an astounding
20 million copies
and earned the
band repeated
platinum awards.
Braunn’s now-
legendary guitar
riff that powered
the album’s title
song inspired
thousands of
young guitar-
ists, and perhaps
generated almost
as many derisive
comments. His extended solo on the tune practically defined the
term “psychedelic guitar” at the time.
Braunn was always closely associated with Mosrite Ventures model
guitars, and he favored Vox Super Beatle amps for live work. At the
end of his life, he endorsed Taylor acoustics. He suffered cardiac
arrest and died in July 2003.
Jerry Miller
Although Moby
Grape hailed from
San Francisco,
their lead guitarist,
Jerry Miller, was a
native of Tacoma,
Washington. He
worked the local
blues and rock
circuit and played
with Bobby Fuller
before the late
songwriter scored
a national hit with
“I Fought the Law.”
Miller formed Moby Grape in ’ 67 with fellow guitarists Skip Spence
and Peter Lewis, bassist Bob Mosley, and drummer Don Stevenson.
The band’s debut album, 1967’s Moby Grape, was hailed by many
fans and critics as the best guitar record to come out of San Francisco
during that heady era. But the Grape quickly fell apart as a result of
bad business decisions, managerial problems, record-company blun-
ders, drug busts, ego clashes, and even chemically induced madness.
Through all the craziness, Miller’s lead guitar shone like a beacon in
the night. A funky blues player, he nonetheless had an affinity for
rock, country, and folk—and it shows in the band’s diverse music.
There have been numerous Moby Grape reunions and sessions over
the years, and Miller has been present for all of them. At age 67,
he continues to work in the Tacoma area with his own band, and he
still plays vintage Gibson L- 5 archtops.
Eddie Phillips
Jimmy Page did not invent the violin-bow guitar technique.
It was London-born Eddie Phillips—a progressive, criminally
