{{Short description|American musician (born 1976)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Deron Miller | image = DERONMILLER_LIVE0709.jpg | caption = Miller performing with [[CKY (band)|CKY]] in 2009 | birth_name = Deron John Miller | birth_date = {{bda|May 21, 1976}} | birth_place = | origin = [[West Chester, Pennsylvania]], U.S. | genre = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[extreme metal]]}} | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}} | instrument = {{hlist|Guitar|vocals|bass|keyboards}} | years_active = 1995–present | current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Foreign Objects (band)|Foreign Objects]]|[[World Under Blood]]|[[96 Bitter Beings]]}} | past_member_of = {{hlist|[[CKY (band)|CKY]]|[[Malevolent Creation]]}} | website = }} '''Deron John Miller''' (born May 21, 1976)<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8gkKAQAAMAAJ&q=deron+miller+1976 | title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Brown, Marion - Dilated Peoples | isbn=978-0-19-531373-4 | last1=Larkin | first1=Colin | date=2000 }}</ref> is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band [[CKY (band)|CKY]], which he co-founded in 1998. Other bands Miller fronts include the [[progressive metal]] band [[Foreign Objects (band)|Foreign Objects]], the [[melodic death metal]] band [[World Under Blood]], and the [[alternative metal]] band [[96 Bitter Beings]].
==Early life== Miller has stated that his first musical influence, at the age of three years, was [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] guitarist [[Ace Frehley]].<ref name="musiciansfriend">{{cite web |url=http://www.musiciansfriend.com/resources/article/10-Questions-with-Deron-Miller-of-CKY/m710787 |title=Interview:10 Questions with Deron Miller of CKY |last=Sharken |first=Lisa |publisher=Musicians Friend |access-date=July 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712215557/http://www.musiciansfriend.com/resources/article/10-Questions-with-Deron-Miller-of-CKY/m710787 |archive-date=July 12, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He started taking guitar lessons at the age of eight, after "losing interest" in playing the piano,<ref name="esoterik">{{cite web |url=http://www.esoterikguitars.com/artists.html |title=Artists |publisher=Esoterik Guitars |access-date=July 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815022216/http://esoterikguitars.com/artists.html |archive-date=August 15, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and was later influenced by [[death metal]] band [[Death (metal band)|Death]], including vocalist [[Chuck Schuldiner]] and guitarist [[James Murphy (guitarist)|James Murphy]], followed by "more [[extreme metal|extreme music]] ... and more [[Underground music|underground musicians]]" such as [[Cynic (band)|Cynic]], [[Pestilence (band)|Pestilence]] and [[Malevolent Creation]].<ref name="musiciansfriend"/> He has described his first guitar as a "$50 piece of crap", noting that it was possibly [[J.C. Penney]]-branded, followed by an "imitation [[B.C. Rich]]" and, later, an [[Ibanez]] RG570 in 1992.<ref name="musiciansfriend"/>
==Career== ===1992–2002: Early career, Foreign Objects and CKY=== Miller played in his first band This End Up in 1992,<ref name="musiciansfriend"/><ref name="esoterik"/> and later formed [[Foreign Objects (band)|Foreign Objects]] with future [[CKY (band)|CKY]] drummer [[Jess Margera]], whom he originally met at high school.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cky-mn0000634463/biography |title=CKY Biography |last=Prato |first=Greg |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> The band released its debut EP ''[[The Undiscovered Numbers & Colors]]'' in 1995.<ref name="allmusic"/> Along with bassist Ryan Bruni, the duo later performed under the name Oil, before meeting guitarist [[Chad I Ginsburg]] (who was then working as an [[audio engineer]]) and changing the name of the band to CKY.<ref name="allmusic"/> Miller is credited with having conceived the name, which stands for "Camp Kill Yourself" and was believed by the frontman to be "a perfect title for a horror movie".<ref name="allmusic"/>
CKY released its debut album ''[[Volume 1 (CKY album)|Volume 1]]'' in 1999, which originally featured songwriting credits exclusively for Miller.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Volume 1 (CKY album)|Volume 1]] |others=[[CKY (band)|Camp Kill Yourself]] |year=1999 |publisher=Distant Recordings/Teil Martin International }}</ref> 2002's follow-up ''[[Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild]]'' credited "Deron Miller w/ Chad I Ginsburg and Jess Margera",<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild]] |others=[[CKY (band)|CKY]] |year=2002 |publisher=[[The Island Def Jam Music Group]] }}</ref> with Margera being omitted from the formulation for ''[[An Answer Can Be Found]]'' and ''[[Carver City (album)|Carver City]]''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=[[An Answer Can Be Found]] |others=[[CKY (band)|CKY]] |year=2005 |publisher=[[The Island Def Jam Music Group]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Carver City (album)|Carver City]] |others=[[CKY (band)|CKY]] |year=2009 |publisher=[[Roadrunner Records]] }}</ref>
===2002–2006: Death tribute album and controversies=== [[File:James_Murphy_in_the_dressing_room_at_the_Nokia_Theater.jpg|thumb|upright|Miller and [[James Murphy (guitarist)|James Murphy]] (pictured) worked together on a [[Death (metal band)|Death]] tribute album and the second [[Foreign Objects (band)|Foreign Objects]] release.]] In December 2002, it was announced that Miller would be working alongside guitarist James Murphy, drummer [[Dave Culross]] and vocalist [[Bret Hoffmann]] on a [[tribute album]] for the band [[Death (metal band)|Death]], to benefit the family of founding member [[Chuck Schuldiner]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ex-death-malevolent-creation-members-team-up-to-record-death-tribute-cd/ |title=Ex-Death, Malevolent Creation Members Team Up To Record Death Tribute CD |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=December 24, 2002 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> After Schuldiner's family approved the project,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ex-death-malevolent-creation-members-get-green-light-to-record-death-tribute-cd/ |title=Ex-Death, Malevolent Creation Members Get Green Light To Record Death Tribute CD |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=February 23, 2003 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/chuck-schuldiner-s-mother-endorses-upcoming-death-tribute/ |title=Chuck Schuldiner's Mother Endorses Upcoming Death Tribute |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=February 25, 2003 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> bassist [[Terry Butler]], [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] members [[Mick Thomson]] (guitar) and [[Paul Gray (American musician)|Paul Gray]] (bass), and more joined the project,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/slipknot-members-to-contribute-to-death-tribute-album/ |title=Slipknot Members To Contribute To Death Tribute Album |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=July 17, 2003 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> which was titled ''Within the Mind: In Homage to the Musical Legacy of Chuck Schuldiner'' and scheduled for release through [[Mascot Records]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-s-deron-miller-speaks-out-on-upcoming-death-tribute-this-is-the-real-deal/ |title=CKY's Deron Miller Speaks Out on Upcoming DEATH Tribute: 'This Is The Real Deal' |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=February 6, 2004 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref>
In addition to their collaboration on the Death tribute album, Miller and Murphy also worked together again on ''[[Universal Culture Shock/Undiscovered Numbers & Colors|Universal Culture Shock]]'', the second album by Foreign Objects, released in 2004.<ref name="murphyforeign">{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-s-deron-miller-offers-updates-on-death-tribute-album-foreign-objects-side-project/ |title=CKY's Deron Miller Offers Updates on Death Tribute Album, Foreign Objects Side Project |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=October 17, 2004 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> Murphy contributed lead guitar and mastering to the album, with Miller praising the guitarist for making the album "one thousand times better".<ref name="murphyforeign"/>
During the build-up to the release of CKY's third studio album ''[[An Answer Can Be Found]]'', Miller was involved in a number of controversies with the music media. First, he called out [[Megadeth]] frontman [[Dave Mustaine]] for threatening to cancel shows at which "[[Satanism|Satanic]]" bands were also scheduled to appear, asking him to "stop creating drama".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-frontman-has-a-message-for-dave-mustaine-stop-creating-drama/ |title=CKY Frontman Has A Message For Dave Mustaine: 'Stop Creating Drama' |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=May 8, 2005 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> A few weeks later, he criticised a number of commentators on the website [[Blabbermouth.net]] for posting negative comments about CKY, describing them as "lonely, jealous music fans".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-frontman-slams-lonely-jealous-blabbermouth-net-losers/ |title=CKY Frontman Slams 'Lonely, Jealous' Blabbermouth.net 'Losers' |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=June 2, 2005 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> Following the release of ''An Answer Can Be Found'', Miller also responded to [[Jenny Eliscu]]'s one-star review of the album for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine, describing her as "juvenile" and an "ugly skank", and proposing that she was "not intelligent enough to understand" the band's lyrics.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-frontman-slams-rolling-stone-journalist-over-cd-review/ |title=CKY Frontman Slams Rolling Stone Journalist Over CD Review |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=July 9, 2005 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> Eliscu responded by complaining to CKY's label, [[The Island Def Jam Music Group]], that the frontman had launched a "harassment campaign" against the journalist, alleging that he had posted her home phone number online, leading to fans calling her with death threats.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-fans-wage-harassment-campaign-against-rolling-stone-critic/ |title=CKY Fans Wage 'Harassment Campaign' Against Rolling Stone Critic |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=August 12, 2005 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref>
===2006–2011: World Under Blood and collaborations=== [[file:CKY-Colchester09-Deron1-edited.jpg|thumb|Miller performing in 2009]] In October 2006, it was announced that Miller was working with drummer [[Tim Yeung]] and producer [[Logan Mader]] on a demo for new [[death metal]] side project called [[World Under Blood]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-frontman-working-on-brutal-world-under-blood-project/ |title=CKY Frontman Working On 'Brutal' World Under Blood Project |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=October 22, 2006 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> The band later released a number of songs on its [[MySpace]] page.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-frontman-s-death-metal-project-uploads-first-track/ |title=CKY Frontman's Death Metal Project Uploads First Track |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=November 29, 2006 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/world-under-blood-another-song-posted-online/ |title=World Under Blood: Another Song Posted Online |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=March 11, 2007 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> In 2008, Miller also performed with [[Malevolent Creation]] and recorded with [[thrash metal]] group [[Believer (band)|Believer]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-s-deron-miller-to-tour-with-malevolent-creation-record-with-believer/ |title=CKY's Deron Miller To Tour With Malevolent Creation, Record With Believer |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=April 17, 2008 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> and later also recorded with [[progressive metal]] band The Alien Blakk.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cky-frontman-lays-down-vocals-for-new-the-alien-blakk-album/ |title=CKY Frontman Lays Down Vocals For New The Alien Blakk Album |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=January 27, 2009 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> His Believer contribution later surfaced in the form of a guitar solo on ''[[Gabriel (album)|Gabriel]]'' opening track "Medwton".<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Gabriel (album)|Gabriel]] |others=[[Believer (band)|Believer]] |year=2009 |publisher=[[Metal Blade Records]]/Cesspool Recordings }}</ref> World Under Blood's debut full-length album ''[[Tactical (World Under Blood album)|Tactical]]'' was eventually released in July 2011 by [[Nuclear Blast Records]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/world-under-blood-to-release-debut-album-in-july/ |title=World Under Blood To Release Debut Album in July |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=April 11, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref>
After a CKY show in [[St. Louis, Missouri]], in 2007, Miller reportedly had an altercation with Ginsburg in the tour bus, after which the guitarist claimed that the frontman had left the band.<ref name="2007tensions">{{cite news |url=http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/drama-insues-inside-of-cky-band-fight-breaks-out |title=Drama {{sic|in|sues|nolink=yes|expected|ensues}} inside of CKY, band fight breaks out |publisher=Metal Injection |date=October 22, 2007 |access-date=June 19, 2015 }}</ref> Miller responded with claims to the contrary, while Ginsburg proposed that he would continue CKY with Margera.<ref name="2007tensions"/>
===2011–present: CKY departure and recent events=== The fate of CKY was cast into doubt in 2011, when the band released a video in which each member spoke about their desires for the future of the band; all members but Ginsburg wanted to record solo albums, while the guitarist favoured releasing another CKY album.<ref name="whatsnext">{{cite news |url=http://www.metalinsider.net/splits/shall-we-wish-cky-rip-now-or-later |title=Shall We Wish CKY R.I.P. Now Or Later? |last=Shaw |first=Zach |publisher=Metal Insider |date=August 2, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> Miller elaborated on the situation on his Facebook page, claiming that Ginsburg had left the band, and that no one in the "CKY camp" kept him informed of plans and updates, which had led to tensions.<ref name="whatsnext"/> Miller was replaced in CKY for the first time since the band's formation in 2012, when former [[Year Long Disaster]] frontman Daniel Davies joined for a series of shows at Australian music festival [[Soundwave (Australian music festival)|Soundwave]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.metalinsider.net/metal-musical-chairs/cky-replaces-deron-miller-with-year-long-disasters-daniel-davies |title=CKY Replaces Deron Miller With Year Long Disaster's Daniel Davies |last=Shaw |first=Zach |publisher=Metal Insider |date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> In 2014, Miller reunited with Ginsburg for a planned reunion of the band and a new album,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theprp.com/2014/01/09/news/cky-to-return-in-2014-with-deron-miller/ |title=CKY To Return in 2014 With Deron Miller |author=wookubus |publisher=Theprp.com |date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> although no further activity was reported and by 2015 he had once again been replaced by Davies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theprp.com/2015/04/17/news/cky-confirm-the-return-of-daniel-davies-for-amnesia-rockfest/ |title=CKY Confirm The Return of Daniel Davies For 'Amnesia Rockfest' |author=wookubus |publisher=Theprp.com |date=April 17, 2015 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref>
Since the inactivity of CKY, Miller has released his debut solo album ''[[Acoustified!]]'', featuring [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] recordings of CKY and Foreign Objects songs,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theprp.com/2013/12/11/news/deron-miller-releases-cky-etc-acoustic-covers-album-acoustified/ |title=Deron Miller Releases CKY, Etc. Acoustic Covers Album "Acoustified!" |author=wookubus |publisher=Theprp.com |date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> as well as resurfaced the Foreign Objects moniker for a new album, ''Galactic Prey''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theprp.com/2014/03/31/news/foreign-objects-cky-etc-streaming-new-track-galactic-prey-cky-working-on-new-album/ |title=Foreign Objects (CKY, Etc.) Streaming New Track "Galactic Prey", CKY Working on New Album |author=wookubus |publisher=Theprp.com |date=March 31, 2014 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> Both releases were funded via [[crowdfunding]] website [[Indiegogo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/deron-miller-the-acoustic-album/ |title=Deron Miller – The Acoustic Album |publisher=[[Indiegogo]] |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/foreign-objects-album-2014/ |title=Foreign Objects Album 2014 |publisher=[[Indiegogo]] |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> In 2016, Miller announced that he was concurrently working on a number of different projects: a deluxe vinyl reissue of CKY's ''Volume 1'', the debut album by MechaCKY (later renamed [[96 Bitter Beings]]), two albums by World Under Blood (''Life Is Too Long to Like You'' and ''Tetanus Invasive''), a new Foreign Objects album entitled ''Lean, Mean and Bleeding Green'', and a sequel to ''Acoustified!''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theprp.com/2016/02/03/news/ex-cky-frontman-moves-on-with-his-own-version-of-the-band-mechacky/ |title=Ex-CKY Frontman Deron Miller Moves On With His Own Version Of The Band 'MechaCKY' |publisher=Theprp.com |date=February 3, 2016 |access-date=February 8, 2016 }}</ref> It was later announced that 96 Bitter Beings would be releasing two albums, ''Synergy Restored'' and ''Camp Pain'', as part of an Indiegogo campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/96-bitter-beings-new-album-2016#/ |title=96 Bitter Beings New Album 2016 |publisher=[[Indiegogo]] |access-date=August 28, 2016 }}</ref>
In 2022, Miller became the new frontman of death metal band [[Malevolent Creation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-19 |title=MALEVOLENT CREATION Recruits Former CKY Frontman DERON MILLER |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/malevolent-creation-recruits-former-cky-frontman-deron-miller |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Blabbermouth.net}}</ref> He left the band in 2024, but returned in November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=wookubus |date=2025-11-29 |title=Malevolent Creation Welcome Back Deron Miller (Ex-CKY, Etc.), Reveal Plans For Their New Album "Return Fire" |url=https://www.theprp.com/2025/11/29/news/malevolent-creation-welcome-back-deron-miller-ex-cky-etc-reveal-plans-for-their-new-album-return-fire/ |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=Theprp.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Equipment== Speaking in an interview with Guitar.com in 2002, Miller noted that he played [[Parker Guitars]], including the NiteFly M, P38 and P40 models, with [[D'Addario (manufacturer)|d'Addario]] strings and the [[Marshall Amplification|Marshall]] JCM2000 amplifier.<ref name="musiciansfriend"/> He signed a deal with [[Jackson Guitars]] in 2011,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jacksonguitars.com/blog/artist-news/deron-miller-joins-jacksons-stable/ |title=Deron Miller Joins Jackson's Stable |author=MDuffy |publisher=[[Jackson Guitars]] |date=November 17, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> then later with Esoterik Guitars in 2014.<ref>{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX-J2qMHong |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/PX-J2qMHong |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Deron Miller CKY |publisher=YouTube |date=April 24, 2014 |access-date=July 11, 2015 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Personal life== Miller has been married to actress [[Felissa Rose]] since 2004. They have three children.
==Discography== {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}} ;Solo albums *''[[Acoustified!]]'' (2013) *''Crude'' (2024) ;with 96 Bitter Beings *''Camp Pain'' (2018) *''Synergy Restored'' (2022) *''Return to Hellview'' (2024) ;with CKY {{main|CKY discography}} *''[[Volume 1 (CKY album)|Volume 1]]'' (1999) *''[[Volume 2 (CKY album)|Volume 2]]'' (1999) *''[[Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild]]'' (2002) *''[[An Answer Can Be Found]]'' (2005) *''[[Carver City (album)|Carver City]]'' (2009) *''[[B-Sides & Rarities (CKY album)|B-Sides & Rarities]]'' (2011) {{col-2-of-2}} ;with Foreign Objects *''[[The Undiscovered Numbers & Colors]]'' (1995) *''[[Universal Culture Shock/Undiscovered Numbers & Colors|Universal Culture Shock]]'' (2004) *''[[Galactic Prey]]'' (2015) ;with World Under Blood *''[[Tactical (World Under Blood album)|Tactical]]'' (2011) ;with Believer *''[[Gabriel (album)|Gabriel]]'' (2009) – "Medwton" ;with The Alien Blakk *''Bekoming'' (2010) – "The Path" {{col-end}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{cc}} *{{facebook|deronmillermusic}} *{{twitter|realderonmiller}}
{{CKY (band)}} {{Foreign Objects}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Deron John}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:CKY crew]] [[Category:Musicians from Chester County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:American rock singers]] [[Category:American heavy metal singers]] [[Category:American death metal musicians]] [[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]] [[Category:American rock guitarists]] [[Category:American heavy metal bass guitarists]] [[Category:American rock bass guitarists]] [[Category:American heavy metal keyboardists]] [[Category:American male singers]] [[Category:20th-century American singers]] [[Category:21st-century American singers]] [[Category:Malevolent Creation members]]