I first met Brian Pastoria while his group, Adrenalin, was rehearsing some tunes from their recent album American Heart. The group’s road manager, Thom Kuchulan, noticed me standing outside the studio and invited me in to listen. The band was just ending a number and, being a drummer, I instinctively—though unconsciously—hit an imaginary crash cymbal simultaneously with Brian’s real one. The rest of the group laughed, and then Brian asked if I’d like to sit in for a number. “Are you kidding,” I replied, and proceeded to jam with some of Detroit’s finest rockers. One thing led to another, and before too long, Brian promised to tell me his story. I followed Brian and Adrenalin while they performed with many big name groups, such as Quiet Riot, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Huey Lewis & the News. It was an excellent setting in which to get a personal and first-hand account. […]

September 1985 Issue