Randy Miller
The Myriad - United States

Overview

We are sad to announce the passing of Randy Miller, drummer from the band, The Myriad, on November 5, 2010. A wonderful husband, dedicated father, beloved friend and talented musician, Randy had been battling chondrosarcoma, a form of bone cancer since 2008. Randy was 39 years old.

Randall J. Miller was born February 9, 1971 in Long Beach, CA, and moved to Redding, CA in 1985. In 1997, he married Kristyn Davis and they have two children, Conner, age 11, and Gillian age 9. Randy founded and ran Metolius Construction with his business partner and friend Tommy Carlson, but in 2006, he gave into his musical passions and talents, and began playing drums for the band The Myriad. Known for his quiet demeanor and contagious smile, Randy transformed into a musical force when he sat behind the drums. The Myriad became more of a brotherhood than a band, with Randy the constant, steadily keeping the whole group in time.

While we know Randy was exceptionally talented, we will most miss his gentle ability to make everyone feel loved and appreciated.

“Randy was a rare gem. A totally humble man, but an amazing drummer and confident musician who owned his craft. He was a man who loved Jesus, his family, and any chance he could get to play the drums.” - Tim Taber, Floodgate Records.
 
"Randy breathed life into everyone around him all the way until the very end. People would come to the hospital to visit Randy and encourage him but quickly found out the visit would be quite the opposite. He began to pour out words of encouragement and tell people to do everything that's in their heart. He saw things in people that no one else recognized and his words of life ignited fires that could not be put out. He has changed my life and most of the people I know.  Randy was a great man." – Jeremy Edwardson, vocalist from The Myriad.
 
"Randy never had anything handed to him. He faced challenges throughout his life that would make most buckle. I am honored to have seen how a Godly man lives; with strength, kindness, compassion, and heart.  Selfishly I will miss him always; this world will be emptier without him. But I believe with everything in me that heaven will be richer with my friend there." –Steven Tracy, guitarist from The Myriad.

Two weeks ago, band members, past and present, as well as dear friends gathered to say goodbye to Randy. During the afternoon, Randy said something that seems to sum up his life: “I've been thinking about my life lately and how I’ve never really been a wealthy man, especially after the past 2 years of medical bills. We're renting our house and we don't have much. But you know, somehow I just feel so rich. I have an amazing family, and the best job ever.  I just feel so rich. Somewhere that's gotta mean something. Somewhere we all have a cosmic currency.”

In lieu of flowers, friends request that donations be made to cover medical and funeral expenses. Like many musicians, the Millers did not have health or life insurance. Donations can be made at by going to the Online Giving section at http://thestirring.org and clicking on the Mercy Fund designated for the Miller Family. All donations are tax deductible.

We are thankful for your thoughts and prayers for Randy’s friends and family. He will be dearly missed.

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Seattle-based quintet The Myriad strives to be as much a musical vision as it is a band. Developed from the midnight University musings of front man Jeremy Edwardson and bassist John Roger Schofield, the concept was simple and immediate: a living, breathing artistic unit that draws equally on the creative energy of all members. The two invited Randy Miller and Jonathan Young to come into their ranks. Finally, Steven Tracy, already working with Edwardson as a Seattle-based engineering duo of growing renown, completed the lineup.

Drawing rave reviews from both fans and critics worldwide, The Myriad's music covers a diversely artistic panorama. Atmospheric, melodic strains fill lyrics of hope, doubt, heartache, and love, while epic soundtracks span thundering anthems and sincere confessions with a mighty thump! The band has toured extensively, playing with bands such as Lovedrug, mewithoutYou, Mutemath, As Tall As Lions, etc., and has quickly earned a sing-along relationship with fans everywhere: a connection founded more on captivating performances than on-stage antics. Creative melodies evocative of at times Kent, at others Bjork, are delivered with the grand musical scope of The Verve, Radiohead and Mew.

The Myriad was recently hand picked by the music critics at MTV to be top finalists in a national search for the 'next big thing' called the Dew Circuit Breakout. Only 12 out of over 4000 bands were selected, then MTV turned the competition over to fan voting to ultimately determine the winner. The finale aired live on MTV2 on December 15th, 2007 and featured performances by the top 3 finalists and ended, after several millions votes came in, with The Myriad crowned 2007's MTV2 Breakout Champions. The bands video for the single "A Clean Shot" was produced by MTV at the NYC Times Square TRL studios and began regular rotation on MTV Networks on January 14th, 2008. The band will have a downloadable song on the new video game ROCKBAND for Xbox and Playstation as well as taking part in MTV promos like "Discover and Download" and "Artist of the Week" throughout the year.

The Myriad recently signed with New York-based label KOCH Records and is poised to set 2008 on fire! This summer, the band was featured as one of the Smashing Pumpkins' top 8 friends on Myspace and was asked to do a cover of "Perfect" for the Pumpkins' Myspace profile player. The Myriad's first full length record, You Can't Trust a Ladder, was featured as a Staff Favorite on iTunes (alongside the White Stripes and the Foo Fighters) when it was released in June 2005. Since then, MTV has used some songs off the record for the Real World Denver show and is clamoring to use new songs off the forthcoming record With Arrows, With Poise (out this April) for future shows. With Arrows, With Poise was recently mixed at Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany by Michael Ilbert (The Cardigans, Kent, The Hives) and mastered at historic Abbey Road Studios in London, England by Adam Nunn (Air, Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand, George Martin, Mogwai) as well as acclaimed Sterling Sound in New York City by Greg Calbi (Beastie boys, John Mayer, Interpol, Norah Jones).

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