep tabs on what each other is up to. I know who is available if I need someone to sub for me on a gig or refer someone and vice versa. We all work together, it’s a big industry but a small community. I have been fortunate work-wise, but the road has not always been smooth. The 80’s and 90’s were not without challenge. I was young and fell into some bad habits. Having any sort of addiction or mental health issue can exasperate things in this environment. Had I not found some sobriety and therapy over the years who knows how things might have ended up. I think most people who are lifer’s in this business have all had some sort of issue past or present.

It probably takes a slightly off kilter person to want to work in this industry to begin with. It’s not the normal path, most people don’t wake up one day and think to become roadies. It’s not a regular job, by any means. It’s also freelance, my job always has an expiration date. It may be weeks or months, but it is going to end for at least some period of time and the gaps must be filled in. The hustle for work comes easier these days although sometimes I think it’s that hustle and quick jolt of fear of unemployment, that feeling of the unknown that I sort of revel in. It lets you know you’re alive and keeps you pushing forward in life. You never know what adventure or opportunity lies around the next curve and that’s sort of thrilling for me.

This is a culture unique unto itself. Musicians and techs, we are mostly like-minded people who were never going to seek out a regular job anyway. I may be a little off-kilter myself, but I think some of the day to day challenges we face in the entertainment industry are challenges we embrace and thrive in. Maybe we chose this life, maybe it chose us. Either way, I’m still here and going stronger than ever 35 years later. That is rewarding, I am proud of that and I have much more to do.

The pandemic has obviously put a temporary hold on touring, but the music continues. Things are getting busier in LA. Creativity never sleeps and the downtime has allowed artists to write and record more and me to learn some new skills and work on another passion, video/photography and media content creation.

What else should we know about you, your work and career?
Touring, recording sessions, head changes and tuning, building kits and racks or the recent pandemic inspired livestream shows. Tour managing or stage managing. In town or out. I like it all, but I am primarily a touring drum tech working for different artists throughout the year. Some I work with full time; some I share with other techs depending on which one of us is available and sometimes I’m jumping in last minute to fill in for someone who had to leave unexpectedly. On tour, my job generally includes building and striking the kit every day. Running click tracks and various electronics, supporting the drummer’s needs and making any needed repairs to the kit during the show. There is a lot going on. My job is to make tour life easy for my drummer to instill confidence that he/she is in good hands and that I’m looking after things.

Most gear failure is avoidable; I look for weak spots and have a plan for any problems that could occur during the show. A big drum kit is sort of like a car, there’s a lot of parts and a lot of moving parts. Doesn’t matter if it’s brand new or old, any part can fail. Bad welds, composite metals, vibration and wear & tear all factor in. From day to day cleaning and maintenance, ordering sticks, heads, cymbals, spare parts & supplies to working with our vendors or product/gear endorsement companies and creating social media content. Sometimes you have A and B kits traveling in different directions, one in the US and one headed to Europe and maybe a TV show in between with a 3rd set of gear and or rental gear all while prepping for your next tour with a different band at the same time. I’m running a small business around each gig.

I have designed several kits and racks including one for Florida Georgia Line and all of the Alice Cooper kits of the past ten years. I see drums a certain way, sort of where functionality meets flash. It must be bulletproof to endure today’s hard-hitting drummers but esthetically I want it to look interesting to the audience. I want them to feel that magic I felt, that I still feel to this day.

My primary gigs are Alice Cooper, John Fogerty and Hollywood Vampires. I am also working with Anthrax, Rob Zombie and a handful of others on an as needed basis. Past tours have included Slayer, BoDeans, Jay Z, Pat Benatar, Orianthi, Indigo Girls & Matthew Sweet.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Without trust there is nothing. I am a trusted name in the industry, people know what they are getting when they hire me. I work hard, I don’t stop from morning to night. Hard work goes a long way and always earns you respect. I’m humble. There are a lot of great techs out there. You can always be replaced no matter how dug into a gig you think you are so there’s no room for complacency. It’s about making yourself valuable in as many ways as you can, having a diverse skillset and being focused. Working for a drummer is teamwork. The musicians and the crew on stage and behind it function as a team. Live entertainment is a team sport. The whole thing only works when everyone does their part and I enjoy being a part of that teamwork.

Contact Info:

• Address: 3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd. #410
  Studio City CA 91604-3709
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dtech3/

Image Credit:
Nikkie Marie Kephart Photography, Michael Miller

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