Hasil Adkins

The Profile

American one-man-band from West Virginia, active from the 1950s until his death on April 26, 2005. A feral rockabilly/psychobilly trailblazer, he was championed by Norton Records, which issued the landmark collection Out to Hunch in 1986.

Known for a frantic one-man-band setup (guitar, vocals/harmonica, and foot-powered drums); themes featuring chickens, red meat, and gleeful depravity; early recordings compiled by Norton Records after rediscovery via the psychobilly wave; admired and covered by the Cramps.

One ecstatic review paints Hasil Adkins as a feral one-man-band fusing country and rock’n’roll into anarchic rockabilly/psychobilly. Out to Hunch (Norton Records) gathers his raw early sides and deranged covers. Themes veer from chickens to red meat and gleeful depravity. Rediscovered via the psychobilly wave and championed by Norton and the Cramps. His run ended in 2005, but the racket still echoes.