Adrenalin (band)

Adrenalin was an American rock band from East Detroit, Michigan, United States, that is perhaps best known for their song "Road of the Gypsy," featured in the 1986 film Iron Eagle.[1]

Adrenalin
OriginEast Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Years active1977-1988, 2002
Associated acts
  • DC Drive

Adrenalin was made up of six friends from elementary school (St. Veronica) to high school (Grosse Pointe North). Brian and Mark Pastoria, Jimmy and Mike Romeo, Bruce Schafer and Mike "Flash" Haggerty started the band in the mid-1970s with the help of lead singer David Larson.[1]

Adrenalin created a huge buzz among fans and the music industry alike, as well as quickly earning the respect of musicians such as Bob Seger and Aerosmith. They continually won awards throughout the late 1970s and well into the 1980s, when Marc Gilbert joined the band and were getting radio airplay across the country. Their albums boasted heartland rockers like "Don't Be Lookin Back," "Faraway Eyes," and "Road Of The Gypsy," a song featured in the film, Iron Eagle.[1] Adrenalin was in rotation when MTV was still a fledgling station that actually played music videos. They produced an EP, Don't Be Looking Back in 1983, and two albums, American Heart (1984) and Road of the Gypsy (1986), both produced by Vini Poncia.

By the end of Adrenalin's run as a band, the members had coped with the suicide of their original lead singer, David Larson.[2] They were dropped by PolyGram in 1987.[1] "Through all of this," remembers Brian Pastoria, "we never considered packing it in. We believed in what we were doing...Giving up was not an option."

The Pastoria brothers and the Romeo brothers formed a new band, DC Drive. With the addition of Doug Kahan on bass and Joey Bowen on vocals, DC Drive picked up where Adrenalin left off. They debuted by warming up for Cheap Trick in front of 50,000 fans.

During all of these changes, the band realized that they wanted to record and produce themselves. "With a $125,000 recording budget, you can pay per diems (to studios on the East or West Coast) or buy the equipment (yourself)," reasoned Brian Pastoria. The band was soon rewarded for their efforts with a recording deal from Capitol Records/EMI of Canada and began working with famed hard-rock producer, Vini Poncia. The result was a self-titled disk full of rock and soul. As bassist Doug Kahan so gracefully put it, "Imagine the MC5 in bed with the Supremes."

The album and the single, "You Need Love," were a success across Detroit and in Canada. In 1993, DC Drive and PR Music garnered many awards and much recognition, including seven nominations and four awards including Best Rock Group and Best Single ("You Need Love") at the Motor City Music Awards. DC Drive disbanded in 1993, when Joey quit to "do his own thing" and Doug went to Nashville.

Adrenalin re-united for a show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on May 25, 2002 with singer Graham Strachan fronting the band.

In June 2015, Adrenalin was inducted into the Michigan Rock n Roll Legends Hall of Fame.[3]

Lineup

Over the years the band's lineup consisted of:

  • David Larson - Vocals (1977–80)
  • Marc Gilbert - Vocals (1980–86)
  • Joey Bowen - Vocals (1991 - 1993)
  • Michael Romeo - Guitar (1977–Present)
  • Brian Pastoria - Drums (1977–Present)
  • Mark Pastoria - Keyboards (1981–Present)
  • Jimmy Romeo - Sax (1979–Present)
  • Michael "Flash" Haggerty - Guitar (1977–Present)
  • Bruce Schafer - Bass (1978–Present)
  • Glen Young - Bass (1977–78)
  • Graham Strachan - Vocals (2002)
  • Bill Buda - Keyboards (1977)

The band's current lineup is: Brian Pastoria, (drums); Bruce Schafer, (bass); James Romeo, (saxophone); Mark Pastoria, (keyboards); Michael Haggerty, (guitar); Michael Romeo, (guitar). They currently record at Harmonie Park in Detroit, MI.

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Chart positions
US US
Rock
Don't Be Lookin' Back
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: Musical Signature Records
  • Formats: LP, CS
 - -
American Heart
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Rocshire Records
  • Formats: LP, CS
 203[4] 29[5]
Road of the Gypsy
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: MCA Records
  • Formats: LP, CD, CS
 - -

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US Main. Rock
"Cumz 'N' Goes / Rock 'N' Roll Screamer" 1977 — Single only
"Gimme Good Lovin' / Change Of Heart" 1980 —
"I Don't Know When to Quit / Everything Is Gonna Be Alright" 1983 —
"Faraway Eyes" 1984 28[6] American Heart
"Road of the Gypsy" 1986 — Road of the Gypsy
"Northern Shores" —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards
  • Best Song (Pop/Rock) - Detroit Music Awards (1993) - Joey Bowen vocals on "You Need Love" and "All I Want"
  • Best Pop Rock Act (Pop/Rock) - Detroit Music Awards (1993)
  • Best Record Company/ Harmonie Park - Detroit Music Awards (2002)
  • Best Compilation / Christmas in Detroit - Detroit Music Awards (1993)
  • Best Studio - Detroit Music Awards (2000)

References
  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who’s Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 11/2. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
  2. "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends - ADRENALIN". www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  3. "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends - 2015 Michigan Hall of Fame Voting Results". Michiganrockandrolllegends.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  4. "Bubbling Under The Top LPs" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  5. "Rock Albums" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  6. "Adrenalin Faraway Eyes Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
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