Early ‘80s Song of the Week: "Destination Unknown"

For the week of July 27 - August 2, 1997

http://www.postalnauts.com/newwave/97-08-02/missing.html

Missing Persons were a weird one, even for the early ‘80s. Prior to her pop career, singer Dale Bozzio was a Playboy Bunny, and the musicians came together through their association with Frank Zappa, the king of weird.

Drummer Terry Bozzio, bass player Patrick O’Hearn, keyboardist Chuck Wild, and guitarist Warren Cuccurullo had all worked with Frank Zappa in the 1970s, touring and doing studio work for the eccentric musician. Lured away from the experimental Mothers of Invention by the pop riches that seemed so within reach, Terry and wife Dale Bozzio began recruiting friends from his Zappa days. In 1980 Missing Persons began recording, though their initial offering, synth-disco cover of the Doors’ “Hello I Love You,” was poorly received and died an early death.

By 1982 Missing Persons had put the pieces together, signing on with Capitol Records and having successful hits with “Words” and “Destination Unknown.” The success of these two early singles and of their debut album proved hard to repeat, and the band called it quits in 1986 after several frustrating years of disappointing sales. Their early successes have not been forgotten, though, as Missing Persons’ hits pop up regularly on ‘80s compilation CDs, "modern rock" stations, and even Beavis and Butthead episodes. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, the former band members must have been thrilled upon hearing the Smashing Pumpkins’ recent copy-cat cover of “Destination Unknown.”