Venue notes: Merlyn's, Madison WIDefunct punk club. Was located at 311 State St. Apparently died sometime in 1982 or soon thereafter. David Israel reminisces: "GREAT club above a gyros place. Bands I saw there included Hüskers, Replacements, Suburbs, Billy Idol, Joan Jett, OMD, Bush Tetras, Gun Club, Pete Shelley, Stray Cats, Bow Wow Wow.... There was a shooting at a 'Motown Dance Night' in 82 or 83.... The joke around town after that was it was a great place to drink -- 'four shots for a dollar' (cover). Yuk yuk yuk. Was run by a guy named Serge, I believe...."Sue Carrizales, writing in Dec 2004, adds that the club "was run by Serge and Lila Ledwith, who lived with their three kids in the Vilas Park area of Madison." Max Ledwith elaborates (fall 2005): "I am the grandson of Delila Ledwith, who owned the popular nightclub Merlyn's on State Street.... Delila now resides in Texas and is separated from ex-husband and club-running partner Serge Ledwith. She is a successful civil rights lawyer and has spoken of reopening the hotspot now, decades later." [Do you have more information about this venue? Please email me.] Return to Hüsker Dü dates page |