Jacob Petersen

We all knew the day would eventually come that my boss through the past 15 years, Steve Miller, would throw in the towel. Due to unforeseen circumstances, after perhaps the most successful rock tour in the US of 2024, with a STELLAR triple bill of Def Leppard, Journey and The Steve Miller Band, Steve suddenly pulled the plug on the 2025 tour and put everything on hold until further notice.

While the band and the crew were hoping for the best, we’re now knee-deep in springtime, and I have had to make the difficult choice to begin actively looking for new work.

I never will forget Steve so FIRMLY stated to me at my audition back in 2011, shortly before I become a real member of his band. He said, “I want the performance SO GOOD, we could perform it under a damn light bulb, and the audience wouldn't notice.” Steve understood, very well, the benefits of production, but what he meant was that he did not want to hide behind it for a lesser performance.

Steve is old-school - from a time where often the actual PERFORMANCE was all there was and your only chance to win the crowd. So it was EVERYTHING to him, and he was just relentless about it. SO much so, it at times could be a real challenge not to take things personally, but this only made you tougher.😅

Steve was ALL about the delivery, and THAT will always stay with me. In today’s world of auto-tune, tracks, and now AI, Steve was 100% about being LIVE and REAL. Everything was in the moment, and you never truly knew what he was going to do in a song, even if it had been rehearsed the hour before preforming! “Take notes, in case he sticks to it!”, we often joked. THAT was a lesson I’m not sure a young musician can learn today, as almost everything is running through computers, triggers and tracks, and the old-school art of being impulsive and improvising is next to impossible anymore. You gotta have great ears and be on your toes, always! In Steve’s band, we all mastered that skill, and believe me, that was no small task - something I am extremely proud of for sure! A musician who couldn’t do this, wouldn’t have made it a weekend in Steve’s band, yet somehow, I made it 15 years…

Thank you Steve, it means the world ❤️

-Jacob

THIS post right here... Check the picture and what I wrote just about a year ago. It hits home hard right now...

Some of you know, some of you may not... but Steve called us all yesterday with the sad news he decided to pull the plug on the 2025 tour. A tour that already had been pushed earlier this year. We were all SO ready to play for everyone and get back out there as a band, a family and hear how everyone was doing. This was going to be my 15th summer with The Steve Miller Band and I am turning 50 next month, so this one here was a particular important year for me.

I can't believe I made it 15 years as Steve's guitar player. A chair that's a lot harder to fill than it could appear. It's at times been brutal, because Steve is a perfectionist, he has INCREDIBLE ears and is VERY detail oriented. He's also a true original and has his own signature style to everything he does. So trying to even get remotely close to what he asks of you is no small task, and Steve is not the most patient man i know, ha ha ha... BUT, for the ones who can handle the fire, GREAT rewards will be harvested and I love Steve with all my heart and I see the artist that he truly is, so I always understood that a great reward comes with great responsibility and hard work. I know I didn't make it 15 years in if Steve wasn't happy and appreciated my everything, and I know that he is, because I gave it my very best, and Steve in his own way, made that best be even better than I ever imagined I was capable off. THAT is a true leader, and with all his quirks, he IS a true leader and inspiration. He pushed us all FAR beyond, and for that I am grateful.

We had a very nice conversation yesterday on the phone and I can hear that Steve's very tough decision to cancel this years tour is the right one for him. He's 82 in a few months, he needs to reflect and figure out what he want's the last years of playing to look like... He can't waste it and/or risk his health. IF he decides to keep some form of touring, it needs to be the RIGHT way.

As of now, none of us know... He may just stay home, record what he enjoys just for his love of music... he may do smaller local shows in NYC, playing blues and jazz which he enjoys very much. He may decide to just do spring/fall short tours where he can be in control of venues and gigs he enjoys to play... there could be a farewell tour... no one knows.... I think by winter, we'll all know more... I hope... But it really IS the realty that this could be the end to this chapter... that's reality.

One thing I DO know... Steve's voice and his guitar playing, is STILL in fantastic shape and there is a lot there yet to share with everyone. He may be at the final phase, 81 years old... but like his Godfather Les Paul and the blues man that he is, I personally don't see him being done full stop... Blues men don't do that when they're still playing on such a high level and are still very much in demand. In a new era of AI music and AI bands on the horizon, there equally is becoming a large demand for "real" music and that is what Steve still brings... No computers, no dancers, no flash... just a TIGHT band with tight vocals and a good time. People need that still, especially these times.

So yes... we all hope Steve will find a way and come around. He LOVES to play, he LOVES his band and crew, and I'm very sad not knowing when I will get a chance to see him again. But Steve needs to do what is right for him. We can't be out there playing shows for people if he is not feeling it's right. That would be cheating people and dishonest. So I respect Steve for his choice and I understand where he is coming from. When we take the stage, we are there for the people. It is ALL about them... and therefore, each show has to be honest and sincere. It's not a money thing for Steve. I hope everyone truly understands that. He wants to connect with you all, so he needs to feel good to do that. You will NEVER find the Steve Miller Band phoning it in. Never!!!

Let's all hope we get a chance to see you all in some form next year. For what it's worth, it's been one hell of a ride and I can't thank him enough. I'm grateful beyond belief and hopefully I'll be back out there sooner than later... if not with SMB, maybe another group... I'm certainly open to what the universe have to say...

In the meantime, to all of you, stay positive, tell your friends what they mean to you and do what you know needs to be done, do it today, and stop pushing it to next week or next month. TRUE perspective never really happens until it's too late to make changes.

Jacob