Incredible how well that debut Moby Grape album holds up today. One of my favorite bands ever. Wish they could have avoided the problems and had some success. Always thought of them as an American Beatles.
Jerry Miller (born July 10, 1943 in Tacoma, Washington) is an American songwriter, guitarist and vocalist. He performs as a solo artist and as a member of the Jerry Miller Band. He is also a founding member of the 1960s San Francisco band Moby Grape, a member of The Kingsmen (of Louie Louie fame) at one time. While both were playing locally in Seattle, prior to becoming internationally famous, Jerry Miller befriended Jimi Hendrix. Miller co-wrote (with Don Stevenson) three of Moby Grape's best known songs, "Hey Grandma" and "8.05", both from the self-titled first Moby Grape album (1967) and "Murder In My Heart for The Judge", from the Wow album (1968). The latter song was covered by both Three Dog Night and Lee Michaels. Jerry Miller went on to share the stage with many musical greats - Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and The Doors. His admirers include Jimmy Page, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Taj Mahal, David Fricke, Eric Clapton, and Robert Plant. Eric Clapton called Jerry the "best guitar player in the world" when he first came to the U.S. Robert Plant cites Jerry as a major influence for Led Zeppelin - the band even played Moby Grape songs at its first rehearsal. You can see him LIVE, on Tues Nights @ Dave's in Milton, WA and on Thurs Nights LIVE @ Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill in Spanaway, WA. Gotta luv that Miller Man Picker!!Every Thursday is Taco Thursday With:LEGENDARY Jerry Miller From 7pm - 10pm. There's Got to be a Change ❤ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FidaQXnBoOo.html ❤ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WIUgKUOiA0c.html ❤❤❤❤ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ES7OB0r9_xg.html ❤ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mC7gV2NE7H8.html ❤ Tenesee Whiskey: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wuMKS9ufqqc.html ❤ I Love You So Much ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r6w5b-Vnz-4.html ❤ Murder in My Heart for the Judge ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6C53-0e02Y8.html ❤ Nothings Gonna Be Alright ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YpozT6O17Dw.html ❤ Hey Grandma! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jBVeF2OCZlc.html ❤ Kansas City ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Utxec2BXsoE.html ❤ Grease Peace ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZxCwn_2H2kE.html ❤ Excuse Me Babe ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_D4ThbmpHi0.html ❤ .44 Blues ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gGK3dGR0bbg.html ❤ Snake River Rock ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-187PauRz6rg.html
Saw the Grape a couple of times before things went bad. One of the best live shows I've ever seen. I wish they'd had the success they deserve. Now, when are they going to make the movie, "The Rise and Fall of an American Band"? It's an amazing, and sad, story.
Fantastic indepth interview. Jerry seemed like a kind soul and hellishly talented. Everything Grape released was golden. Better than any other San Francisco group in my opinion. I was born in '67 and even though I didn't live through the psychedelic era, I feel it was mine anyway.
I played with Jerry in the mid-80s at Prositos on 6th Ave. (He's from Tacoma). Stephen Stills showed up at Prositos... and I played the harmonics ! "For What It's Worth". Next night, Jerry took me and I met all Crosby and Nash and Stills. Tacoma Dome.
Like everyone's favorite memory; Moby Grape seems like a part of my life that remains untouched by 50 years of ups, downs, bullshit, and rough and tumble dumb luck. Bless em'.
Moby Grape, still a favorite of mine (and I consider them the best to come out of that era in SF). And Jerry, man I LOVE 'Can't Be So Bad' (I don't dance but it makes me wanna!!). I doubt there is a track in the entire MG catalog that I don't enjoy hearing even today . . .
I had a gig at the Ka'anapali Beach Club on Maui in the early '90s, and Jerry Miller was in the small crowd under the stars.. he comes up to the stage and wants to play with my Hawaiian trio, tells me who he is and I'm like WHATTT??? I had their first album, 8:05 was my fav.. but all was good, anyway, I gave him my guitar and he was smashed but he played a song, gave me back my guitar and said, these strings are like rubber bands i cant play this, we hugged and he went and sat down. What a TRIP! Amazing Jerry Miller :)
Jerry Miller is one helluva guitarist! Recognized as a great guitarist, but still under-rated! Just bought Jerry's New Road Under My Wheels CD! Still great! What a cool guy!
Jerry you made my life better- Thank you for every note. It's 805 twice a day. Moby Grape had several albums I play constantly- I'm a truly fine citizen.
I am getting older now and got to see Moby Grape with the Chamber Brothers at the Winterland.I just sold my vinyl record collection. Of the 3000 records I sold to a collector, I kept Moby Grapes debut LP.Really liked Bob Mosley. He is why I learned to play bass.
We are so spoiled here in the PNW. We can hear Jerry just about anytime as he has never skipped a beat all these years. I have a couple of cute stories spending time with him. He is a doll.
Reminds some of us how fortunate we have been in the North Bay during the Summer of Love. I remember seeing Moby Grape before they had made their first album. They played at the local swim club. Nobody new who they were. Probably fifty kids. Enough room that we were sliding on the dance floor in our socks. Five feet away from them. Not even on a stage. Not much later there everyone was at Monterey. All these songs have been the narrative for our growing up. Thanks for making such special music Jerry.
Wow is my favorite record of theirs. I don’t understand why it’s always dismissed. Such a great record. The original release had a separate record that was pressed at 78 rpm. The cover was also monumental.
I saw the fantastic 'Moby Grape' in Hollywood back in-the-day and they were stellar. Saw them a year plus later at The Bank in Torrance and it was a virtual 'trainwreck' . . . still, "Moby Grape' are in my Top 5 all-time bands !
Love this interview but it ends really abruptly...I'd love to see the rest of it...I grew up in San Francisco and not all of the bands from that era hold up musically. Some do but not all. When I listen to Moby Grape they still sound great.
I remember seeing them at the Gold Creek Dome in Woodinville, Washington. Not sure what year it was (1969?) it's all kind of blurry. "Omaha' is one of my all time favs.
Jerry Miller..my hero..in a time of need...I have the right to remain silent....one of his songs in particular...means so much to me....it's personal...hint..."in my heart"...
Loved that band, that first album...I even loved WOW, MG `69, Truly a Fine Citizen, 20 Granite Creek.... very pivotal time for me when the first album dropped...freshman year in college, first heartbreak, blah, blah....nobody else in my Alabama dorm got it, but it was on my turntable forever...never did get to see them live. Always regretted that...
I'm always interested in the contrast between those in the South who were into this kind of music....hard San Francisco acid rock....versus those who didn't like it. For those who didn't like it or "get it," what did they want to put on the turntable? What did they think was "better?"
They made excellent songs and music with some psychedelia thrown in for good measure. Very solidly in several great American traditions. Most people were not ready for a blend of country/folk and rock and roll. The times demanded more stadium rock and the music industry took them there.
One of my favorite guitarists in one of my favorite bands. Played live gigs with the Bobby Fuller Four prior to Moby Grape. The Grape's debut has no equal IMHO, but each of their albums has something going for it. And Jerry released a stellar solo record in the 90's called "Life Is Like That", which is definitely worth checking out. Thanks for all the great music, Jerry!
Jerry seems to be a very interesting character, and very open to that interview which I found fascinating to listen to. He created quite a few memories for me back when I lived in the Bay Area....
Jerry Miller and our Clan we always have a good time together. And we'll see you soon. Wear that striped shirt that's a favorite & I'm taking the 8:05.
iam way younger than when Moby Grape came out...my parents music. but holy shit...this band was damn good. they could of been bigger than the Beatles. so much talent. bad management...bad a&r...but the core talent was absolutely undeniable.
From a fellow Washintonian......come back up to Bellingham sometime...we love you.My last time seeing you was in the bar at the Casino in Shelton after Chuck Berry....you were better.
I wonder how many people know who Joe Maphis was? That explains why Peter Lewis had such a deft picking style. That three guitar thing was pretty unique - I believe 'Love' were a three guitar band - gave them huge scope, which they used brilliantly. All sang as well.
How did you get this gem of an interview. Just wandering about your favorite recording studio and...HEY, there's Jerry Miller? Man those were the guys that should have been HUUUGE but I fear they were both too creative and volitile at the same time, mixed in with some mental illness and strong egos. But those early years...WOW! That's why you should never miss an opportunity to create and commune. Thanks! (P.S. Checked out your trains, too!)
I had the pleasure of performing with Jerry in Seattle in the 90s.. Such a sweet man! Played pretty loud but that was OK. One night Don Stevenson played with us. A mini Moby Grape reunion. Jerry told me I was the first keyboardist to play with the 🍇 Grape. I was honored!
We know. But good to hear. I was not there, I was an Angelino. Someone gave me that album... and I have two more. Still way good. Now there are 987 people who saw this Jerry Miller talk. They were sooooooooooooooooooooo good, those songs.
They are under appreciated, no doubt, but afa their not being recognized as “progenitors” of some fake horseshit made-up sub-category of rock n’ roll…I’m ok with that. Those sub-categories are all created by salesmen, to push product. They should all suck a tailpipe.
@@palledemant I became acquainted with him many years ago seeing him when he played at Coles in Ruston before it burned to the ground. Great memories. One night we were out in the alley behind the bar just smoked a joint. Out of the darkness walks up a cop. Somehow Jerry just evaporated and when I went back into the bar there he was ready for the next set. Of course he went right into Murder . . . it was classic.
Jerry, were all proud of the Moby Grape first album ..... Still. If things would have been just a little different you guys probably would have probably had a title of something like THE American Beatles, ensure that you had more fun than the Beatles and just acted like yourselfs add to me you were the best role model I could think of back then. I was somewhere around 8 years old after we went out to dinner we walked over to Jimmy Webb's music they bought me a Harmony acoustic took lessons learn how to read music Love me tender blah blah blah didn't like it dropped it. A while after that give me you guys's first album and boom I learned to play by ear I loved it
Somerime in the late '70's while rummaging around at the local Goodwill store, I found and bought that whole set (5) of picture sleeve singles from that 1st album. I thought "what the hell?" "May have cost about two dollars...In fine condition too. At the time I had no idea the story behind this marketing scheme and what a stupid idea it turned out to be. Eventually lost some in a trade, and the rest in a flood. 😢😢
One of the greatest albums ever-8:05 just might be my favorite song ever-i've wondered who sang lead on this since it came out,and Jerry cleared this up.Everytime i see the clock go to 8"05,i think of them.Matthew Katz-two thumbs way down!!!!!IMHO,he did the most to break up this great band.
@@sammyscotch9945 mostly into doing excessive amounts of ACID according to my two Doobie Brother friends Pat Simmons and Tom Johnston. They played music and partied with Skip at the local San Francisco bars and clubs even before both bands formed.
From what Jerry Miller said, the label totally messed them up, and losing Skip Spence hurt them, but Jerry does not say that specifically. Their mix of rock, folk, and country was brilliant, but the US audience was more interested in exploring acid/rock.
Single of Omaha and 8:05, with Columbia only focused on that, would've been a sure shot. From Jerry's description it sounds like Skip was bouncing between heroin and meth.
Just goes to show you what drugs can do to ruin lives. The late sixties claimed Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison all within a few months at around 27 years of age. All the music that they could have created. What a waste of lives.
