DEAN ADDISON was born in Hobart, Tasmania. He began studying classical guitar at the age of eleven and changed at age thirteen to double bass (with Stephen Martin principal bassist with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra). 

Before moving to Melbourne in 1990 he studied for the diploma of music in performance at the Conservatorium and with many notable teachers like Michael Fortescue, Francois Rabbath and John Gray.  He was a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra for to years (under  Christopher Seamens and Dennis Decouteau), and he also peformed with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and one season with the Australian Chamber Orchestra combined with the Australian Youth Orchestra. (John Hoffman, Urbie Green, Ian Pierce, Christine Sullivan).

Dean performed, worked and toured with Bob Sedergreen, Jimmy Witherspoon , Steve Sedergreen’s Mistaken Identity, Stephen Cummings, Vicka and Linda Bull , Mark Fitzgibbon, Ollie Olson, Geoff Atchison, Monique Brumby, "Moovin and Groovin orchestra", Andy Baylor’s Cajun Combo, Ross Hannaford, Paul Williamson’s Hammond Combo’, David Bridie, and with "the Leatherbacks". He is a full-time member of "My Friend the Chocolate Cake" and Kerri Simpson R&B and Gospel outfits.

Dean has performed with the State Orchestra of Victoria accompanying Andrea Boccelli and Sumi Jo and toured with the 2000 tour of Riggoletto throughout Victoria and New South Wales for Opera Australia. 

On the Wilson Diesel album "Short Cool ones" Dean played Bass Guitar and Double Bass,   and recently performed as a featured musician on the Movie Soundtrack "The Man Who Sued God".