Deron Miller talks CKY departure, 96 Bitter Beings, touring with Guns N Roses, Metallica | TCR #6

Former CKY frontman and primary songwriter Deron Miller opens up about what ultimately led to him leaving CKY for good, what it was like touring with Guns N' Roses and Axl Rose on the first GNR tour in nearly a decade, having James Hetfield of Metallica personally invite him and CKY to support them at a San Francisco Bay Area show, his thoughts on touring in 2021, and more.
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The Crash Report is a “hot-talk” podcast fueled by exciting commentary, outrageous antics, a wide-array of diverse guests, and more.

[@simonize251]

This dude is one hell of a song writer. I’m in a CKY rabbit hole past couple weeks

[@kittywampusdrums4963]

Lol me too. For real. Wtf!!

[@systemofadownsyndrome7715]

Met Deron Miller once. He is a real stand up guy, helps and respects his fans.

[@lunarstain7545]

Glad to see Deron in a good place. Been a fan of his since 2001 and its inspiring to see him so healthy, and continuing on as a musician. Mad props.

[@joepotash234]

I’m surprised to hear Deron say that back in the CKY days that they would have to do drum replacements for Jess. Not something I ever would have thought being an issue. I doubt he’d make that up, just interesting to hear. Jess is a laid back funky drummer(which is crucial to their sound), but very very solid and always seemed totally capable of tracking CKY studio tracks in my opinion.

[@3lectronaut7]

Could have been when Jess was doing his side gigs with Viking Skull and Company Band . Only thing I can think of because like you said hes more than capable of getting in the studio otherwise.

[@chris_michael_s]

Jess always struck me as a good garage band tier drummer. As a musician and hearing him live, he's kinda sloppy at times and his drumming can be choppy.

[@trendkill1891]

Sounds like the simulator has been disengaged

[@jamesongibbs7439]

The drums have always had to be super complimentary to the drums. There was a point. In Infiltrate that the guitar rhythms called for more creativity than Jess could deliver and continued through answer. Just listening to flesh n 2 gear, leaves a l ot to be desired percussion wise. Fantastic song that the earliest covers on KZbin elevated with better drum players and their execution ans fills. I wasn't a fan of carver and that's the last I kept track of cky as a band.

[@adamdalgleish8769]

Cool interview. About 20 years ago I heard Testing on the Arto Saari part of Menikmati and after hours of searching I figured out it was cky and fell in love with their music. I started to play guitar on a busted ibanez and a 30 year old amp. All I learned were cky songs on Tabit. I remember how fun it was to play cky riffs. I tried listening to the new cky stuff a while back and I was not impressed... it sucked. I used to think that it was Chad's guitar work, but good to know that it was actually Deron.

[@rupert6478]

i also came from eS's video. deron is one hell of a riff writer

[@jamesongibbs7439]

The best part is that every song Derron wrote are just incredibly fun to play. Not to mention the melody or motifs in those songs. When I finally got an oc2 and eventually oc3 octave pedal, I was probably the happiest I had ever been. Being able to get that fat, split octave sound.

[@S281GT]

Found this after the show at the empire on Saturday!

[@samuelstoner1838]

Great interview....I saw cky a bonch of times....met them.ill be buying 96 bitter beings....

[@L1fe1sI30R1N6]

It's cool interview but I have to say: I am a long time fan of both bands. CKY is no longer exists. There is the original CKY, there is another cool band with Chad and Jess and there is continuing Deron's projects. The truth is that even though Deron is responsible for all the material, the production of Chad was an equally important part of the recordings along with Jesse's disco-oriented drum style and some lyrics. There was chemistry between them and that's why the albums sound the way we know and remember them, his new records sounds weaker. This band was monstrously underestimated and the main problem here is the oversaturation of the stage and business during their peak and failure with the labels. From the Answer tour they played more than one song, they played Tragic, Dressed, Familiar, Trippled and Slaves but of course not as much as we would like, but still. And I think the problem was primarily not only Chad's weak technical level, shredding through scales and playing technical riffs are not the same thing you know, but and his at that time. Of course, I agree with everything Deron said about past and current band in this regard and we can only hope that someday the original trio will forget the grievances and reunite. They were lucky that they were with each other and achieved this, many people with good skills and ideas can't find music like-minded people and stays completely alone even today in the age of Internet. But Deron also has to understand that such a long delays in the release of the album and the irresponsible distribution of music is very bad idea. The fact that none of his recordings are distributed for example through Bandcamp and records are shipped so badly already speaks of the weak understanding of concept an modern independent music scene and it's distribution. He is too fixated on this old tiny collector's fan-base instead of at least trying of broader promotion and it will cost him very very dearly.

[@stevenp9209]

You've said a lot here, I will respond to a few ideas, although not a CKY/Deron mega fan, I've been following them/him for about 14 years. Although he may be harsh and hyperbolic, there's definitely some truth in his former bandmates being inferior musicians. In past groups typically when there is one dominant writer he usually branches off or goes solo, this case was no different, although it ended more hectically. I disagree that his post CKY albums have suffered in production quality, I am no sound expert, just from a layman, I don't think Chad's production boosted Deron's musical sound to most ears. As far as his adaptation to become more marketable in today's scene. My speculation is that he's thought about everything you've mentioned 10 times over, and he's probably doing what he ultimately wants as far as 'expanding his fan base'. He was a mainstream commercial musician and lived through that era, perhaps he doesn't really want it anymore, not that bands can do the same things they did in 1999 to get big. A lot of speculation, really.

[@L1fe1sI30R1N6]

@@stevenp9209 Well, first of all, I have been a fan of this band since 2001 when I first heard 96 in the 1st episode of Jackass, however I am not part of the Alliance. I'm from Russia, so I'm kind of a distant fan and I'm not really worried about the problems of their relationship, controversies and all this dirt that pours from the crazy Alliance fanatics, the main thing for me is music and of course Deron is a wonderful musician. Actually I am progressive multi-instrumentalist musician and mastering engineer myself, and at some point people like me begin to listen not so much to music as to pay attention to the technical aspects of the sound. And no doubt the original 4 albums have their own unique flavor that is absent on the new records (that no actually not that bad of course), and this is the merit of Chad's production. I would also not belittle his technical skills, during the Carver City tour they played almost every track on the album and technically this album is on par with the Answer. So, at least at the time of breakup of the original line-up, Chad had no technical problems with the songs and coped with the material with a bang, I personally saw their concert in Moscow in 2009 and they do great. And he also speak about making another album in What Next 2011 interview on KZbin. So not belittle Chad and Jess contribution. And as for the distribution, I'm sure that he does exactly what he wants, but I'm also sure that this path is very wrong. Again, he is too fixated on the old fan base and the limited distribution of music in this small circle, and not too responsible for the distribution of physical releases. Synergy has been waiting today for more than 3 years and the longer it takes, the more expectations will be. He wants to be independent and success but that kind of approach doesn't work well in independent music, all this things are very different now. He can do he's music much more wide opened and known without any problems but he not doing it enough.

[@Urine666Deity]

@@L1fe1sI30R1N6 have you heard death grips? If so, as an engineer what do you think about bottomless pit

[@L1fe1sI30R1N6]

​@@Urine666Deity Not so much, i'm a proggy, stoner and experimental guy and what about Hip-hop I preffer Progressive Instrumental Hip-hop and Trip-hop, especialy early DJ Shadow's work. I know Zach's work from Hella, it's a great band also but I'll give it some time and let you know. I know that they have very raw sound so it's not a standart thing.

[@Adam-hi9dh]

I saw 96 BB in Queens NY. Crowd sucked but I loved it. Deron's right, his new band mates can actually play the old shit😆 and they all seemed to be having a good time

[@LoganCrosland]

Was that BT51?

[@Adam-hi9dh]

@@LoganCrosland yup

[@jasonsmall839]

Yes! They kill it!

[@surrexeruntofficial4029]

The drummer didn't seem to have jess's technique down though.

[@lolamiller5231]

@@surrexeruntofficial4029 thank god

[@haydendivine8412]

Deron's speaking voice gets me everytime when I think of his songs

[@anto691]

Chad blocked me on CKY IG for asking if they are currently a two piece band? 😂 Been a fan for a good 15 year's and he just blocks me for asking that.

[@psychotropictraveler514]

@Keith1974 I saw them live at Warped Tour around the time of the release of that record, and holy shit they were terrible.

[@noeditbookreviews]

I met that prick one time. The prick was a prick. Everyone else in the band was cool. Edit it was old CKY from the Vern days.

[@towertito2149]

He kinda seemed like the douchenozzle of the band 🤔

[@Megadextrious]

I fucking love Deron, I’m so happy he’s still at it. I love that he’s never sacrificed his integrity for an easy way to the top and that he’s always wanting to push his limits. Gaaahhhhh I wish I could collaborate with that dude!!! I made him a music video but it was just with interstellar footage.... anyways, cool interview

[@ukrainewarfootage2023]

41:00 talking about CKY

[@Clitches]

Thank you

[@therealjulez7886]

Great interview. Deron is so soft spoken & humble when he speaks, his song writing is unique. I'd support his projects

[@LoganCrosland]

Thanks for checking it out 👊🏻

[@yucatansuckaman5726]

I really enjoy his music and cky isn't the same without his iconic riffs. Really cool to hear from him after all this time.

[@dreamsof3dspace555]

wtf doesn't this guy age? he looks the same as he did in the 90's also i've never heard him speak outside of singing and his voice shocked me a bit

[@johnbotelho3453]

Synergy Restored is amazing. I can’t wait for the third album.

[@REACTSHENANIGANS]

Shout out to Akron Ohio! We love you Deron🤘

[@bobstover2239]

Go Ohio!

[@PSYGOZz]

Very cool to hear about meeting with Metallica. I have often thought that Deron riffs and style would fit very nice with Metallica. In my opinion James Hetfield and Deron Miller have made a good amount of the best sounding riffs ever. Hah i would really enjoy seeing them play each other's music. A good interview, Deron seems like a cool guy with a good perspective in things.

[@jeff7764]

I met Deron at a show in Berwick PA in 2007, he was a very nice and polite guy. I asked him if they’d play Familiar Realm, and they did.

[@noeditbookreviews]

Nice I met them too. Deron was cool and Chad was a dick.

[@JaredS-zf3hq]

Whoa, did that happen to be at Peppers? I live the next town down but was not of age to go and see shows there. That's so cool man.

[@jeff7764]

@@JaredS-zf3hq yup,that’s exactly where it was

[@JaredS-zf3hq]

@@jeff7764 Small world. I live in Bloomsburg literally 15 minute drive down the road. I would have been 15-16yo in 2007 and remember hearing about cool shows and being pissed that I wasn't old enough.

[@jeff7764]

@@JaredS-zf3hqI got out of that area over 15 yrs ago and never looked back.

[@zumatoobs]

In regards to plandemic, Derron was right, Chad was wrong. Chad went full biden zombie 😂

[@VICTORYOVERNEPTUNE]

Deron should have come to Maine. It was pretty easy breezy here.

[@artvandelay4914]

so excited for synergy!!!

[@LoganCrosland]

Us too! Thanks for checking the video out 🙏🏻

[@michaelgoldstein8959]

Much love from California

[@surrexeruntofficial4029]

I hope deron and jess reunite one day at least, they were both like the matt Stone and trey Parker of rock music. Maybe Chad should have just stayed on the production side of things.

[@billjim334]

Your voice is annoyingly deep

[@josephpiedmonte]

Honestly, his newest album is fantastic. It sounds like a memory of time gone past and takes me back to why I loved CKY in the first place.

[@jamesb1988]

Agreed. Especially the first half, I love 90 Car Pile Up.

[@Clitches]

Deron is one the best guitarists in my opinion. He performs well while shredding as well. Great unique sound

[@Hank_Amarillo]

link to the podcast he does he was talking about? smunday?

[@LoganCrosland]

I believe so!

[@PlanetCHH]

Miller sent me to! God damn legend.

[@jamesb1988]

Now that Tim and Shaun both bailed maybe cKy has a shot. Notice he didn't mention anything about drums on Synergy Restored... because there's nothing to say about a drum machine lol.

[@jasonsmall839]

I agree with you Deron about manifestation and passion. That's a kick ass story about Metallica. I have had similar experiences with Children of Bodom as well as CKY, 96, Ensiferum and Chixdiggit!

[@petduori]

Benjamin Button

[@sl3269]

It's been almost two years since this interview and Deron could already see the two-tier medical apart society coming. So much sense coming from a great musician. I'm so glad he hasn't become a narcissistic Hollywood celebrity. Fuck yeah.

[@undericesinger]

You can hear his West Chester accent slide out sometimes. I bet he says Iggles instead of Eagles when he's drunk. Lol

[@felldoh9271]

I’d get the hell out of California if I lived there. Great interview; Deron is one of the best musicians!

[@vincentzombi3916]

So cool to know he’s married to the great felissa rose of sleepaway camp from the early 1980s. Love cky and love that movie 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@drewrowe2551]

He loves horror movies i bet that was a fantasy inside of a fantasy! Pretty awesome!

[@paintedbird6417]

Her screaming mouth is enormous, I can see why the lads are fanboys.

[@PositivePokemonPlayers]

Lay off the adderall bro

[@benjamintweed4349]

No kidding. He's super neurotic in this interview. Wonder if he's coming down off something. (sorry for reply 1 year later, lol)

[@kevlord9]

Why was the Canada gig cancelled?

[@AbsoluteRecoil]

Miller’s idea of modern music distribution is a bit off IMO. That Livenation vaccine policy is bonkers.

[@Vannoxhxc]

my guy

[@pip7967]

Deron sent me here

[@LoganCrosland]

Thanks for checking it out 👊🏻

[@Adam-hi9dh]

An ATH em ah