Guitars:
Fender Precision Standard Bass
(Yes!  It is made in the USA, no foreign junk for me.)

I remember being a small lad and watching my aunt’s country band practice at her home in the projects of Marshall, Missouri. It made quite the impression on me watching her drummer, who was missing all of his teeth, play the drums with a full ashtray sitting directly on top of the drum head of his floor tom. Even better I remember the countless times he would begin playing wipeout and I would watch ashes, cigarette butts, and ashtray fly all over my aunt’s floor. I don’t know to this day if he forgot it was there, didn’t care that it was there, or was just too damn drunk. It was those days that I immediately knew I didn’t want to be a drummer (just kidding Darren).

            The power of live music, however, did stick in my head. I remember being a young pup and hearing the Bay City Rollers, thinking to myself how much I really dug Rock n’ Roll ( can you actually call those goofballs Rock n’ Roll). At age 11, I bought KISS Alive 2 and was obsessed with listening to the music and looking at the pictures in the album cover. (SIDE NOTE: It probably would have been Alive 1 like Darrell {see his bio} if I was as old as he is). {just kidding Darrell}

            I knew at that point in my life, I wanted to be a guitar player like Ace Frehley. A couple years later, my dad bought me a Les Paul copy that absolutely killed my fingers when I played it and my cousin got a decent little Fender bass. (I later talked dad into buying me a beat up old Fender Jaguar which helped my playing considerably). My cousin and I learned how to play both the bass & guitar so we didn’t get bored with just one instrument. That foundation proved to be a valuable asset when learning to become a proficient player. I mostly have been a lead and rhythm guitar player in several bands (some good & some not so good) but also had a few stints as a bass player.

            Which leads me up to where I am now, the new bass player for Whiskey Tango?  Darren called me up one night and said I’m in a bind and I need a bass player “tomorrow night”, can you do it? I cringed thinking to myself  “ It’s been 9 years since I’ve played any serious bass guitar” but I couldn’t say no and busted my ass to learn 36 songs in about 16 hours time. I was able to pull it off and got W/T through their gig.

            Well, that gig turned into another gig and then another and as the world turns, I said yes when they asked me to join W/T as a full time member. How could I refuse to not jam with a couple of great guys like Darrell & Darren? They are outstanding musicians and more importantly are outstanding people. A big thanks to “Wolfman”, our roadie, who instantly made me feel welcome. I also want to thank my beautiful wife LaNette and kids (Kyle, Drew, Bubby, & Libby) for their support as well as the other W/T family members, and most of all, the bar owners and fans who hire & support W/T. You make it all possible. God Bless Everyone!!!!!!!!!!! 

Dean Adkins  - “ DEANO”