Michael Burles
Born in the wilds of Sumatra, Michael used his
powerful voice at a young age to scare off potentially deadly predators,
particularly the Sumatran Rat Monkey. It was this early vocal training that
led Mr. Burles to a life in music. After swimming to Australia in 1995,
Burles found himself in his first band as co-lead singer for the
International Buffet (based out of Bedford Park, South Australia). This
eight piece band had their most memorable performance in the Flinders
Medical Center Tavern, where nurses wheeled patients into the bar from their
rooms so they could catch a glimpse of the magnificent band cranking out
groovy tunes. After fleeing to the United States in an effort to evade an
enraged Gila monster, Michael found himself playing guitar regularly to pass
the time and finance his pez dispenser collection. Michael enjoys playing
Petrushka chords, devouring small cities, and carbon freezing himself when
no one's around.
Chris Lytsell
Known primarily for his prowess on the basketball
court, Chris gave up on a certain opportunity to content for the Mr.
Olympia competition to join Merle. Mr. Lytsell learned the art of drumming
at a young age in 16th century Russia, where he would beat the peasants to
some extraordinary rhythms. Four hundred plus years later, Chris is still
going strong. His claim to fame is that he strikes the drums with such
vigor, he must replace the skins three or four times during each show. The
other members of Merle have tried everything to contain his energy,
including enclosing him behind a solid brick wall and replacing his drum
sticks with limp spaghetti. Alas, nothing can diminish the power of
Lytsell! In his spare time, Chris enjoys bingo at the senior citizens
center, and dunking over people who he gingerly refers to as
"simpletons."
Adam Stonewall
Every band must have its loose cannon. For Merle, that
cannon is Adam. No one is quite sure of where Mr. Stonewall hails from,
including Mr. Stonewall himself. In fact, his entire shady history appears
to be lost in the archives. Recent theories revolve around some type of
government experiment gone awry, which would explain the unusually long
nipple hair. In any case, Adam is best known around the Portland area for
his propensity at the game of mercy and for the sharp increase in the number
of holes that appear in walls wherever he goes. He gave up careers in acting
and hydrology to pursue his lifelong dream- women. When Adam is not playing
bass, drums, harmonica or keyboard for Merle he enjoys water gardening and
trying to hail the mother ship.
Chris Ward
Chris is a legend in his own time. Raised at sea, Mr. Ward excelled at
electronics as a young lad. Before he ever sat foot on land, Chris had
already built himself two guitars, three amplifiers and numerous effects out
of "thing he found in the water". When his boat, the New Carissa,
beached at sea, all appeared lost. Luckily for Chris, he was picked up by a
band of roving gypsies who taught him that there was more to life than
electronics and reruns of "Three's Company." With his new zest for
living, Chris began to conquer the guitar with renewed vigor. After several
unsuccessful attempts with mail order brides, Mr. Ward joined up with Merle.
Chris or "Bumkrum" as he is commonly referred to, is best know
around the Portland area for insane spikes on the volleyball court and
locking his keys in his car. In his free time Chris enjoys making macaroni
art and screaming at the top of his lungs in the Lake Oswego library.