Dr. Know (guitarist)

Gary Miller (born September 15, 1958), better known by his stage name Dr. Know, is the guitarist for Bad Brains, regarded as one of punk rock's most innovative and important bands. Critic Rick Anderson praises Miller's "ability to meld the raw directness of hardcore punk with an almost supernatural virtuosity without sacrificing the power of either approach".[1]

Dr. Know
Background information
Birth nameGary Miller
Born (1958-09-15) September 15, 1958
OriginWashington, D.C., United States
GenresPunk rock, reggae, alternative metal
Occupation(s)Musician, guitarist
InstrumentsGuitar, keyboards
Years active1977–present
Associated actsBad Brains
Mos Def & Black Jack Johnson
Saudade

Personal life and musical career

Born in Washington, D.C., Miller has recorded or performed very little outside the group Bad Brains, though he has performed with Mos Def's group Black Jack Johnson.[2] He also performed a solo on the Coheed and Cambria song "Time Consumer" for their first album The Second Stage Turbine Blade, and he collaborated with Deftones on Saturday Night Wrist, although his contributions do not appear on the album. In early 2010, he made an appearance at the Trocadero in Philadelphia, PA, playing two songs with students from Paul Green's School of Rock Music at the Best of Season show.

In the 2012 documentary Bad Brains: A Band in D.C., Miller revealed that prior to forming Bad Brains the musicians were influenced by a wide variety of music, including disco and modern jazz. Performances by The Dead Boys and other underground bands turned them on to punk rock.

In the 2000s, he took on work at a Woodstock, N.Y.-area natural food grocery store, Sunfrost Farms.[3]

Health issues

Miller suffered a heart attack in November 2015 and his condition quickly progressed to multiple organ failure. He was on life support for almost two weeks was given a 5% chance of survival. His bandmates asked fans to help via a GoFundMe campaign to pay his expenses for rehabilitation. After nearly three months in the hospital, he was transferred to a medical rehabilitation facility for the physical therapy and treatment that he needed to make a full recovery.[4]

Latest projects

In 2016, Miller formed the supergroup Saudade along with singer and guitarist Chino Moreno of Deftones, Team Sleep, Palms, and Crosses; jazz keyboardist John Medeski of Medeski Martin & Wood; bassist Chuck Doom, co-member of Crosses and Team Sleep; guitarist David Torn; and drummer Mackie Jayson of Cro-Mags and Bad Brains.[5]

References
  1. Anderson, Rick. "I Against I - Bad Brains". Allmusic. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  2. "Music & Musician Forums: Black Jack Johnson" Archived November 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved November 5, 2005.
  3. Bad Brains: A Band in DC. Documentary film, 2012. Directors: Mandy Stein, Benjamen Logan.
  4. Bad Brains are asking fans to help raise $100,000 for guitarist – who is expected to make a full recovery from heart attack, Team Rock, March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  5. Pearce, Sheldon. "Deftones' Chino Moreno Forms Supergroup Saudade With Bad Brains, Cro-Mags Members, John Medeski". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
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