Merle
grew up in a very strict Baptist household in the sixties. They did not have
a television until 1970 and only then because his older brothers and sisters
bought it with money they earned at their jobs. He started playing the guitar
at age 15 with some friends at church. His first guitar had only five strings
on it and was not in tune. His older brother who had a job, bought a nicer
guitar and no one was allowed to touch it. Ignoring that, Merle would sneak
behind his back and play it when he was at work. However, his brother would
occasionally catch him and then there was hell to pay.
When
Merle turned 16, he got a job and bought his first electric guitar. Even though
it was second hand, it was just like new to Merle. It was a black Hagstrom that
was shaped like Batman. Some of his early bands were “Thadius Phlight” and “Upfront”.
Musical influences at the time were the Beatles, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Yes,
Gentle Giant, and Jeff Beck.
In
his late teens, he became interested in music fashion and switched gears into
the NewWave Punk scene in a band called “The Kardix”. He had local success,
but he felt he was lacking something and needed a change. He switched gears
and moved into “progressive rock” playing music in the style of “Rush” and “Pink
Floyd”. The band changed their name to “Foreign Affair” got an agent and hit
the road playing for not much money but lots of fun. After touring Canada and
needing a change, he helped formed the metal “hair-band” called Montreal in
the early eighties. They hit the St. Louis area in the mid eighties and achieved
moderate, regional success.
By
the late eighties, he was looking for a place to establish roots and settle
down. He found the Rolla, Missouri area appealing and decided to retire from
playing “on-the-road” after seven years of a grueling schedule. This gave him
the time to study, write music, and record. In the summer of 1996 he started
the Pseudo Blues Band and has been enjoying himself ever since.
