Steve Miller Reflects on Jamming with The Beatles During 1969 London Sessions

Recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and legendary musician Steve Miller stopped by “The Howard Stern Show” on Tuesday for the first time since 1983. Miller and Howard had a lot to catch up on, and their conversation ranged from Miller learning guitar from Les Paul to the time he sat in on studio sessions with The Beatles and even worked with members of the legendary group.

Surprise Invitation to Olympic Studios

In 1969, Miller was on his way to Olympic Studios in London to work with famed recording engineer Glyn Johns and finish mixing an album. Johns had worked with artists such as The Rolling Stones and The Who, and just so happened to be mixing a Beatles project at the time Miller was scheduled to stop by.

“They needed a couple extra days and [Glyn] said, ‘Just come on over, stay at my house, we’ll go to the sessions,'” Miller recalled. “It was amazing because it was 1969, they were The Beatles. He took me over to George [Harrison]’s house and George was so great. He opened the front door and said, ‘Hi Steve, I’ve listened to all your stuff. “Children of the Future,” “Sailor,” they’re such great records, we love what you’re doing. Come on in, twirl the prayer wheel, and I’ll show you my synthesizer.’ I was just like… (gasps).”

Miller released “Children of the Future” in 1968 and “Sailor” later that same year, both with the Steve Miller Band.

Sitting in on Beatles Sessions

Miller said he sat in on the sessions and soaked it all in like a sponge. He was not only impressed with the music they created, but with the methods by which they worked, despite constantly being under a microscope.

“They were so cool and they did everything so quickly,” Miller said. “John [Lennon] and Paul [McCartney] came in and did their overdubs, and they were done. I realized that there were like 50 press people outside the studio. Everywhere they went, they were under this lens and I go, ‘God, how can these guys do this?'”

Recording ‘My Dark Hour’ with Paul McCartney

A day after being incredibly moved by their abilities, Miller got the chance to play with some of The Beatles.

“They were going to record again the next day, cut some live tracks and Glyn said, ‘Come on.’ John and Ringo [Starr] didn’t show up and they had all the gear set up. George and Paul were there and they said, ‘Come on up in the studio, let’s jam a little bit.'”

“George had to go, but Paul and [his wife] Linda were there hanging out,” Miller continued. “Paul’s a great drummer, and I said, ‘Well, let me show you this thing I’m working on,’ and honestly within seconds it was like we had known each other all our lives. He wasn’t Paul McCartney anymore, all of that was gone. We started playing and really kicking it out, we did this tune called ‘My Dark Hour.’ This was the moment I go, ‘I got it made.'”

“My Dark Hour” was released in 1969 as a Steve Miller Band single and features Paul McCartney on drums, bass, and backing vocals, though he was uncredited at the time.