Greetings all,

I thought it would be interesting for our readers to get to know the founder and creator of Adrenalin 'Zine, how the 'zine originated, the roads traveled, and where the future may take us. I want to thank all of our readers around the globe for all of your support throughout the years. Cheers, here’s to many more!!!


Greetings Mike, what was your first memory & influence of music?

I remember listening to all the Top 40 music when I was a kid. I would listen to the radio all the time. I knew all the names of the songs and who sang them. In 8th grade one of my friends made me realize who pathetic that was and introduced me to metal. I ended up going to a Metallica concert without knowing any of their music (except for the song, "One"). After that I pretty much decided I was giving up all that radio crap and becoming a metalhead. Also, shortly after that concert, my friend played a Napalm Death tape for me. I was hooked.  Thanks Shane!


What kind of crowd did you associate with in high school? What were you like? Did you find your way into trouble?

In high school I tried associated myself with every crowd. I was never friends with an entire crowd though (which never worked out in my favor). A couple of my friends were apart of one crowd and a couple more were apart of another. Of course, the friends that I still talk to these days are my metal friends. Throughout high school I wore black or blue jeans with black shirts sporting images of Slayer, Metallica, Obituary, skulls, dragons, ect. I got into trouble a couple of times. Most of the times my attempts at mischief weren’t discovered by an authority figure.  I had a lot of fun.  I should have done more drinking though!


How did the concept to put together a 'Zine originate?

I joined the Anthrax fan club around 1990. I got quite a few pen pals from the pen pal list. One of them helped out bands by sending flyers to other metalhead pen pals and other bands in exchange for a free copy of their demo. She asked me if I wanted to do it too. The first band that I helped out was Pax Mortis, a death metal band from California. I don’t think they are around anymore though. While swapping flyers, one of the flyers that I crossed paths with was for a ‘zine. I can’t recall what it was called. I wanted an excuse to start interviewing the bands like in this ‘zine so I started up my own ‘zine called RIPE (yes, I know that’s a dumb name). After typing up a couple issues with an old typewriter that I found in my parents closet, I changed the name to Adrenalin and found access to a computer so the quality would be slightly better. Thus, Adrenalin was born. I have been doing the ‘zine and helping out bands since the summer of 1994.


When was the first issue released? What did it consist of?

Hmm, are you going to make me pull out an old issue? OK, here is what was in it. The cover was drawn by a guy in a prison band called, NO FATE. Interviews with Adnauseam, Disgrace, Mangled, Kaos Reign, Fictional Therapy, Profane, Maniac Spider Trash, and Squished Bugs. Of course, there were demo reviews and ads also. Ah, now I remember which ‘zine influenced my decision to start my own ‘zine. I had an ad in there for it. It was called Suffermass ‘Zine. The Wild Rags was a ‘zine that I liked to check out, too. I actually ran another ‘zine back then also that featured poetry from amateur poets (such as myself). I included some of that in an issue of Adrenalin as well.


Were you on a mission? Did you have a specific goal you were shooting for?

Well, I must admit, I originally started promoting bands for the free merchandise. After I started interviewing bands though, I realized how interesting it is chatting with bands and hearing their opinions on the music industry and some of the crazy stories that they have. My reasons for doing it today is simply because I want to be a part of the industry. I have always been a guy that wants to help out. Plus, joining a band isn’t much of an option. Not every metalhead can be in a band. There has to be somebody out there promoting them as well. I enjoy being one of those people.


What kind of feedback did you receive?

With the exception of the review that Metal Maniacs did a couple of months ago, all feedback has been awesome. Most people seem to be happy to see somebody out there trying to keep metal alive and well. I have had people say right to my face, “I like what you do”. Hearing that means a lot to me. For a few years I lost contact with some of the people that I helped out (or who helped me) because I stopped doing the printed version of Adrenalin for awhile and kept it just an e-zine. Now with a lot of help in all the right areas, the name Adrenalin is getting spread around again.


We met through Madison Media Institute, in the Recording & Music Technology program in 1997-1998. What impact would you say that experience had on Adrenalin Fanzine?

I went to Madison Media Institute to learn the art of recording in hopes that it would become another way for me to become more apart of the music industry. As classes began though, I discovered I was much more interested in the music business aspect of the industry so I choose not to get a recording studio job once I graduated. Instead, I hoped that the music business knowledge I gained would help out with Adrenalin or some other project in the future. MMI opened my eyes to what kind of bullshit some bands put up with just to make it big. Hopefully someday Adrenalin will be the stepping stone that one needs to help reach their goal.


Somewhere in-between then and now, you have started a family. How has that experience shaped your life?

In the beginning, I had a lot less time to do some of the things that I wanted to do (such as start up the printed version of Adrenalin again). Now, it doesn’t seem to have much of an impact. I don’t get to go check out as many local shows as I would like, but I have been receiving enough CD’s in the mail to keep my craving for new bands satisfied. My wife is very supportive and my 2-year old daughter has already learned how to headbang so that helps a lot too.


What is the proudest moment you had with Adrenalin 'Zine?

My proudest moment is the fact that I started Adrenalin ‘Zine and after 10 years, I am still doing it. Scoring interviews with awesome bands is always cool. When record companies contact me and ask me if I would like to be on a guest list for a show, it boosts my morale quite a bit too. I guess it is all about the feedback and a few perks.


The spawn of Adrenalin has introduced us to hundreds of bands. Who are some of your favorite bands you have discovered along the way? Who are some of your all-time favorites?

Back when I started reviewing demos, everything I got in the mail was a cassette. Now I mostly listen to CD’s so some of the good ones have been forgotten. Crossfade was the first demo that I remember liking a lot. I’m sure they don’t exist anymore and the copy I had got destroyed. Other good bands that I have crossed paths with are Dog Fashion Disco, Abortus, Sofa King Killer, Daath (who I have recently reviewed), Nile, Forever Sleep, Soilent Green, Figure Four, The Great Kat, and many others.


What has kept this project going all these years?

Many things have kept me going.  I highly doubt that I will ever quit. If I do, it won’t be for a long time. There have been moments when I almost did but I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I wasn’t doing what I do. Obviously I would still have my family, but there would be a void that needed to be filled. If heavy metal and extreme metal take over the music industry some day and people like Britney Spears and other pop stars are forced to play in small bars that hold 100 people just to make a buck (because everybody finally realized who the real talented musicians are) or if those artists had to pay $1,000 to perform as an opening act at Milwaukee Sucky Pop Star Fest just to get noticed, then maybe I will quit. Until then, I am here to promote.


Since I have joined the force, I have seen a lot of growth and improvement. What would you like to see happen with Adrenalin 'Zine?

I would like to be able to increase the number of copies made per issue, more compilations, more merchandise, maybe some minor improvements with the website layout, and maybe even my own amusement park, radio station, music venue, indie label, distribution catalog, limo, go-go dancers, an appearance on David Letterman, world domination, or maybe even have a disease named after me (Burmeister kind of sounds like a disease doesn’t it?). Actually, for now I will just take it one step at a time.


What would you like to say to our readers and Adrenalin supporters around the world?

Thank you for supporting Adrenalin and for reading this interview. Thank you Darren for interviewing me and for all the work you have put into Adrenalin so far. Support the underground and let metal dominate the music industry!  And get yourself a copy of the Adrenalin Rush compilation!
 

Back to the Adrenalin Homepage

copyright 2004 Adrenalin Fanzine
 

---