When the brains behind the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts decided to create their courtyards, pavilion and all-around atmosphere, they likely had the June 29th Doobie Brothers/Chicago concert in mind; it seemed to have been made for such a performance.
These great rock music innovators teamed up to tour this year and the Sullivan County landmark showed them a packed crowd of fans from three generations. Heavy rains could not keep the die-hard fans from watching Chicago’s set (it was mainly dry when the Doobies were on) from the lawn, protecting themselves from the elements with some light raingear they brought by wearing plastic bags provided by the good people at Bethel Woods.
Watching the double-headliners was a true lesson in on-stage contrast: The Doobie Brothers were loose and looked like they were having fun as they moved around the stage, sometimes lining up together moving their instruments in a mildly-synchronized fashion and encouraging the crowd to sing with them. Chicago was all business when they hit the stage. These guys just came on and played, yet they were every bit as captivating to watch as the more free-wheeling Doobies.
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As for the packed crowd, they served as a testament to two bands who would never let trends dictate their style (we’ll give Chicago a mulligan for “Look Away” on Revenge of the 80s). » Read the full post
The podcast for our 6/27 Revenge of the 80s Show Featuring Dale Bozzio is up. Dale is best known as the singer and a fouding member of Missing Persons, a band that was not only ahead of its time, but is considered by many music historians to be true icons of thw L.A. New Wave scene. Missing Persons was founded by four talented people who came straight out of the world of Frank Zappa: Dale, Terry Bozzio, Warren Cuccarillo and Patrick O’Hearn. The band’s musicianship may have been underrated at the time, but had been deservedly recognized in later years.
Dale is not only a unique performer, but an energetic, captivating and engaging person to talk with.
She is still working hard, and recently released a a new CD, “Live From the Danger Zone,” earlier this year. Last year’s “New Wave Sessions” was a huge success as well. Dale now lives in New Hampshire with her family and dog, who makes a guest appearance in the first part of the interview.
During our conversation, we talk about:
How Dale met Frank Zappa and how much of a role he had in molding her and the rest of who were to become Missing Persons as musicians
How Dale developed her unique vocal style
Why she disppeared for some time from the musc scene shortly after her first solo album, “Riot In English,” produced the hit “Simon, Simon.”
How she wanted to be a movie star before giong into music
Her new CD, some rumored unreleased material and upcoming projects — including a book
I am looking forward to the release of Dale’s book after talking with her about it. She discussed it briefly during the third segment of our interview.
We also featured some classic Missing Persons songs, a track from “New Wave Sessions,” and a live “Walking in L.A.” from the 2008 CD “Live From the Danger Zone.”
During the rest of the show, we also played music from other great artists of the era including Voice of the Beehive, Doug and the Slugs, The Alarm and Paul Kelly. The VOTB track was from the rare CD “Bee Sides,” a compilation of previously unreleased material, songs on the flip sides of their singles and alternate recordings of a couple of tracks from “Honey Lingers.”
Tonight’s Revenge of the 80s features an interview with the immensely talented Dale Bozzio of Missing Persons.
Dale, Terry Bozzio, Warren Cuccarillo and Patrick O’Hearn came from the Frank Zappa musical projects to form this vastly unique band whose fine musicians set them apart from most other acts of the time. They soon became icons of the New Wave era, often being considered the very definition of the L.A. New Wave scene.
While the other members of Missing Persons have also been successful, Dale is still in the studios and on tour. She’s working on several new projects (of which you will find out during tonight’s interview) and has recently put out a new CD: “Live From the Danger Zone”. Our interview with Dale leads off the second hour of the show.
During the show, we will also feature music from ABC, Howard Jones, Doug and the Slugs and Voice of the Beehive. A podcast of the show will be available starting Saturday.
Although this board generally focuses on New Wave, Alternative pop and similar types of music, there was some great other music out there. Much of that comes from bands who were huge in the 1970s whose musicianship led them to be loved in the 80s and, in many cases, still today. Two of those bands are touring and they will be at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Sullivan County, NY this Sunday night: Chicago and the Doobie Brothers.
By the time the 1980s came around, Chicago lost the horn section that defined their sound for the many albums before. They still had horns for live shows, but their studio work featured more keyboards into the 80s. In fact, after the success of their comeback album, “Chicago 16,” the first release from their next album, “Chicago 17,” was something of a new wave-inspired synth-pop tune complete with a well-produced video: “Stay the Night.”
While the likes of me took well to the mix of jazz/rock and synth, one of my old radio bosses called it their “worst hit song.” After that track, however, the Peter Cetera-led ballads re-defined the band into an Adult Contemporary/CHR crossover in the studio while still satisfying their classic fans with the great music from the earlier years. Chicago’s biggest impact on the 80s were their videos from “17″ and their chart-toppers. This, however, underscored their musicianship that was the focal point in the first 14 of their offerings.
Devo is suing McDonalds fast food chain over their “American Idol Happy Meal” character “New Wave Nigel,” which the band claims is a blatant rip-off of their look and style. This came out in a recent story from the Australian Associated Press.
A while back, we posted a story on how McDonald’s new Happy Meal toy “New Wave Nigel” looked like a cheap imitation of members of the band.
While the chain might have considered the character a composite of the new wave style like others in the series were for different genres, company suits failed to check on whether the Devo Energy Dome hat and suit were copyrighted (according to bassist Gerald Casale, the energy dome is). This week, the band’s members revealed it is suing the fast-food chain over the little prize.
In the Australian AP report, Casale had this to say about “Nigel” (thanks to stuff.com.nz):
“They didn’t ask us anything. Plus, we don’t like McDonald’s, and we don’t like American Idol, so we’re doubly offended.”
As the case heads to court, Devo are still busy touring this summer. They play in Brooklyn tonight as part of the American leg, then on to Australia and Japan.
This Friday night, Revenge of the 80s Radio presents our interview with former Missing Persons singer and Founding Member Dale Bozzio.
Since the mid-1970s (yes, before Missing Persons) Dale has electrified audiences with her unique vocal style and performance presence.
She and Missing Persons are true icons of the New Wave era and the L.A. music scene at the time. Missing Persons founders Dale, Terry Bozzio and Warren Cuccarillo are top-notch musicians straight from the Frank Zappa school of greatness. They brought a new sound and an unforgettable style partnered with superior musicianship that played a huge part in shaping music history in the New Wave era.
Dale now lives in New Hampshire with her family some bears hanging around the yard and her dog, who makes a guest appearance during the conversation.
During the interview, we talk about:
How Dale first wanted to be a move actress
How much of an influence Frank Zappa had on her and the rest of Missing Persons
Dale’s outstanding vocal and performance styles
Why she had to temporarily stop her solo career after recording the hit album Riot In English under Prince’s Paisley Park label.
Dale’s newest CD
her upcoming book and why she decided to write it
We play a few classic Missing Persons tracks, one from Dale’s 2007 “New Wave Sessions” CD and one from her latest: “Missing Persons with Dale Bozzio: Live From the Danger Zone.”
Revenge of the 80s Radio airs every Friday night, 7-9pm on Q99.1FM in the Hudson Valley, NY and on www.revengeofthe80sradio.com. The podcast will be available the next day for those who miss the show. Our interview with Dale leads off the second hour.
One of the great comedians of all-time, George Carlin, died yesterday at the age of 71.
Carlin will be remembered as one of the more controversial comedians of his time as he entertained audiences from the 60s through the years leading up to today. Perhaps his most famous bit is the “Seven Dirty Words You Can’t Say on Television,” which, when broadcast live on New York’s WBAI-FM, sparked a landmark Supreme Court case. He was the first host of Saturday Night Live in 1975.
In the 80s, Carlin lambasted everything from the political situations of the day to sports. Some favorites from the 80s include his differences between baseball and football, ways to make baseball more interesting, and “People We Could Do Without.”
This week’s broadcast of Revenge of the 80s featured an encore presentation of our earlier interview with Tracey and Missy Belland of Voice of the Beehive. We talk about hwo they got started after moving from sunny California to London, their careers and what they are doing now. Also, Missy’s new line of fairies will be out soon on her website: Made in Heaven By Missy.
We also featured tracks from the Red Rockers, Nikki and The Corvettes, Madness and a new one from the B-52s.
We might as well make it Voice of the Beehive week. First, we hear news that former bassist Martin Brett has joined a new band, we will soon release details of a TV show that Missy Beehive will appear on as a guest, and tonight, Revenge of the 80s Radio will replay our March interview with Tracey and MIssy.
We talk about what Tracey and Missy’s career and what they are doing today. Tracey is a teacher, passing along her musical talents to youngsters in Laguna Beach, CA while MIssy is both founder of her own busienss, Made In Heaven by Missy, and a new mom to her Baby Glow.
We also feature music from the Red Rockers, Madness, Dexy’s Midnight Runners and a track from the B-52s new CD, “Funplex”
Revenge of the 80s airs every Friday night live 7-9pm Eastern US time on Q99.1Fm in the Hudson Valley, NY and on www.revengeofthe80sradio.com. The interview with Tracey and Missy kicks off the 2nd hour.
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