Bill Miller: That Man Behind the Counter Hanna Houglum
Photography Houston Costa & Abdullah Aldeghaither
B
ill Miller stands behind the deli-counter with
as an assistant for the CEO of United Artists,
an oversized blue permanent marker in
Jerry Weintraub, I was on literally four tours
one hand and an order sheet in the other.
at once with The Moody Blues, Led Zeppelin,
As the time ticks closer to 6 p.m., his eyes, behind
Frank Sinatra and John Denver following being
his slightly dusty and finger-smudged glasses have
on tour with Elvis, Eric Clapton and doing work
grown weary.
with Tony Bennett. The Moodies, after awhile,
It has been another 12-hour workday for Miller.
wouldn’t go on the road without me.”
The same 12-hour workday that he has worked
“In fact one night, two of the members of The
every single day prior to this exact one for the past
Moodies were in New York for their solo project
10 years—with the exception of Christmas Day of
“The Blue Jays” and they were debuting a solo
course. Visibly ready to take a break, have a cigar,
album in Carnegie Hall and they wanted me
and relax—Miller decides to assist one last, eager
there so I went but the next night Led Zeppelin
woman who appears to be inquiring about the size
was in Los Angeles at The Forum and I had to
of the pulled-pork sandwich followed by how many
find a way to get to their show. So I went to that
ounces a good portion would be to have a side of
and then flew from New York to Los Angeles
the pesto pasta. He politely waits for the customer
and I got to the airport on Friday night. At 5
to make her decision before asking “for here or to-
o’clock I landed but something happened and
go,”—these being last words spoken before closing
we couldn’t get out of the terminal until like
up Malibu Kitchen & Gourmet Country Market for the
7 o’clock and the show was about to start and
nth time.
The Forum was not that far from the airport
“In 1975, after three or four years of working
but it was Friday night there was traffic and it
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