The Hooters were a local Philadelphia band that made it big in the 1980s, and today they are still jamming out on the stage thrilling their fans.

David Uosikkinen, the drummer for The Hooters, understands the passion driving musicians like him to perform as well as the darker side of a life in the limelight, and he shares his story in a new documentary, writes Ben Silber for Main Line Today.

In Main Line Television’s latest documentary, Heart of the Beat, director Jill Frechie talks to him about his troubled past and his passion for performing even now age 67.

Main Line Television serves the Lower Merion and Narberth communities. Uosikkinen first worked with Frechie when she asked him to help with the soundtrack on her documentary Kensington in Crisis.

He ended up doing more than that, agreeing to share the story of his years of addiction.

“I wasn’t ready for what came along with [touring]. I wasn’t equipped to deal with success either. When I was young, I got into the sex, drugs and rock and roll thing,” Uosikkinen said.

He credits his bandmates for saving his life. They staged an intervention and supported him while he went through recovery.

Read where you can view the Main Line Television documentary in Main Line Today.

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