Missing Persons FAQ
©1998+ Cyndi Glass

(Also see the Pre-Band Biographies Page, the Band History, and Where Are They Now?)

Original Band, 1980-1986

Q: Who were the members of Missing Persons in the 1980's?
A: Dale Bozzio (vocals, born Boston MA, Mar. 2, 1955), Warren Cuccurullo (guitar, vocals, born Brooklyn NY, Dec. 8, 1956), and Terry Bozzio (drums, vocals, synths, born San Francisco CA, Dec. 27, 1950) were the original members of the band. Patrick O'Hearn (bass, synth bass, born Portland OR, Sep. 6, 1954) and Chuck Wild (keyboards, born Kansas City, Sep. 22, 1946) joined soon afterwards.

Q: When were they founded and how did they get together?
A: Dale and Warren wrote some songs and played them for Terry, who was on the road with UK. He quit UK and they formed Missing Persons in 1979. Warren's parents lent them $3000 to record their four song 7" EP, Missing Persons, which included Destination Unknown, I Like Boys, Mental Hopscotch, and a cover of the Doors' Hello I Love You. This EP was the first recording done in Frank Zappa's brand new Utility Muffin Research Kitchen studio, and was released on KoMoS, a small label created for this project by Ken Scott, the producer. They did all the promotion themselves, played live shows, and managed to sell over 7000 copies.

Q: What albums did they release and how can I get them?
A: The only Missing Persons album that was originally released on CD was Best of Missing Persons (1987). The rest of them were only released on vinyl and cassette. However, Spring Session M, Rhyme & Reason and Color In Your Life have all been re-released on CD (with some extra songs on each one). Warren has released three official Missing Persons albums: Late Nights/Early Days, Remixed Hits, and Lost Tracks. All of these are available online at CD Universe or Amazon, or try your retail outlet.

Q: What is Classic Masters? I saw that it was released on the same day as Lost Tracks. Is it an official release?
A: This is another compilation by Capitol Records. It does have some dance mixes on it that are nice to have on CD. See the Discography for more information.

Q: What is the singles chart history for Missing Persons?
A: Here are the official release dates and peak positions: Words: 8/28/82, #42, Destination Unknown: 11/27/82, #42, Windows: 1/12/83, #63, Walking In L.A.: 3/26/83, #70, Give: 4/14/84, #67.

Q: How and when did the band break up?
A: Chuck left the band in 1984, and Dale left the band temporarily in 1985 but returned to participate in the recording and promotion of Color In Your Life. Shortly into the 1986 shows, the band officially broke up.

July 2001 Reunion

Q: Is it true that the real Missing Persons reunited in 2001?
A: Yes. Warren announced in early May 2001 that he intended to re-form Missing Persons with original members Terry, Dale, and himself, and they played three shows in July 2001 in Southern California.

Q: Is it true that Missing Persons almost reunited once before?
A: A reunion had been tentatively planned in 1994, to include Warren, Terry, and Patrick, plus Ahmet Zappa on vocals. This did not end up happening.

Q: Who is Wes Wehmiller?
A: Wes Wehmiller (bass) was born Sept. 12, 1971 and died on Jan. 30, 2005. Before signing up for the Missing Persons reunion, he played with Warren Cuccurullo (you can hear him on Roadrage) and Duran Duran (1997-2001), as well as several studio projects and bands in Los Angeles and 3 years at the prestigious Berklee School of Music.

Q: Who is "Ronnie Ron"?
A: Ron Poster (keyboards) has been backing Dale Bozzio in her solo shows and continues to do so post-reunion. He is the official organist for the Boston Bruins Hockey Team and performs regularly at several venues in the Boston area.

Q: What happened during the reunion?
A: Promotional activities (Warren and Dale did a signing, Warren did an online Lycos chat) and three shows (see next question).

Q: What songs were played at the reunion shows?
A: Warren has supplied the setlists as follows:
4th & B, San Diego, July 17, 2001: Mental Hopscotch, Noticeable One, Words, Give, It Ain't None of Your Business, Hello I Love You, Dark and Dangerous Guy, Face to Face, Windows, US Drag, Here and Now, I Like Boys, Throw Money, Walking In LA, No Way Out ENCORE: Destination Unknown, Action Reaction
The Roxy, Los Angeles, July 18, 2001: Mental Hopscotch, Noticeable One, Words, Give, It Ain't None of Your Business, Dark and Dangerous Guy, Face to Face, US Drag, Windows, Hello I Love You, Here and Now, I Like Boys, Throw Money, Walking In LA, No Way Out ENCORE: Destination Unknown, Action Reaction
House of Blues, Anaheim, July 20, 2001: Mental Hopscotch, Noticeable One, Words, Give, It Ain't None of Your Business, Dark and Dangerous Guy, Face to Face, US Drag, Windows, Hello I Love You, Here and Now, I Like Boys, Throw Money, Walking In LA, No Way Out ENCORE: Destination Unknown, Action Reaction

Q: Why didn't the reunion last?
A: Terry and Dale Bozzio are divorced and do not wish to work together.

Missing Persons 2003

Q: Who were the members of the 2003 Missing Persons?
A: Warren Cuccurullo and Dale Bozzio, plus bassist Wes Wehmiller and keyboardist Ron Poster, both of whom participated in Reunion 2001. Joining the band this time around is drummer Joe Travers. There are sites about them on the Links page if you wish to learn more about them. There are also several interviews with Joe and Wes in the Interviews/Articles and Privacy Fanzine Back Issues sections of Warren's site.

Q: How can it be the official Missing Persons without Terry Bozzio?
A: Dale and Warren were the founding members of Missing Persons in 1979. They approached Terry, who was touring with another band at the time, with music they had written and recorded. Terry joined in with them after that. While Terry has the status of an original member, he is the one who has chosen not to participate. Also, due to various agreements over the years, Warren is the one with the legal right to decide what is official or not when it comes to Missing Persons

Q: Who is Joe Travers?
A: Joe Travers (born Aug. 20, 1968) has previously played with Warren Cuccurullo (you can hear him on Roadrage) and Duran Duran (1999-2001), as well as the band "Z" (Dweezil Zappa's band) and many other bands and artists. He holds the position of "vaultmeister" for the Zappa Family Trust and is a very well-respected studio and concert drummer. He also was on tap to replace Terry Bozzio during Reunion 2001 if Terry chose not to participate.

Q: Did the new Missing Persons perform?
A: Yes. They performed "Destination Unknown" on the TV show Access Hollywood in November 2002, and three shows were scheduled for February 2003.
Setlists:
HOB Anaheim, Sat 2/15, stage time 8:45 PM
Mental Hopscotch, Noticeable One, Words, Here & Now, None of Your Business, US Drag, Windows, Face To Face, I Like Boys, Walking In LA, No Way Out / ENCORE: Destination Unknown, Action Reaction
Nike Run Hit Wonder Race Finish Line, Hollywood High School football field, Sun 2/16, 9:30 AM (this one may not be in order)
Mental Hopscotch, Words, I Like Boys, None of Your Business, Destination Unknown, Here & Now, Walking in L.A.
HOB Hollywood, Sun 2/16 stage time 10 PM
Mental Hopscotch, Noticeable One, Words, Here & Now, None of Your Business, Dark and Dangerous Guy (partial), US Drag, Windows, Face to Face, I Like Boys, Throw Money, No Way Out, Walking In LA / ENCORE: Destination Unknown, Action Reaction

Q: What is the status of Missing Persons?
A: The official Missing Persons is defunct. The 2001 reunion of the three original members was successfully accomplished but shortlived as Terry and Dale are divorced and do not wish to work together. Chuck and Patrick did not participate in the reunion. In January 2002, Warren announced that his live Missing Persons compilation, Lost Tracks, would be the final Missing Persons album. Dale continues to tour with her own version of Missing Persons, but does not own the name of the band. Due to various agreements over the years, Warren is the one with the legal right to decide what is official or not when it comes to Missing Persons

Songs

Q: I keep hearing about a different version of Words that's on the EP. It has more drum fills and ends instead of fading.
A: You are thinking of the way they did it live and the audio track on the video. There is no different version of Words on any of the versions of the EP or on any other commercially released product.

Q: Why are Destination Unknown and Words also on Spring Session M?
A: Missing Persons had delivered a full album of new songs, but Capitol liked the success of these two songs and put them on the album. Initially they were to replace two other new songs, but the band fought to keep them, so the album has more than the normal number of songs on it for an album released in the early 1980's.

Q: Where did "I'm the One" come from, and who sings on it?
A: "I'm The One" is one of many unreleased songs that are under copyright to Missing Persons. It was copyrighted in 1985. Terry Bozzio is the lead vocalist. According to Warren, this track was released by the record company without the band's consent, and the vocal was "just a scratch vocal, only a guide that Terry slapped down." You can hear a sound clip at CD Now by looking up the album Sedated In The 80's, Vol. 4.

Q: Why is it called "Noticeable One" on Spring Session M and "Noticeable Ones" on Late Nights/Early Days?
A: I have no idea: It is the same song.

Q: Who sings the vocals on "We Don't Know Love At All"?
A: Terry Bozzio sings lead on this song. Also, listen for Terry and Warren singing fun backup vocals throughout all of the Missing Persons catalogue.

Q: Is it true the Warren sings the lead vocal on "Hot To Cold"?
A: No. The liner notes are incorrect. According to Warren, Terry sings that vocal.

Q: What are the Missing Missing Persons Songs?
A: These are songs that exist and were not released on the original versions of the Missing Persons albums. In doing research for the fanzine, I found these songs listed at the Library of Congress copyright database. Since then, most of them have been released on the One Way CDs.
1. "Fight for Love" (1985) - instrumental version available on Rhyme & Reason (2000 One Way re-released CD only).
2. "It's A Must" (1985) - instrumental, available on Color In Your Life (2000 One Way re-released CD only).
3. "Hot to Cold" (1985) - available on Color In Your Life (2000 One Way re-released CD only). Terry on lead vocal.
4. "Personal Choice" (1985) - not released
5. "Moving Forward" (1985) - not released
6. "I'm The One" (1985)- available on Sedated in the 80's, Vol. 4 (sound clip available at CD Now): Terry on lead vocal.

Q: What other rare or unreleased songs exist?
A: See below:
1. "Dark & Dangerous Guy" (1980): The only available version of this song has been in live concert tapes from 1986 shows. It was rehearsed and performed at all three July 2001 reunion shows and Warren said it was his favorite Missing Persons song to perform. Two live performance versions (1986 and 2001) are available on Lost Tracks.
2. "Throw Money" (1980): This song was rehearsed and performed at all three July 2001 reunion shows. A live performance from 2001 is available on Lost Tracks
3. "Action, Reaction" (1980): Until 1997, the only available version of this song was in live concert tapes from 1981 shows. Studio version is available on Late Nights/Early Days and Rhyme & Reason (CD only ©1997 Lo-Fi), and the demo is available on Lost Tracks.
4. "Discoveries" (Music: WC & TB): According to Warren, this is a song that Missing Persons would use to warm up. In a 1998 interview, he said that he thought they only performed it once, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. This instrumental was performed in some of Warren's solo shows, and at that time, it was called "Discoveries." He retitled it "In Flight Entertainment" when he included a 1994 performance of it on Roadrage. This version was recorded in London, Nov. 1994, with Warren on guitar, Nick Beggs on bass and Joe Travers on drums.
5. Other songs exist only in live material, some of which are included on Lost Tracks ("Hair & Kiss & Makeup," "On Vacation," "Centerfold Girl") and some of which are in a videotaped 1980 show which will be released on this site in the future.

Videos

Q: What is Lunch Wagon?
A: Lunch Wagon is a movie released in 1981 that includes a band called Teddy and the Ruff Riders, played by Terry, Dale, Warren, and some actors. They lipsynch Mental Hopscotch and I Like Boys and have a few lines in the movie. It is shown often on the USA and TBS networks. This movie was filmed before Missing Persons got their record deal with Capitol. In the credits, the band is credited as "U.S. Drag."

Q: What Missing Persons longform videos are available?
A: There is one collection called Surrender Your Heart, which includes Give, Right Now, Surrender Your Heart and Destination Unknown. Look in Goldmine Magazine, Ebay, or Yahoo Auctions (in Goldmine, MP might not be listed - go ahead and ask!)

We now have some Missing Persons videos available for download! Go to the Videos page.

Miscellaneous Questions

Q: Why are there two versions of the Missing Persons EP?
A: When Missing Persons signed with Capitol Records, in March 1982, Capitol decided to re-release their EP, with one change - Hello I Love You was replaced by Words. It was also made into a 12" format.

Q: Are Terry and Dale still married?
A: No. They met in 1976, married in 1979 and divorced in 1987

Q: I saw an ad for a "Missing Persons" show - when did they get back together?
A: Dale Bozzio tours sporadically with a backup band performing Missing Persons songs for the band's devoted following. Although many promoters chose to advertise this with photos of the original band, these are basically Dale Bozzio solo shows.

Q: Is it true that the Rhyme & Reason photos were taken by Helmut Newton?
A: Yes.

Q: Why does side 2 of my Color In Your Life album sound funny?
A: After the album was released in 1986, the vinyl copies were recalled because side 2 was incorrectly recorded at the wrong (faster) speed. The albums were re-issued soon after that. The cassettes were never recalled because they were recorded correctly.

Q: What were the members' publishing companies for their songwriting?
A: Terry Bozzio-Private Life Music, Dale Bozzio-Life After Music, Warren Cuccurullo-Private Parts Music, Patrick O'Hearn-Gypsy Joker Music

Q: Who is Robert O'Hearn
A: Robert was the keyboard player in the 1986 live shows. He is on "Dark & Dangerous Guy" (1986) on Lost Tracks.