Merge’s musical journey began with 10 years of classical piano lessons starting at age 5. All other instruments were self-taught. His first gigging band, while still in high school, was Graphics, in which he played keyboards and guitar {Mark Pulgini- vocal, Tim Reid- lead guitar, John Rumler- bass, and Don Miles [eventually replaced by Mark Agnew]}– drums.
Next band in college (MSU) - Napalm Coast {Merge- guitar, Mickey Walsh- keyboard, O.T. Slant- bass and vocal, Billy Jeff- drums}. Mickey and Merge collaborated on various recording projects after the band’s demise.
After travelling out west and returning to Detroit, Merge joined The PHD’s (Merge- keyboard, Jerry Bazil- drums, Joe Hayden- bass, Gary Adams- guitar, Chris Branch- saxophone and Jamie Lula {later replaced by Beaux Mitchel}– vocal.
The PHD’s soon morphed into the underground, Detroit area “all-star” band, Dark Carnival which consisted of Niagra {Destroy all Monsters}– vocal, Art Lyzak {The Mutants}– vocal, Jerry Bazil– drums, Joe Hayden {Aretha Franklin’s touring band}– bass, Ron Ashton {The Stooges}– guitar, and Merge– guitar. There were many incarnations of this band; far too numerous to mention here.
Merge and Art Lyzak, working well together as song writers, founded The Lucky Dogs. Merge- guitar, Art- vocal, “Greasy” Carlise- bass, and Dominic Lamar- drums.
After the breakup of The Lucky Dogs, Merge {bass now}, along with Joe {guitar} and Gary {percussion} Gingrass, formed the avant garde trio, Mergin. They played coffee houses around Ann Arbor and Jackson, MI.
Getting back into heavy rock, Merge then signed on as lead singer for the Ann Arbor based band, Tenfold. Other members consisted of Michael Connelly- bass, Rick Wilson- guitar, Craig Parker- lead guitar, and Mike Barton- drums. Tenfold soon morphed into Gag Order which had Erik Weber replacing Barton on drums. There were actually many changes in this group, far too many to blather on about. However, through the incarnations, Merge served as lead vocals, lead vocals and bass, and then lead vocals and guitar. Anyway, the band began to fall apart, but not before Merge had the opportunity to play with J Atlee on bass.
J Atlee introduced Merge to Jeff Wells and Shotgun Philharmonic was born. Merge on vocal and bass, J shifted from bass to drums, and Jeff on guitar. Shotgun released the album Twelve Gauge Tubes, but then fell apart four years later during the recording of their follow up record, Boot and Rally {which was never released}.
Determined to stick to a solo career, Merge began work on Blind to Triangles. However, a longtime friend, Dan Hunter, came to Merge with the idea to start a new three piece rock band with him on bass, Merge on vocal and guitar, and J on drums. Hence, Let Them Die was the result, whose debut album should be out around Xmas of 2021.
Merge is presently doing both solo work and fronting Let Them Die in Ypsilanti, MI with hopes of gigging soon if this fucking covid shit ever lets up.
-dates were intentionally omitted because Merge can’t remember any of them. As he put it, “Fuck time.”
-any additions or subtractions or better information concerning the above are most welcome. Please send us any corrections or photos!
-apologies to any names that were misspelled or omitted- definitely unintentional