Missing Persons – Nostalgia Central

Formed in 1980 in Los Angeles by vocalist (and former model) Dale Bozzio and drummer Terry Bozzio (who had met while working with Frank Zappa and married in 1979) and guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, Missing Persons later added bassist Patrick O’Hearn and keyboardist Chuck Wild.

The band toured, recorded and promoted a self-titled 4-track EP, appeared in the film Lunch Wagon (1981), and built a following among the Los Angeles live music scene.

They signed with Capitol Records in 1982 and re-released their EP with the song Words replacing a cover of The Doors song Hello, I Love You.

They recorded a new full-length album, Spring Session M in 1982 (the title is an anagram of ‘Missing Persons’), which spawned four singles: Destination Unknown, Words, Walking in L.A, and Windows, all of which made the Billboard Hot 100, although none charted higher than #42.

The band enjoyed considerable success in the local markets of Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco, and Dale’s quirky voice and heavy makeup made the band a favourite on MTV.

They followed up their debut with the experimental album Rhyme & Reason (1984), which was neither a commercial nor a critical success. Only the single Give met with any chart response, and Chuck Wild left the band after the album release and was not replaced.

Their third album – the more conventional Color in Your Life – was issued in June 1986 and only had a minor hit with I Can’t Think About Dancin’.

Increasing tensions between Terry and Dale Bozzio led to the end of the couple’s marriage and the band.

Missing Persons reunited in 2001, 2003, 2009 and 2011, and issued a new album (Missing in Action) in 2014.  Another album (Dreaming) appeared in 2020, with another (Hollywood Lie) in 2023.

Warren Cuccurullo joined Duran Duran after Missing Persons broke up. Chuck Wild became an in-demand session player, playing keyboards on albums for Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, and the Pointer Sisters.

Dale Bozzio
Vocals
Warren Cuccurullo
Guitar
Chuck Wild
Keyboards
Patrick O’Hearn
Bass
Terry Bozzio
Drums