Some people need to stay lost.
It’s time once again for The Nest to put a little melody in your Monday. That’s the day we go searching through the lost and found of pop music’s past that we like to call the Dusty Vinyl Archive! This week’s featured artist might just be able to outfreak DJ Scratchy, which is really saying something. The Sponkies, meanwhile, are enjoying their rancid milk cartons we teleported in from 1986. Do you hear me? Do you care?
In 1980 in Los Angeles, a band formed out of bit players in the nonstop circus sideshow that was music “legend” Frank Zappa. That band was Missing Persons, and as you might expect from people who were hanging around Frank’s garage, they were something of a freak show themselves. Missing Persons was originally a trio formed by Warren Cuccurullo, Terry Bozzio and his lovely wife Dale…
This photo couldn’t have been taken at any other point in human history other than the early 1980’s.
Dale Bozzio was a real piece of work, and had absolutely no qualms about flaunting her body and wild child persona for the whole wide world to see. The former Hustler nude model would achieve a somewhat more dignified success when Missing Persons’ first full fledged album, Spring Session M (An anagram of the band’s name, and a fitting choice for the first DVA of Spring) would spawn a handful of minor hits in the US in 1982. The best known of them being this wonderful piece of synth pop that was their highest charting hit at #42, “Words”…
Keep in mind that this video was made in 1982. Bozzio’s scantily clad performance during this early MTV staple makes her another pioneer of the video vixen concept that bands like Power Station and Whitesnake would make popular later in the decade. And while the concept of dying one’s hair was hardly uncommon in the punk era of the 80’s… Bozzio was really ahead of her time with the rainbow look of using multiple colors that is popular these days.
You’re just another copycat, princess…
If you weren’t familiar with Bozzio or this song before today’s post, you might be feeling vibes of a much more popular 80’s artist while listening to “Words.” I was first introduced to this video on the iconic cartoon Beavis and Butthead in 1994, and had to wonder if maybe this was early, early Cyndi Lauper before she became big and didn’t have to show her boobs to get attention. But no, Bozzio merely has a vocal resemblance to Cyndi and made the hiccup sound to end a line popular two full years before Lauper hit the big time with “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”…
Yeah, and Cyndi thought she was unusual…
Join me next Monday for more words from missing songs…
I think I’ll dye my hair blue…
Evil Squirrel's Nest 
I remember that song…..and this video from my brief sojourn into the world of MTV back in the 80s. That outfit looked terribly uncomfortable and painful but then again – she might have enjoyed the “uncertainty” that would be a part of wearing something like that! Not sure whose makeup was the best – the drummer’s or hers……I declare a TIE!
Pam
The drummer is her husband… and I really hope they had separate bathrooms or those marathon makeup sessions could get rather dicey!
They probably did each other’s makeup – they look like mirror images (at least make-up wise!).
I totally forgot this song… and why we haven’t copied her hair style? it would be something what would drive all mom’s crazy when they see the ruined bathroom after that coloration session ;O)
I’m not so sure she didn’t just use some random cans of spray paint. That would get messy too if it got on the tile or the mirror…
you bet… my mother got a nuclear meltdown after my adventure with glitter spray ;O)
What a crazy time the 80s were! All that makeup and those crazy outfits. I don’t remember what Beavis and Butthead had to say about her but I imagine boobs came up several times!
It was early B&B and I can’t remember everything they said about it other than when she said the line “Do you care?” Butthead responded, “Uhhhhh, no.” They also changed the channel pretty quick on this one. I think they were funny, but who ever said those idiots ever had any taste?
Awesome. This is great. Dale is a mom too. Can you imagine saying, “Do you know the band Missing Persons? Well, my mom…”
You know how moms always like to embarrass their kids by showing their baby pictures. This would work the opposite way, I think…
My husband knows and likes this song. I sort of remember it and LIKE IT. We like Terry Bozzio. I never saw this video or knew anything about his ex Dale. So, I learned something.
I saw Terry in concert with Zappa Plays Zappa. Dweezil’s group. He, Terry, (we’re on a first name basis) is a fantastic drummer. My god! I looked up when this was? 2006!
You may be the first person I’ve come across who is more familiar with Terry than Dale, since she was the undisputed centerpiece of this group. I do like Terry’s drumming on this song. I can’t say the same thing about the makeup he wore in the video…
That make up was, uh, a bit much. Terry was Frank’s drummer and we LOVE Frank. Terry sings on Frank’s Sheik Yerbouti. So, I was very thrilled to see him play with Dweezil.
Yeah, you know how I know very little about MTV videos. That’s probably why I knew nothing about Dale, lol.
Make up? Gawd awful!!
She looks like someone I saw walking the neighborhood earlier this week-gah!! Never remembered Dale, but do recall Cyndi and I’ll admit, I loved multi hair-colored Cyndi. Even if she hung for a while with that weirdo, Lou Albano. Cyndi, Cyndi…what WERE you thinking?
That’s a cool song! And the drummer appears to be wearing more makeup then she is…