Steve Miller Band struck gold (and platinum) with their breakthrough 1973 album The Joker and its chart-topping title monitor, which launched listeners to the house cowboy, the gangster of affection and Maurice, who spoke of the pompatus of affection.
The pinnacle-scratching lyrics have change into a part of the pop-culture lexicon, however the band’s namesake frontman revealed there was a function to his nonsensical pot-smoking anthem.
“Vietnam [the war] wasn’t over; there was simply all the time shit happening with [then-President] Nixon; there’d been riots everywhere in the nation,” Miller lately informed the New York Submit. “The nation was in a multitude. And I simply needed to, you already know, not sing about all of the detrimental shit however try to do one thing constructive.”
It is simple to see why listeners gravitated towards the protagonist of “The Joker,” a freewheeling vagabond in pursuit of a great time, whereas the U.S. was in turmoil. “It was only a music about this Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer form of character — a rascally form of man who’s simply out and about having enjoyable and never taking something too critically,” Miller defined.
Watch Steve Miller Band’s ‘The Joker’ Video
The music was additionally mildly transgressive for its time, as marijuana legalization was nonetheless many years away. “Ooh, hush hush — that was, like, secret speak in 1973,” the 79-year-old rocker stated with fun. “Nudge nudge, wink wink.”
Miller’s nonetheless out on the highway delivering classic-rock staples like “The Joker,” “Fly Like an Eagle” and “Jet Airliner” to the plenty, however he is not dwelling out all of his lyrics, as he gave up consuming and smoking at 35. “Consuming was straightforward — I simply give up,” he stated. “However the smoking was actually robust.”
He additionally maintains an offstage health and apply routine that retains him in high form for gigs — whereas additionally incomes him some mild ribbing from buddy and collaborator Paul McCartney, whose 1997 album Flaming Pie options Miller on a number of tracks. “They had been making enjoyable of me for doing my vocal warm-ups,” Miller stated. “And I simply stated, ‘Paul, you already know, you actually must attempt it. It actually helps.'”
Steve Miller Band Albums Ranked
Final Traditional Rock ranks each Steve Miller Band studio album from worst to finest.
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