Rick
Edwards ~ Bass, Vocals
Hank
Rasco ~ Piano, Vocals
Ron
Stephens ~ Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals
Bill
Feldman ~ Guitar, Harp, Vocals
Tom
Johnson ~ Drums, Vocals
Hank
Rasco (1998) left to right: Hank Rasco, an old Studebaker
(1950?).
The original Distractions were the popular Portland band, The Wasted Rangers. Jon Koonce was the drummer for Sleazy Pieces when he started managing The Wasted Rangers.The Rangers, Hank Rasco, piano and vocals; Ron Stephens, guitar, pedal steel and vocals; Bill Feldman, guitar, blues harp and vocals; Rick Edwards, bass guitar and vocals and Tom Johnson, drums and vocals, would back up Johnny Koonce in Portland. Sometimes the "bands" would play together at clubs like Saks Front Avenue, Euphoria and The Last Hurrah.
Koonce and The Wasted Rangers recorded his first single "Deep In The Night" in Ron Stephens basement in Vancouver, WA. In December of 1978 The Wasted Rangers played their last week end at The Last Hurrah, a double live album was recorded that week end by the legendary audio man Jim Sanders assisted by Ken Schriener. Bill Feldman and Tom Johnson went on with Koonce to form one of many incarnations of Johnny and the Distractions.
Rick Edwards, October 2003
I sang on one of Hank's albums. I did all of the backup vocals. They wanted me to do seperaate octaves. I did three and they blended them. They were perfect. I would like to have a copy of the album.
Laura H. Dirosa, October 2016
