HinckleyHadAVision:
The first time the Reddmen played at my folks’ house Ramon might not have been more than 12. They were all young teenagers at best. Their older brother gave them a ride to my place. We all thought—let’s give these kids a chance. They proceeded to blow us all away with their talent, and they went on to become a powerhouse in the local music scene for the next three decades. Johnny’s sheer talent, unbelievably prolific songwriting, and unstoppable stage presence were unmatched. One of our mutual friends, Jack Batchelder, noted that he never felt cool enough to be around Johnny; I always felt the same way. But the incredible presence he carried—the light and the life—we, all of us, need to carry forward into the world. Johnny lives on in our collective memories—the community who knew him. Let’s keep all the positive things he showed us alive by taking the inspiration and sharing it forward.
SoDak:
The last time that I saw the Reddmen play was in Salt Lake City in 2022, when they played a series of dates as part of a reunion tour. Johnny Miller’s unbridled energy was infectious from the first guitar chord to the closing crescendo of their set. While I was rocking out, I caught myself smiling almost the entire time, enjoying the performance, just as I did in the mid-1990s when the Reddmen first started playing shows in Rapid City, South Dakota. I am not sure how many times I saw Johnny play with the Reddmen and Friends of Cesar Romero, as well as other bands such as the Weather Machines and Clause 83, but it was numerous few times over the decades. I never saw Johnny put on a bad show. He was a force to be reckoned with, as he erupted on stage, jumping around, and hammering on this guitar. Johnny and his brother, Miyo One Arrow, were electrifying, creating beautiful music. Johnny was unbelievably prolific writing hundreds of songs, finely crafting the structure, the guitar riffs, and the melody. He wrote catchy punk rock tunes that had complex chord progressions and emotional hooks like the Beatles. When he played live with the Reddmen and Friends of Cesar Romero, the influence of the Who was on full display, as far as a high-octane performance. I loved talking about music with Johnny, given his extensive knowledge of classic rock, country, and soul music. We shared a deep love for the band J Church, marveling at Lance Hann’s productivity. Johnny was a kind, inspiring, beautiful, and funny friend. He was a treasure, who enriched the punk rock community in South Dakota. I will miss him dearly—much love.
