One day recently I compiled a list of Kiwi musicians I had written about whose profiles needed more work – updates added, references checked. These are all musicians who have had long careers in Oz & who are still involved in the music industry in some way. I was working through this list when Melbourne went into Lockdown 5!!

It has been a good lockdown task. A few days ago I was extra pleased when I saw Dave’s name on my list cos he had sent me a series of CDs of work he did with the various bands (Playboys, Byrds, Dave Miller Set) & the work he did solo. Having a listening activity made a change from checking text. And it’s a much better task than the new lockdown recreation which seems to be browsing in the supermarket with a mate ……….. really?!!

Each band of these bands were very different. He was thrust into the first (the Playboys) at short notice in 1963. His brother was in this band & they rehearsed in the Miller household in Christchurch. On occasions if neither of the Playboy vocalists had arrived, Dave was asked to sing with the others until the vocalists did arrive. One day he got a telegram telling him to stop smoking cos he was the Playboy’s new singer as Phil Garland & Diane Jacobs (who we later came to know & love as Dinah Lee) had left to go solo. At the start of his time with this Playboys Dave changed their musical direction cos he liked Merseybeat.

The Playboys became the Byrds then the band became Dave Miller & the Byrds. Their repertoire changed. More obscure R&B was added & more blues … & over the years Dave & the Byrds have been referred to as the best Chicago blues players in NZ in the 60s.

After that band folded, Dave moved to Sydney, where for some months in 1966, he was the singing-compere at the Bowl … until the venue needed a band. He formed this then they weren’t needed so he joined them & this band became the Dave Miller Set, who were well-liked, polished & professional. As well as being East Coast based, they played on a series of cruises, mostly between Sydney & Wellington. Cruise passengers loved them. And they are best remembered for their brilliant psychedelic version of Mr Guy Fawkes.

After he left this band, he & bass player Leith Corbett worked on a set of songs Dave had written & the album Reflections of a Pioneer came about. With hints of Dave’s grandfather in one of these songs.

In late 1971 Dave was approached to join a trio named Sunday Mourning who played music Black Sabbath style. He was reluctant at first but went along to listen to them gig. One of those nights he got up to sing with them & it worked. They joined forces, naming themselves 2000 & played original songs together for a year or so.

From the end of his time with 2000 Dave has remained in the music industry in a number of different roles.