Rob Miller (musician)

Rob Miller
Also known as	The Baron Rockin Von Aphid the Baron Aphid
Origin	Tavistock, Devon, England
Genres	Crust punk
Occupation(s)	Musician, swordsmith
Instrument(s)	Vocals, bass
Years active	1978–present
Labels	Spiderleg, Alternative Tentacles, Moshpit Tragedy, Heavy Metal, Relapse
Website	www.castlekeep.co.uk

Rob Miller, also known by the stage name the Baron Rockin Von Aphid^[1] or simply the Baron^[2] or Aphid,^[3] is an English musician and swordsmith. Beginning his musical career in 1978, he is primarily known as the lead vocalist and bass player of pioneering crust punk band Amebix. He also plays in the international supergroup Tau Cross.

Early life

Miller grew up near Tavistock in Devon with his older brother Chris.^[4] His father was a gunsmith, descended from Scottish mercenaries who fought for royals in Sweden and Norway. He spent his childhood playing with submachine guns and flintlocks.^[5]

Career

Amebix: 1978–1987

When Miller was involuntarily discharged from his role as an Air Training Corps sergeant in 1978, due to being intoxicated while on duty when stationed in the Netherlands.^[6] The same year, Chris Miller returned to Devon from Jersey, wanting to form a band. This led to the formation of the Band with No Name, with Rob Miller on vocals, Chris Miller on guitar, Clive Barnes on bass and Andy Hoare on drums. In 1979, the band changed its name to Amebix, and recorded a self-titled six-track demo. Soon after, when Miller was sent, by the publication he was a journalist for, to review a live performance of anarcho-punk band Crass at Abbey Hall in Plymouth, he presented the demo to the band, who included the track University Challenged on their Bullshit Detector compilation. In 1981, Miller and Amebix relocated to Peter Tavy and began living with new drummer Martin Baker in Glebe House, the former site of a Saxon burial ground. After Baker's departure from the band, the band moved to Gunnislake in Cornwall to live with newly recruited keyboard player Norman Butler. They then relocated to Bristol, where they began squatting with local punk bands like Disorder and Chaos UK. They released their debut EP Who's the Enemy on 28 August 1982 through Spiderleg Records, whom they had been turned onto in the brief period they were living with Crass. The EP peaked at number 33 on the UK Independent Singles and Albums Charts. On 26 November 1983, they released the sophomore EP No Sanctuary, which reached the top 10 of the U.K. Independent Music Chart, and gained them the attention of Dead Kennedys vocalist Jello Biafra, who signed them to his record label Alternative Tentacles. This led to their subsequent European headline tour. While in Bologna, Italy, Miller and the other members of Amebix were arrested for vandalism of a squat.^[3] Alternative Tentacles released the band's debut album Arise! on 14 September 1985, which peaked at number 3 on the U.K. Independent Music Chart. They soon after relocated to Bath, Somerset and halted their squatting. In 1987 they released their second album Monolith through Heavy Metal Records.^[3] However Amebix soon began facing major writer's block,^[3] which led them to break up in 1987.^[5]

Beginning swordsmithing: 1988–2007

After Amebix's dissolution, Miller and his girlfriend Jen separated, which left him homeless and with no contact to his children.^[7] Soon after, he was involved in a motorcycle accident which led to him breaking his arm and destroying the only clothes he owned.^[8] While working in a hotel, Miller met a man whom he described as having "very abstract ideas about mythology", which led to him wanting to a pursue a career as a swordsmith. In 1991, he moved to the Isle of Skye, where he designed his first sword for a local.^[5]

Sonic Mass: 2008–2012

in 2008, Miller reformed Amebix with his brother and Roy Mayorga.^[9] On 23 September 2011, they released their third studio album Sonic Mass.^[10] In November 2012, the band parted ways once again.^[11]

Tau Cross: 2013–present

In 2013, Miller formed Tau Cross. On 19 May 2015, they released their self-titled debut album through Relapse Records.^[12] On 21 July 2017, they released their second album Pillar of Fire.^[13] In July 2019, Tau Cross were suddenly removed from their contract with Relapse Records, after it was discovered that Miller had thanked a prominent Holocaust denier, Gerard Menuhin, in the liner notes for their up-and-coming third album Messengers of Deception.^[14] The rest of the band soon distanced themselves from his views on the topic, which led to him continuing the band without any of the then-members.^[15]

Personal life

Miller identifies as gnostic and believes that the universe is an illusion created by a powerful force, that "is not conscious of the fact that it's not God itself".^[16]

Politically, he is an anarchist, however does not believe that any one personal has the right to impose their politics onto another.^[17]

He has a son named Richard, to a woman he had a relationship with in the '80s.^[18]

Discography

With Amebix

• Arise! (1985)
• Monolith (1987)
• Sonic Mass (2011)

With Tau Cross

• Tau Cross (2015)
• Pillar of Fire (2017)
• Messengers of Deception (2020)

References

1. "The Obelisk Questionnaire: Rob Miller of Amebix". The Obelisk. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
2. Croasdale, Tony. "An Open Letter to Rob Miller (Amebix, Tau Cross)". Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
3. Glasper, Ian. The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980–1984.
4. "Amebix: Life is Quite Dull, Really". Oo-er. 1988.
5. Spokony, Sam. "Rob Miller Of Amebix: Things I Have Learned About Being A Swordsmith". The Quietus. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
6. Glasper, Ian (2007). The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984. Cherry Red Books. p. 332. I'd just been kicked out of the ATC, where I was a sergeant at the time; I'd disgraced myself terribly by getting pissed up in Holland on this big march over there with six-and-a-half thousand allied troops, so the RAF wasn't an option for me after that. But as one door closed, so another one opened
7. Norton, Justin M. (9 November 2011). "Interview: Amebix' Rob Miller". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
8. Amebix Make Their Own Swords - Practice Space - Episode 3. Vice Media.
9. "AMEBIX REFORM WITH DRUMMER ROY MAYORGA". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
10. Jameson, Neill (6 March 2017). "Justify Your Shitty Taste: Amebix "Sonic Mass"". Decibel. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
11. "AMEBIX Calls It Quits". 30 November 2012. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
12. Adams, Gregory. "Amebix/Voivod Offshoot Tau Cross Detail Debut LP". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
13. FRANCO, NICHOLAS (22 July 2017). "Album Review: TAU CROSS Pillar of Fire". Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
14. Hughes, Josiah. "Tau Cross Frontman Defends His Support of Holocaust Denier as Bandmates Distance Themselves". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
15. Thiessen, Brock. "Rob Miller to Continue Tau Cross on His Own Following Holocaust Denier Controversy". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
16. Gentile, Joseph (19 July 2017). "Tau Cross's Rob Miller Forges New Paths—and Swords". Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
17. Butler, Roya. "Interview with Amebix vocalist Rob Miller". Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
18. "An Interview with Amebix Vocalist Rob Miller". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2020.