P l a y E r i e . c o m -

I Inside began in 1986 when former Transmuters members Brian Groover, John Trevethan and Chris Vrenna teamed up with vocalist/guitarist Sal Clemente. Clemente and Vrenna had also worked together previously in Thrilling Detective.

I Inside immediately focused on composition and became quite prolific at this craft. At their peak the band would compose, arrange, record, mix and deliver three songs per week to producer George Grexa. Grexa was located in Greenville, PA and had produced such artists as Pittsburg's sax master Kenny Blake and Solid Gold Dancer Darcel Wynn. In three months the band had almost forty songs and began playing all-original shows in the Erie and Meadville areas. One of the most prominent of these was the “Best Of A New Generation” contest held during Erie days in July, 1986. I Inside’s song "Stay" appeared on Erie radio and remained in regular rotation on several stations that summer including K104 and WJET.

At the same time the band began recording new material at Youngstown’s 24-track studio, Peppermint Productions. Working with engineer Gary Rhamy and producer Grexa the band cut thirteen songs. However, time was running out for I Inside, as drummer Chris Vrenna would soon leave to begin attending Kent State University.

After the demise of the original I Inside Sal Clemente set about creating a new, expanded version of the band. In early 1987 he contacted former I Inside member John Trevethan and soon the band was back as a six piece. Mark Devine, who had established himself in the popular Erie band The Difference, joined the I Inside team. Rounding out this incarnation of the band were former Thrilling Detective members Tim Mains on bass and Gary Tomporowski on percussion and vocals, as well as Brenda Knight (Rukus, Peace) on woodwinds and vocals.

Drawing from former I Inside and Thrilling Detective material the band was able to rehearse and record almost twenty original songs in one month. Of these songs "One Last Night" was well received by Erie area radio. It eventually reached the #1 spot on WJET’s "Top 10 At 10" show. With all of the local radio airplay I Inside was receiving they were able to secure a two-night weekend gig March 6th & 7th at Sherlocks. The show was a huge success with the band playing to a packed house on both nights. Opening for I Inside was the Cleveland band The Act, who were a trio of teenagers. Their guitarist/vocalist was none other than Richard Patrick, who went on to play in Nine Inch Nails and then form his own band, Filter.

Chris Vrenna was also at the Sherlocks show, visiting Erie from Kent State. The new version of I Inside impressed Chris greatly, and he felt I Inside had a bright future. When he drove home from Sherlock's that night he turned on the radio and was surprised to hear "One Last Night". In a twist of fate it would be Vrenna and not I Inside that went on to achieve major success. Shortly after the Sherlocks show I Inside split up. In June, 1987 Trevethan and Knight moved to Nashville, followed a few months later by Clemente and Mains relocating to Boston. Of course Chris Vrenna went on to work with Trent Reznor, who had recently relocated from Mercer, PA to Cleveland in pursuit of his musical career.

Read the article on I Inside from the Showcase, March 5th, 1987.