Merle Allin

Merle Colby Allin, Jr.
Origin Concord, Vermont
Genres Punk rock
Shock rock
Years active 1974–present
Labels Homestead Records
Alive/BOMP! Records
Associated acts Thrills, Malpractice, The AIDS Brigade, The Murder Junkies
Website http://www.ggallin.com/

Merle Colby Allin, Jr. (born 1 September 1953) is an American electric bass guitar player. He is the older brother of the late punk rock singer/songwriter/performance artist GG Allin.[1]

Allin played bass for three main groups that featured GG Allin: Malpractice, The AIDS Brigade and The Murder Junkies. He currently continues the Murder Junkies, his brother's last backing band, with original drummer Donald ("Dino Sex") Sachs, and a varying line-up of younger members.[2]

Merle is featured extensively in the documentary film Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies, by future Road Trip and Hangover director Todd Phillips.[3] He is also a principal in the as yet unreleased documentary Living the American Nightmare.[4]

Allin was also bass player in late 70's Boston punk group Thrills (a.k.a. City Thrills),[5] who released several singles, and opened for acts such as David Johansen, the Cars, and the Ramones. He subsequently joined the band Cheater Slicks, and played bass guitar on their debut album, "On Your Knees." Allin's trademark is his overgrown toothbrush moustache.

On April Fools 2014, New York record label Godmode released a 15-minute prank phone call with Merle as the victim. The premise of the recording (from 1993) was that the Murder Junkies would volunteer to either open for Bikini Kill at a charity concert (while refraining from sexist language), or at least help roadie for them. There is some question of the authenticity of the tape.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Steve Huey. "G.G. Allin". allmusic.
  2. ↑ Greg Prato. "The Murder Junkies". allmusic.
  3. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107086/
  4. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570103/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
  5. ↑ "Merle Allin". allmusic.
  6. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/270-down-is-up-18/