Destination Known: Eighties New Wave Trendsetters Missing Persons Reunite

By Chris Strauss

Campus Circle, July 25-Aug 7, 2001

The Eighties just won't go away. As if Anthony Michael Hall starring in the VH-1 biopic on Def Leppard isn't scary enough, Belinda Carlisle is showing that heaven truly is a place on earth in this month's issue of <I>Playboy</I> Not to be left out of the nostalgia, Missing Persons, known for their Plexiglas-donning leader Dale Bozzio's pink hair and early-'80s radio hits like "Words" and "Destination Unknown," has reunited for their first performances in 15 years. After overcoming the divorce of two of their members and another bandmate's penchant for showing his "member," Missing Persons is a <I>Behind The Music</I> waiting to happen.

Since the breakup of the band as well as the marriage of Dale and drummer Terry Bozzio in 1985, each of the three original members created their own paths. Guitarist Warren Cuccurullo went on to stardom as a member of Duran Duran from 1986 until recently when he left the group to reform Missing Persons. Dale had been performing the group's songs on her own, while Terry had worked with a number of artists, winning a Grammy with Jeff Beck. Although the personal relationship between Dale and Terry had deteriorated, their musical partnership remains as strong as ever. "We've made our amends," Dale states. "It's not that we're friends. We made this music, and when you are a musician, you make a commitment to another musician."

With Southern California shows on the horizon, Missing Persons recently began rehearsals in Los Angeles. Neither Dale nor Warren seemed too apprehensive about losing any of their original spark. "We know the tunes so well, and originally we rehearsed six times a week," Dale says. "It'll all come together. I sing 15 years better and can control my vocal strategy." Warren agrees, saying, "We'll rehearse every day leading up to the shows, brushing up on things. Dale has been playing the songs occasionally. We'll stumble through it."

While it may be premature to look beyond their initial performances, Missing Persons is beginning to record new music and hoping that a rejuvenated interest in the band could lead them to an extended tour. "We've got these great songs, and we did some great shows," explains Warren. "We were one of the first MTV bands that brought musicianship, post-punk energy and a technical element to composition that wasn't in other bands. My feeling is, let's go play it. Let's see if people have an interest. If so, I'd love to go out in November through January, heading back out next summer."

Regardless of whether Missing Persons extends their reunion into a full-fledged tour, fans will have the ability to meet Warren in a very personal way. Utilizing the Internet to turn every fan into a backstage groupie, he has unleashed www.cuccurullo.tv, among other things. Billed as "redefining the boundaries of the Internet," the site's "All Access" section will allow visitors to view Warren's personal nude photo collection and ask them anything they wish. The "Come Clean Q & A" section will feature a nude Warren conducting interviews in the shower. Eventually, he hopes to be able to host live chats in which he can entertain fan questions and requests in real time. While the site is definitely unconventional for established musicians, Warren sees it as an extension of his personality and another way for him to continue breaking barriers.

"I really want the site to be entertaining and for people to get to know me," Warren says. "I take my clothes off in proper interviews, which in that setting is very avant garde. I'd like the site to be more like demented Letterman sketches. Eventually, it will get to a nude chatroom. I want to be in the living room taking requests, anything within the realm of what I consider good taste. People don't know yo through a song: what I can do goes beyond television and gives you an exposure, no pun intended."

It doesn't seem as though Warren's latest venture is too shocking to those who know him best, either. "Warren has been a nudist since before I met him," Dale laughs. "It's his nature and he can get away with it… the rest of the band definitely won't."

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