Jerry Miller, a key figure in the San Francisco music scene of the 1960s, passed away on Saturday night in Tacoma, Washington, at the age of 81. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
According to Deadline, the news was first posted on the Moby Grape Facebook fan page and by journalist Eric Brenner.
“Sadly, Jerry Miller passed away last night,” said the fan page post. “Jo and the family are asking for everyone to please give them some privacy and respect, and Jo asked that people cease phone calls for the time being. Thank you.”
His career took off in the late 1950s, where he played and recorded with prominent Northwest dance-rock bands, notably contributing guitar to an early cut of The Bobby Fuller Four’s hit “I Fought the Law” and later hitting the road with Fuller.
Miller, a peer of Jimi Hendrix and Larry Coryell, often gathered with them to catch touring bands in Seattle.
In 1966, he became the lead guitarist for Moby Grape, a San Francisco band formed that year. The group signed with Columbia and released four albums between 1967 and 1969.
Miller co-penned three of Moby Grape’s standout tracks—“Hey Grandma,” “8.05,” and “Murder In My Heart for The Judge”—with Don Stevenson. Notably, “Hey Grandma” later featured in the 2005 Sean Penn/Nicole Kidman film, *The Interpreter*.
Although Moby Grape disbanded in 1970, the band briefly reunited for a 1971 album and continued to perform in various iterations. Following Moby Grape, Miller formed The Rhythm Dukes with organist Bill Champlin.
Miller’s guitar prowess earned him high praise from his peers, with Eric Clapton dubbing him the “best guitar player in the world” upon arriving in the U.S. Robert Plant also acknowledged Miller’s influence on Led Zeppelin, noting that the band played Moby Grape songs during their initial rehearsals.
Miller was voted #68 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists. The media outlet said of Miller, “His playing was never self-indulgent, and his soloing was propulsive, always aware of where the song was headed.”
