Merle Allin

{{Short description|American bassist}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Merle Allin

| image = Merle Allin 2008 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Allin in 2008

| image_upright = 0.9

| alias =

| birth_name = Merle Colby Allin Jr.

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|4|9}}

| birth_place = Lancaster, New Hampshire, U.S.

| origin =

| genre = Punk rock

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 1974–present

| label = {{hlist|Homestead|Alive/BOMP!}}

| associated_acts = Thrills, Malpractice, The AIDS Brigade, The Murder Junkies

| website = {{URL|ggallin.com}}

}}

Merle Colby Allin Jr. (born April 9, 1955){{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZtyxHrHjSg&t=796s|title=Punk Rock Musician interview-Merle Allin|website=Youtube|date=March 13, 2023 |access-date=March 13, 2023}} is an American bass guitarist. He is the elder brother of the late punk rock vocalist GG Allin.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gg-allin-mn0000199240 |author=Steve Huey |title=G.G. Allin |publisher=allmusic}}

Allin played electric bass for three groups that featured GG Allin: Malpractice, The AIDS Brigade and the third version of The Murder Junkies; he currently continues the latter, his brother's final backing band, with original drummer Donald ("Dino Sex") Sachs, and several younger members.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-murder-junkies-mn0000933750 |author=Greg Prato |title=The Murder Junkies |publisher=allmusic}}

Allin is featured extensively in the documentary film Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies, by filmmaker Todd Phillips.{{Citation|last=Phillips|first=Todd|title=Hated: GG Allin & the Murder Junkies|date=January 1, 2000|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107086/|accessdate=July 14, 2016}}

Allin was also bass player in late 70s Boston punk group Thrills (a.k.a. City Thrills),{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/merle-mn0001272259 |title=Merle Allin |publisher=allmusic}} who released several singles and were the subject of a later CD discography.{{Cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Thrills-NAFITC-Original-Boston-Punk-1977-1981/master/350169|title=Thrills (2) - N.A.F.I.T.C. Original Boston Punk, 1977-1981|website=Discogs|access-date=July 14, 2016}} He subsequently joined the band Cheater Slicks, and played bass guitar on their debut album On Your Knees.

Allin also appears in the full-length Allin family documentary GG Allin: All in the Family (2018), directed by Sami Saif.

Outside of his work as a musician, Allin is a noted collector of serial killer memorabilia and was featured in three installments of Soft White Underbelly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjtFmrmmkdw|title=Serial Killer Memorabilia Collectors-Merle and Steve|website=YouTube|date=February 16, 2023 |access-date=February 21, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZtyxHrHjSg|title=Punk Rock Musician interview-Merle Allin|website=YouTube|date=March 13, 2023 |access-date=March 13, 2023}}