Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
1.) We’re very excited to be speaking today with acclaimed musician and leader of the acclaimed rock band 96 Bitter Beings, Deron Miller; greetings and salutations, Deron! Before we meander down the Q&A pathway, how is your New Year treating you thus far?
FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRO! PRETTY MUCH LIKE EVERY NEW YEAR; YOU MAKE RESOLUTIONS AND GIVE UP BY THE END OF JANUARY. BUT I WOULDNT SAY ITS THAT BAD. THE RELEASE OF THE NEW ALBUM HAS GOTTEN ME THROUGH SOME ROUGH STUFF. IM JUST HAPPY TO BE ALIVE AND DOING WHAT I LOVE.
2.) Major congratulations on the brand-spankin’ new release of 96 Bitter Beings sophomore album, Synergy Restored! What was the genesis of this brilliant gem of an album, how did it come into being?
I STARTED THE BAND IN 2015; I NEEDED NEW GUYS TO DO A 20TH ANNIVERSARY FOREIGN OBJECTS ALBUM, WHICH IS A BAND I STARTED IN HIGH SCHOOL. AFTER WE FINISHED THE ALBUM “GALACTIC PREY” IN 2015, IT WORKED OUT SO WELL THAT WE DECIDED TO FORM A GROUP THAT WAS REMINISCENT OF WHAT I’M KNOWN FOR…THE MUSIC I DO THE BEST. SO WE DID A FUNDRAISER AND STARTED WRITING AND RECORDING. WE PROBABLY RECORDED AROUND 60 SONGS. A FEW COVERS, SOME STUFF RE-RECORDED AND ENOUGH ORIGINALS FOR OVER 2 ALBUMS. THE FIRST ALBUM, “CAMP PAIN” BECAME PRETTY MUCH A SAMPLER OF EVERYTHING THAT EVER INSPIRED MY SONGWRITING, AND STYLES I AM KNOWN FOR. THERE’S A KILLER OPENING TRACK ON “CAMP PAIN”, THE 2ND SONG WAS CO-WRITTEN… WHICH WAS ALWAYS RARE FOR ME TO HAVE A WRITING PARTNER. THERE’S A COVER SONG, A BALLAD, A TRACK COMPLETELY DONE BY FORMER CKY MEMBERS; AND A COUPLE OF CUTS THAT DEMONSTRATE A MORE EXPERIMENTAL STYLE THAT IVE DABBLED WITH IN THE PAST. “SYNERGY RESTORED” WAS RECORDED AT THE SAME TIME. “CAMP PAIN” CAME OUT AND DID WELL SO WE STARTED FINE TUNING THE REST OF THE MATERIAL AND SIGNED A DEAL, DID A NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR, WENT THROUGH THE HORROR OF THE PANDEMIC AND FINALLY RELEASED THE ALBUM NOVEMBER 4TH 2022. AS FAR AS COMING UP WITH A BAND NAME, “96 QUITE BITTER BEINGS” IS THE SONG I WILL ALWAYS BE KNOWN FOR, AND MY GRANDMOTHER TURNED 96 WHEN THE BAND STARTED. IT WAS TOO SPOOKY AND OBVIOUS TO NOT ROLL WITH IT. SHE RECENTLY PASSED AT 102.
3.) Synergy Restored weighs in at an impressive 11-tracks and, when taken together, it all feels like a large tapestry which tells one solid story, though each tune can be enjoyed by its lonesome. Was that always the intention with the new album?
I THINK WE JUST WANTED IT TO BE COHESIVE. THE FIRST ALBUM IS THE FOUNDATION AND SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US. WE HAD SO MUCH TIME TO WORK ON SYNERGY. THERE IS NO LYRICAL CONCEPT OR STORY. ITS DEFINITELY NOT A CONCEPT RECORD. WHAT MAKES THE RECORD SOUND COMPLETE AND COHESIVE IS THE FACT THAT IT WAS DONE BY ONE OF VERY FEW BANDS THAT HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCT, INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE STYLE. NO ONE SOUNDS LIKE US. NOT EVEN CLOSE. NO ONE SOUNDED LIKE CKY BACK THEN AND NO ONE WILL EVER SOUND LIKE CKY NOW. CKY WOULDNT EVEN KNOW HOW TO SOUND LIKE CKY, AND THEY NEVER WILL. THE INFLUENCES ARE TOO BROAD AND UNRELATED. ITS LIKE A SECRET FORMULA THAT CANT BE REPLICATED OR ARTIFICIALLY DUPLICATED. ITS TIMELESS AND TRENDLESS.
4.) We’re tremendous fans of the Adios Amigo track on Synergy Restored. Is there a VH1-Behind the Music story you could share with our readers on how this beauty came to be written?
LMAO NOT REALLY. ITS JUST ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE FUCK UPS IN YOUR LIFE. FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS, AQUAINTENCES…IF THEY DONT BRING YOU JOY, GET RID OF THEM. ITS A LOT LIKE A CLUTTERED HOUSE. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE OF AN ABUNDANCE OF TRASH PEOPLE THAN THERE IS TODAY. TOMORROW WILL BE WORSE. “ADIOS” WAS A SLEEPER TRACK. BEFORE WE STARTED RELEASING SINGLES I ASKED AROUND. NO ONE KNEW WHAT THE SINGLES SHOULD BE. THAT WORRIED ME BECAUSE I WENT TOTALLY NEGATIVE…”ARE NO SONGS WORTHY OF BEING SINGLES?” WHEN THE BAND AND THE LABEL VOTED, EVERYONE HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS. “ADIOS AMIGO” BECAME A SURPRISE “HIT”? WE JUST DECIDED TO RELEASE THE FIRST 3 SONGS ON THE ALBUM AS SINGLES IN THE ORDER THEY ARE ON THE ALBUM. ITS VERY SATISFYING TO FIND OUT THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN FAVORITE. THATS WHAT AN ALBUM SHOULD BE. ALL KILLER, NO FILLER. ALL HIT, NO SHIT.
5.) Who was the producer on Synergy Restored and what did that collaboration between band and producer look like in the studio?
KENNETH HUNTER AND I PRODUCED BOTH ALBUMS. KEN IS THE KIND OF GUY YOU WANT IN YOUR BAND…SOMEONE MULTI-TALENTED. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK. IT TOOK A LONG… LONG TIME. I TRAVELLED BACK AND FORTH TO LAKE FOREST, CA FROM VALENCIA, CA PROBABLY 300 TIMES. ITS ABOUT 4 HOURS TO AND FRO ON AVERAGE. WE WERE FIXING THINGS UP UNTIL A WEEK BEFORE IT WAS HANDED IN. WE WANTED IT TO MAKE A MARK. IT HAD TO BE A HUGE STAMP MUSICALLY AND HISTORICALLY. IT WAS SUCH AN EXTREME STATEMENT ….THAT HALF THE BAND HAD TO BAIL BEFORE IT CAME OUT. THEY WERE THAT BURNT OUT.
6.) Can you officially introduce the other band members of 96 Bitter Beings to our ever-inquisitive readers? Inquiring minds want to know!
KENNETH HUNTER IS A VERY GIFTED GUITARIST AND ENGINEER. HE HAS A GOOD EAR AND IS AN AMAZING SOCIAL MEDIA GUY. IVE BEEN PLAYING WITH MATTY JANAITIS SINCE 1999. HIS PERSONALITY IS UNMATCHED. HES FILLED WITH ENTHUSIASM AND POSITIVITY; AS WELL AS BEING UNDEFEATABLE AS A STAGE PRESENCE AND SONGWRITER. TUOMOS IS OUR NEW DRUMMER. HE IS FROM FINLAND AND WORKS HARD ON GETTING IN TOUCH WITH CONTACTS AND HELPING THE BAND ACHIEVE OUR GOALS. THE LUERA BROTHERS STARTED THE BAND WITH US, BUT PROVED THEY COULDNT MAKE THE LONG HAUL. THEY GAVE UP ON THEIR GOALS. I REMEMBER THINKING FROM THE VERY FIRST REHEARSAL; “IF I HIRE BROTHERS; IF I LOSE ONE….I’LL LOSE THEM BOTH”. THATS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I APPRECIATE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS A LOT, BUT I CANT RESPECT THEM FOR ALLOWING THEIR BABY MAMAS TO CONTROL THEIR LIVES.
7.) What makes Nuclear Blast the perfect record label for 96 Bitter Beings and their muisc?
THEYRE PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY LABEL LEFT! MAJOR LABELS WOULDN’T DARE TOUCH A ROCK OR METAL BAND THESE DAYS. NOT EVEN JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN. IN FACT, I THINK JUDAS PRIEST IS THE LAST AND ONLY METAL BAND ACTUALLY STILL SIGNED TO A MAJOR LABEL. MAYBE LAMB OF GOD. I HAVE A HISTORY WITH NUCLEAR BLAST GOING BACK TO 2003. ROADRUNNER IS DEAD. THEYRE ALL DEAD. ALL A RECORD COMPANY IS TODAY …IS ONE GUY… MAKING LICENSING DEALS FOR BACK CATALOG, TO HOPEFULLY MAKE SOME MONEY FROM ANOTHER ONE GUY THAT WANTS TO RELEASE OLD PRODUCT. I WANTED TO SIGN AN OLD SCHOOL DEAL WITH AN OLD SCHOOL LABEL. THERE ARE PEOPLE AT NUCLEAR BLAST IVE KNOWN SINCE THE 90S.
8.) How is Synergy Restored different than anything else on the current day music scene?
I DONT HAVE A CLUE WHATS GOING ON WITH THE ROCK AND METAL SCENE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE ISNT AN ENTITY THAT CAN EXPOSE IT ENOUGH FOR ME OR POTENTIAL FANS TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT SYNERGY AND 96BB IS EXTREMELY DIFFERENT FROM WHATS GOING ON TODAY BECAUSE IT CANT BE COUNTERFEIT-ED. THERES SO MUCH COMPETETION. KIDS NEED ROCK AND METAL. THERES A LACK OF EXPOSURE TO THAT KIND OF MUSIC AND MOST OF THEM FIND OUT ABOUT METALLICA AND AC/DC…AND OTHER ANCIENT GROUPS BECAUSE THEYRE BILLIONAIRES AND HAVE THE MEANS. TESTOSTERONE CAN BE BRUTAL. AGGRESSIVE MUSIC IS AN OUTLET FOR THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SIDE EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE…MUSIC IN ALL FORMS OPENS THE MIND TO CREATIVITY. A BAND GIVES, A FAN TAKES…AND THEN THE FANS GIVE BACK TO THOSE THAT WILL BECOME THEIR FANS… AND UNLESS THERES AN EASIER WAY TO OBTAIN THIS ART AND THESE CONNECTIONS; I.E. BANDS TO LOOK UP TO… THEY’LL BE SHOOTING UP SCHOOLS AND CUTTING THEMSELVES UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME. BANDS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN MUSICAL GROUPS. THEYRE SUPPORT GROUPS. ROCK GROUPS USED TO BE A HUGE PART OF RAISING A KID. THAT DOESNT EXIST ANYMORE. ITS BEEN REPLACED BY VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES; WHICH IS FINE; BUT THERES NO CREATIVE RESULT.
9.) What do you hope listeners walk away with after giving Synergy Restored copious plays on their respective hi-fi systems?
I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT 96BB IS A BAND WITH A DARK BUT HOPEFUL PATH…WITH A POSITIVE AND HUMOROUSLY DARK MESSAGE. SOME WILL GET IT AND SOME WONT.
10.) How is Synergy Restored similar to your last album Camp Pain? How is it different?
BOTH WERE RECORDED AT THE SAME TIME. “CAMP PAIN” CAME OUT IN 2018…”SYNERGY RESTORED”CAME OUT 2022. WE HAD MUCH MORE TIME TO PERFECT THE SECOND ALBUM. IT ISNT PERFECT, BUT THATS WHAT MAKES IT PERFECT.
11.) What does the touring dance card look like for 96 Bitter Beings in the coming weeks and months?
WE’RE SETTING UP A TOUR OF EUROPE. WE HAD EUROPE BOOKED IN APRIL 2020 BUT HAD TO CANCEL BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND A COUPLE OTHER REASONS. WE JUST DID SUMMER 2022 IN THE USA. THE PANDEMIC AND ITS AFTERMATH HAS MADE PEOPLE LAZY. WE’RE FIRED UP. WE WANT TO WORK. WHEN YOURE IN A BAND YOU CANT JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT OTHERS ARE GOING TO BELIEVE IN YOU AS WELL.
12.) 96 Bitter Beings has made its bones in the City of Angels, Los Angeles. How does this specific spot inform the band members and the music which you all create?
NO ONE IN LOS ANGELES IS FROM LOS ANGELES. YOU MOVE HERE AND BRING YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR WORK ETHIC WITH YOU. THE SURVIVORS STAY. MOST PEOPLE GO HOME.
13.) Final – SILLY! – Question: Favorite movie about the music scene – This Is Spinal Tap, Almost Famous or La Bamba?
BY FAR….SPINAL TAP….ITS SO SHOCKINGLY AND REALISTICALLY ACCURATE. THERE ISNT A ROCK OR METAL BAND ON THIS PLANET THAT HASNT HAD A SPINAL TAP MOMENT. NOT ONE.
Current Singles: “Vaudeville’s Revenge” / “Wish Me Dead” / “Bloodrock Mania”
