Born in 1952 to a farm worker, money was tight. His very first single record was bought after saving up the money he earned, chopping logs for his neighbour.
The record was Diamonds, an instrumental by ex shadows members Jet Harris and Tony Meehan it was played until he wore the record out on his dad's old Dansette record player.
A Rolling Stones fan rather than the fashionable Beatles he explored bands of that genre. This led him to discover The Yardbirds, which in turn led him to John Mayall and Alexis Korner, which in turn led him to the origin of what he thought was most exciting music he had ever heard.
Howling Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son House and of course Robert Johnson were regulars on the record player. Records that at that time had to be ordered in by the local record shop.
As an older teenager the likes of Cream, Led Zeppelin, Mountain, Taste, and many others of that ilk made for am impressive record collection. And in all that time never once did he think that he would be able to play in a band.
With a growing family and with all the commitments that go with that, the seventies and eighties saw Merv concentrating on providing all the necessary things that families need. Fast forward and call it what you will, be it a little later mid-life crisis, or just the desire to have a go, Merv went out and bought his first guitar, in around 1997.
After fumbling around with it until the year 2000, his old friend Pat Briscoe, (he had been best man at her wedding), suggested that they attempt to learn the instrument together. Pat had known a few chords from way back when, and so they practiced these chords until they had got three or four "cover" songs put together.
Armed with these songs it was down to the Bridge Inn pub in Newport to "have a go" at the new local Open Mic.
Singing through a PA system gave Merv such a buzz, so much so that he went out and bought one. It was also here that he met up with local musician Ken Evans. Soon to become mates the pair created the band Stonefly, and after recruiting Diddy Evans on Drums, Merv's nephew Chris on guitar, Simon Bishop on Lead guitar with Ken on Bass and Pat and Merv on Vocals and guitar. the band went gigging.
The toll of gigging soon became too much of a commitment for Chris, Pat, and Ken and so it was that Stonefly mk2 was born. Simon on Lead Guitar, Diddy Evans on Bass Guitar, Bebee Smith on Drums and Merv on vocals and Rhythm guitar. Merv often commenting that the only reason he sang was because nobody else would. This band was different, with both Diddy and Bebee providing backing vocals.
Following Bebee and Diddy's departure from the band, Merv and Simon recruited the services of one Alan Vincent on Bass Guitar, and Tim Cartwright on Drums. New members, new name, and so "Dry Dog Nose" was born.
After a three year stint the band decided that they would pack it in, as once again heavy gigging was taking it's toll on family life.
And so it was that after meeting up with Mark, the seeds of "Bang To Rights" were sown, and with Merv's old mate's Pete Barton on Drums and Steve Smith on Bass The band became a reality.
Weapons of choice: Marshall Amps, My wonderful Yamaha 1820 in Vintage White, Gibson Jimmy Page Les Paul, Gibson Black SG, and Cherry Red Dot 335, a SRV Stratocaster and various other fender strats, a Hohner SE 335 and Peavey Professional and one or two other lovely bits of wood.
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