PETER MILLER has played Bottleneck/Slide Guitar from an early time. First impressions included Hound Dog Taylor, Duane Allman, Big Bill Broonzy, Mississippi John Hurt, including players within a thirty-year radius of Robert Johnson.
Years spent living on the West coast and touring Midwest USA helped to consolidate Miller’s passion for Bottleneck. Absorbing lessons from greats such as Howard Roberts, Pat Martino, Joe Diorio, Tommy Tedesco cemented his all-time passion for the guitar. The hours spent listening, engaging, playing the multiple iterations of cross-genre, hybridised styles of Sonny Landreth, David Lindley, Leo Kottke - further galvanised his exploration of the instrument; ‘their playing pushed the envelope, made me see potential and options’
Other players of influence and perspective included Kelly Joe Phelps, David Hamburger, Roy Rogers and Elliot Randall [Steely Dan, Doobie Bros]. ‘Elliot had a huge influence on my approach; inspirational during rehearsal and a source of profound encouragement during our performances.’
‘I’ve always been a musician uncomfortable within the box …. learning the rules and spending most of my life trashing them. And I’ve often, found myself thinking; ‘I don’t know where this is going, but I’ll dig finding out. That’s who I am’.
And seeing so many untapped aspects of the Bottleneck encouraged the evolution of his instructional material–GUITAR: BOTTLENECK / SLIDE GUITAR ADVANCED TECHNIQUES.
This expose’ documents Peter’s understanding of the instrument, helping to further clarify new techniques including additions to existing approaches.
Blues and Country collide with Peter’s technique and in conjunction with the forthcoming tutorials, serve to further explain options and engage the player.
It’s hoped that you - the player - will derive some benefit from absorbing the video lessons - the music - so that the ideas presented may serve to enlighten, engage and enhance further understanding and study of Slide Guitar.
Miller’s Album Mad Day Dirt Rain explores a collection of urban blues tunes. This release completes a cycle of stories, settings and soliloquies introducing tunes with city shtick, country reverence, blues beginnings.
The album is available for purchase, on multiple sites and in multiple cross-media forms, including CD from this site.
