Meanwhile, Dave Miller, who had for a brief period sung vocal back-up to Ray Columbus in the Downbeats, back in Christchurch, received a much lauded telegram, from brother Graeme in Auckland, which read……. 'Give up smoking (stop). Learn some songs (stop). You are our new vocalist (stop)'.

Dave Miller's baptism of fire came at the Caledonian Hall, Christchurch, in the middle of 1963, at a packed house farewell to Dinah Lee sponsored by Coca Cola, and presented by top 'jock' Des Britten. Within weeks of Dave Miller's debut, the Playboys were contracted to the NZBC, on their 3ZB Station, for a teen-styled program called 'Soundstage'. Each week the band recorded four or five songs which were featured around a 'chat show' format talking to touring artists, both Kiwi and international. The radio show boosted the Playboys stature around the Christchurch scene, and as far afield as Timaru. It went to air on Saturday mornings.

As a consequence of The Playboys' growing popularity they played all the major venues of the time, The Zodiac Lounge: The Caledonian: Spencer Street: The Plainsman: The American Base at Harewood Airport: and the Max Merritt family's Sunday Teen Club, in Carlyle Street. Because of the upsurge in popularity The Playboys were recommended to Mr. Jim Rydings as the perfect choice for his new venture, The Laredo. The band jumped at the chance. The offer was far too good to pass up on. The Laredo went on to become one of the standout success stories in the annals of Christchurch entertainment. At that time Mark Graham chose to depart The Playboys and John O'Neill's younger brother, Kevin, came in on rhythm guitar.

Late, in 1963, The Playboys recorded a series of 'demos' at Robbins Recorders, in Christchurch, and the ensuing 10 inch disc became an industry talking point, even as far afield as Auckland. In the early part of 1964, Russell Clark, of Auckland's Benny Levin Promotions, made contact with the band and turned up at a group rehearsal, during a time he was in Christchurch over-seeing a touring show. He personally wanted to check out the band, their music, and the 10 inch demo disc. He requested an EP for his own demonstration purposes, so The Playboys went back to Robbins Recordings and laid down four tracks, two of which were original compositions. Nothing happened immediately, but there was the promise that if any Auckland vacancy occurred then The Playboys name would be put forward.

In October, 1964, an unexpected visitor turned up unannounced at The Laredo in the form of (Sir) Howard Morrison. Unbeknown to the band he watched, along with Benny Levin and Russell Clark, a featured performance from a vantage point at the back of the hall and asked, at the end of it, to meet with Dave Miller. Dave obliged, and they arranged to link up the next day for lunch. Howard proposed to Dave that, after what he had seen, he wanted The Playboys to tour with The Howard Morrison Quartet on their farewell summer tour before finally disbanding after a lengthy and illustrious career. Scheduled to take in North Island holiday and beach resorts, The Playboys were set to be cast as the teen component, for the show, as well as being the backing group for The Quartet itself. The entire production was planned and booked for the last three weeks of December, 1964, concluding in Howard's home town of Rotorua on New Year's Eve. A real 'feather in the cap' for The Playboys' talents. As they say, 'the offer was too good to refuse!'

After leaving Christchurch with a mayoral motorcade The Playboys headed north to Auckland, as a new base, and decided that 'The Playboys' name was too overused. Tom Jones had fronted a Playboys outfit; Gary Lewis & The Playboys (This Diamond Ring) and Normie Rowe & The Playboys (Shakin' All Over and It Ain't Necessarily So) seemed like too much confusion and, in addition to that, collectively, the band believed that the name had become rather 'old hat'. Opting for a new identity, The Playboys became The Byrds before embarking on the Morrison Tour which eventually introduced them to many, many thousands of people.

1965 turned out to be a hectic year of unprecedented proportions. The Byrds would have to have been in line for one of the most worked bands in the country. After the farewell 'Morrison Tour' the band relocated to Auckland and very quickly became the 'toast of the town' with constant bookings for appearances at all the major venues such as The Shiralee; TheTop Twenty; The Beatle Inn; The Platterack; The Monaco; The Oriental, and other places. It was a non-stop round of constant gigging. During the year they also played a number of concerts with the likes of, Howard Morrison, Ray Columbus & The Invaders, Dinah Lee, Ray Woolf, The Librettos, and Tommy Adderley, to mention a few. By the end of January The Byrds became the resident band at The Shiralee. Benny Levin Promotions took over management and the group signed with Zodiac Records. Rather like The Beatles, in Hamburg, The Byrds were the work horses at The Shiralee -- seven nights a week, with Saturday and Sunday afternoons on top. It was almost non-stop rock!

The workload and pressure saw the departure of brothers, John and Kevin O'Neill. They were replaced by Al Dunster on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Chris Collier on bass and vocals, and, almost immediately it was back to non-stop gigging. Al Dunster had previously been with the Dallas Four.

Mid 1965 line-up: L to R: Brian Ringrose, Graeme Miller, Dave Miller, Chris Collier and Al Dunster.

In March, 1967, Dave launched The Dave Miller Set at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The only other Kiwi involved was Ray Mulholland, former drummer with top Auckland group, The Rayders, the group that Chris Collier joined after the Byrds disbanded.