"I think the love of music is the one thing that we all have in common. Great music inspires us, it makes us get up in the morning and move forward. We are all one and come from the same place, you are me and I am you. All our needs are the same."

Leroy Miller: Dirty Blues Off The Rails

Los Angeles blues sensation Leroy Miller has worked on countless recordings for music's brightest stars like John Mayer, Macy Gray and Smash Mouth. Leroy has toured all over the world as a supporting act for bands such as Aerosmith and the Dave Mathews Band. He has played venues ranging from The Whiskey A Go-Go in Hollywood to Webster Hall in Manhattan as well as arenas like the PNC Bank Arts Center in NJ and the Molsen Amphitheater in Toronto Canada. His humble beginning started doing shows at The Roxy in Hollywood eventually landing him a record deal with Geffen Records releasing "Nothing Sacred" produced by Mike Frasier known for his work with Aerosmith and AC/DC. He then signed a deal with Hollywood Records where he co-produced his self titled album "Leroy" with Grammy award winning producer Rob Cavallo mixed by Jack Joseph Puig.

Leroy's music has been licensed numerous times in film and TV most notably Scrubs on NBC and Arrested Development  on Fox and Netflix. The big screen in Hollywood has also used his music as main and end titles in films like Black Sheep starring Chris Farley and David Spade and Driven starting Sly Stallone. He has been receiving air play all over the world, his song "Get A Job" was the #1 most added song in the US for 4 straight weeks on rock radio. YouTube views for his song "Good Time" has gathered over 10 million views and counting. In 2015, Leroy released his 5th solo album titled "Off The Rails" for TML Records and will be touring throughout the US and internationally. If you have ever seen him perform live, you will walk away thinking what the great Leon Russell was quoted saying..."Leroy's a badass".

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the Rock n’ Blues music and culture? What does the blues mean to you?

I learn that all people in all cultures go through the blues. Blues music can help heal what life throws at us. The blues to me is a process of looking into yourself and finding the good though all the bad.

How do you describe Leroy Miller sound and songbook? What characterize your music philosophy?

My sound is best described as "Dirty Blues", it's raw and comes straight from my soul. My philosophy on music is to be true to your inner muse and don't be afraid to expose yourself. If you strike a chord with the listener then you will have succeeded. I believe that all people are one and that our consciousness is all entangled. Music is the one common thing culturally that draws us all together and the Blues is like the pub we all go to celebrate life.

What were the reasons that you started the Blues and Rock n’ Roll researches and experiments?

I first started playing music after seeing Chuck Berry on TV as a young boy. Watching Chuck Berry expressing himself on stage was like a religious experience to me. I knew from that moment what I was going to be.

"Honestly. There's too much phony music in the world and it's changing the way young people look at music. If you feed them junk that's all they will know and expect."

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? What is the best advice has given you?

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was from Alice Cooper. He said "play live as much as possible if your great things will fall into place".

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

The greatest moment on stage for me was playing for 5000 U.S. Troops on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier 500 miles out at sea in the Atlantic Ocean. It was glorious!

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I miss the honesty I think there are lots of great blues artists today but I only listen to the Blues greats from the past because it is real and they were truly living the blues. For me living the blues is a reality and I hope that people listening to my music will hear it and be moved by it. I fear that art in general has been taken for granted and no one seems to support it like in the past. It will be a travesty if will live in a world were no one is inspired to create art anymore because of lack of support. "You don't know what you've got until it's gone".

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

Honestly. There's too much phony music in the world and it's changing the way young people look at music. If you feed them junk that's all they will know and expect.

"I learn that all people in all cultures go through the blues. Blues music can help heal what life throws at us. The blues to me is a process of looking into yourself and finding the good though all the bad."

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues from Southern Juke Joints to Los Angeles clubs and beyond?

Being real and playing with unbridled passion. If it’s undeniable people will rejoice.

What has made you laugh lately and what touched (emotionally) you from the music circuits?

I had a drunk come up to me at a recent show and say "why are you selling CDs at your shows it's bad marketing" I asked them "well how much did you pay to get in" they replied "nothing it's a free show" I laughed and sold them a CD!

What is the impact of Rock n’ Blues music and culture to the racial and socio-cultural implications?

I think the love of music is the one thing that we all have in common. Great music inspires us, it makes us get up in the morning and move forward. We are all one and come from the same place, you are me and I am you. All our needs are the same.

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

Woodstock 1969 to watch Jimi Hendrix play in person!

Leroy Miller - Official website