Dale Bozzio

Dale Frances Bozzio (née Consalvi; born March 2, 1955) is an American rock and pop vocalist. She is best known as co-founder and lead singer of the '80s new wave band Missing Persons and for her work with Frank Zappa. While with Zappa, she performed significant roles in two of his major works, ''Joe's Garage'' (1979) and '' Thing-Fish'' (1984). Bozzio has released four solo albums and one EP.

She co-founded Missing Persons in 1980 with former Zappa musicians Warren Cuccurullo and Terry Bozzio (her husband from 1979 to 1986). In addition to being the band's lead vocalist, she also contributed lyrics. Missing Persons released one EP and six albums, including '' Spring Session M'' (1982), which achieved gold record status.

After Missing Persons disbanded in 1986, Bozzio was signed to Prince's Paisley Park label which released her first solo album, '' Riot in English'' (1988). Bozzio later reformed Missing Persons and continues to perform the band's repertoire at venues across the United States. She also occasionally performs in reunions of the original band and continues her work as a solo artist. In 2014, Bozzio signed to Cleopatra Records and released a new studio album titled ''Missing in Action.'' During the summer of 2014, she signed with GRA Records for a new album to be produced by Stephan DeReine.

Early life

Bozzio was born Dale Frances Consalvi in Medford, Massachusetts. She is of Italian descent. From the age of 16, she studied drama at Emerson College and worked as a Bunny at the Playboy Club in Boston.Deirdre Donahu
"They May Be Missing Persons, but Terry and Dale Bozzio Have Found Each Other"
''People Magazine'' Vol. 22 No. 22 November 26, 1984 She was named Boston Playboy Club Bunny of the Year in 1975.

In 1976, Bozzio traveled to Playboy Mansion West in Los Angeles at the request of Hugh Hefner, to interview for a position as a Valentine party hostess.Chris Cordan
"Interview with Dale Bozzio"
Revenge of the 80s Radio June 27, 2008. The opportunity provided for both a continuing relationship with Playboy and for living arrangements in Los Angeles, where she could pursue an acting career. Bozzio rejected the offer. Shortly after, she met and gained employment with Frank Zappa.

Bozzio posed nude for Hustler in an edition published in February 1985.

Life Threatening Injury ('The Window Incident')

In an interview on the YouTube channel "Professor of Rock", and in an interview with Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, Dale reveals that she and her cousin were attacked at a Holiday Inn, in downtown Los Angeles, on September 10, 1976. The pair were in town for a critical doctor's appointment her cousin had. Later that night, three men knocked and attempted to get in their room. After calling the front desk for help, help arrived, or so she thought. The 21 year old Dale, looking through the peep hole, saw a man presenting a badge. She opened the door. To her surprise, the man came inside, got very demanding, and clearly indicated he was associated with the previous guys knocking on her door. She was told, when the others come back, that she had better comply with their demands or she would die. Dale essentially said 'no way' and the man started to attack her. While "fighting for her life" Dale ran to the window to scream for help. Dale threw open the window and did scream, but the attack continued. Before she knew it, she found herself outside the window, hanging onto a ledge, then falling. She allegedly hit a classic Holiday Inn sign on the way down. She landed on the cement, cutting her head just above the hair line, breaking a kneecap, cracking her floating ribs, and elbows. The perpetrator then threw her cousin against the wall, left, and was never found again after a considerable effort. That person was not associated with the hotel.

Dale woke up 2 weeks later in Frank Zappa's living room to Moon Unit Zappa playing the harp. This was just weeks after she finished ''Joe's Garage'' with Zappa. Dale was blind and suffering a concussion.

Dale was relocated to a hospital in Boston where she remained for 8+ months, on life support, under the watchful eye of her father. To the surprise of doctors, she did not die from blood clots, and 'fully' recovered a few months after that with essentially a year of her life missing.

Dale says she forgives her perpetrator.

With Frank Zappa

Zappa hired Bozzio to voice the part of Mary in his rock opera ''Joe's Garage'' (1979) which was under development at the time. In that role she sang about issues such as the Roman Catholic Church, sexuality, and the culture of rock bands. In "Packard Goose", Bozzio, again as the voice of Mary, gave a brief monologue concerning how information, knowledge, wisdom, truth, beauty, love, and music relate to one another, with music as the best.

Bozzio's voice can also be heard in the 1979 film '' Baby Snakes'' and in the single "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted" (1980), a criticism of the U.S. military draft policy at that time. "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted" was also included on the album '' The Lost Episodes'' (1996).

In 1984, Bozzio was cast in Zappa's musical '' Thing-Fish.'' In voicing the part of Rhonda, she played opposite her real-life husband at the time, Terry Bozzio, who voiced the character Harry, Rhonda's husband. In ''Thing-Fish,'' Bozzio articulated some of the album's topics such as feminism, female sexuality, young urban professionals, and the state of Broadway musical theater.

In November 1991, participating along with other alumni in Zappa's fiftieth birthday tribute concert, ''Zappa's Universe,'' Dale revised the words in her recitation of her lines in "Packard Goose" to, "Music...and Frank Zappa...are the best."

Missing Persons

Bozzio, along with Zappa touring guitarist Warren Cuccurullo and Terry Bozzio who had been one of Zappa's drummers, founded Missing Persons in 1980. Missing Persons had multiple hits during the first half of the 1980s and disbanded in 1986, shortly after the release of their third album titled '' Color in Your Life'' (1986).

Bozzio continued to record and perform after the breakup of the original Missing Persons band. During the early 1990s, she toured with her own group using the band name and performing Missing Persons songs. In June 2005, Missing Persons featuring Dale Bozzio appeared on week five of the NBC show '' Hit Me Baby One More Time.''

Dale and Missing Persons were referenced in season 2 of the CW TV network show '' iZombie'' in 2015. A recurring character played by Jessica Harmon is FBI agent Dale Bozzio, who works on missing persons cases.

Missing Persons released their first album of completely original material in 37 years, '' Hollywood Lie'', on November 10, 2023.

Solo career

Bozzio's solo album '' Riot in English'' was released in 1988 on Prince's Paisley Park Records, under the mononym Dale. The lead single "Simon Simon" reached #33 on the Billboard dance chart.

''New Wave Sessions'' was released on October 9, 2007, on compact disc by Cleopatra Records. The album included new versions of the Missing Persons hits "Words" and " Destination Unknown", and covers of the 1980s songs " Funkytown", " Der Kommissar", " Turning Japanese", " I Know What Boys Like", and " Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".

In 2010, Bozzio's ''Make Love Not War'' album and ''Talk Talk'' EP was released on Electrik Blue Records.

In 2014, Bozzio's ''Missing in Action'' was released on Cleopatra Records.

In 2020, she released her second solo album as Missing Persons titled '' Dreaming''. It contains mostly covers of some classic rock / pop songs from 1960s, 1970s and 1980s decades.

Influences

Bozzio was influenced by black and white film era stars including Jean Harlow and Marlene Dietrich. She was also influenced by Judy Garland, and Frank Zappa. For her work with Missing Persons, Bozzio drew inspiration from the screen images of black and white era actresses; however, she incorporated color into her presentation.

Her influence was behind Gelvin Guitars SSM guitar they made specifically for her with a Spring Session M theme to it.

Personal life

During her work with Zappa, she met drummer Terry Bozzio in 1976. They married in 1979 after Terry had become a member of the band U.K. They divorced in 1986 with Dale retaining her married name. She has two children from her marriage to Richard McKenzie.

In 2009 she was convicted of animal cruelty after several dead and malnourished cats were found at her home in Ossipee, New Hampshire while she was touring with her band; she claimed that the caretaker she had hired to stay at her house did not arrive. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 250 hours of community service, barred from keeping pets and ordered to pay a $2700 euthanization bill.Rigazio, Ashley
"Dale Bozzio sentenced to jail"
''The Boston Phoenix'', May 27 2009. Retrieved on 3 August 2015.

Discography

With Frank Zappa

* ''Joe's Garage, Act I'' (1979)
* ''Joe's Garage, Acts II and III'' (1979)
* '' Thing-Fish'' (1984)
* '' The Lost Episodes'' (1996)

With Missing Persons

* ''Missing Persons EP'' (1980) No. 46 US
* '' Spring Session M'' (1982, 1995) No. 17 US
* '' Rhyme & Reason'' (1984, 2000) No. 43 US
* '' Color in Your Life'' (1986, 2000) No. 88 US
* ''The Best of Missing Persons'' (1987)
* '' Late Nights Early Days'' (1998)
* ''Remixed Hits'' (1999)
* '' Lost Tracks'' (2002)
* ''Classic Masters: Missing Persons'' (2002)
* ''The Best of Missing Persons: 10 Best Series'' (2002)
* ''Walking in LA: The dance mixes'' (2006)
* ''Live from the Danger Zone!: Dale Bozzio & Missing Persons'' (March 2008 Acadia Records UK – Europe & Airline Records – USA)
* ''Missing in Action'' (2014)
* '' Dreaming'' (2020)
* '' Hollywood Lie'' (2023)

Solo releases

* '' Riot in English'' (1988)
* ''New Wave Sessions'' (2007)
* ''Talk Talk EP'' (2010)
* ''Make Love Not War'' (2010)

Filmography and videography

Filmography

* '' Baby Snakes'' (1979)
* '' Lunch Wagon'' (1981)
* '' Zappa's Universe'' (1993)
* ''US Festival 1983 Days 1-3'' (2009)

Videography

Missing Persons

*''Words'' (1981)
*''Mental Hopscotch'' (1982)
*''Destination Unknown'' (1982)
*''Noticeable One'' (1983)
*''Surrender Your Heart'' (1984)
*''Give'' (1984)
*''Right Now'' (1984)
*''I Can't Think About Dancing'' (1986)

With Frank Sinatra

*''L.A. is My Lady'' (1984)

Solo

*''Simon Simon'' (1988)

Guest appearances

"Walking in LA" live with Lunden Reign, Live at LA Pride Festival (June 7, 2014)

References

External links

*

Dale Bozzio interview 2014 Rocker Magazine

Dale Bozzio interview with Professor of Rock

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bozzio, Dale
1955 births
Living people
Paisley Park Records artists
American new wave musicians
American people of Italian descent
American women new wave singers
Missing Persons (band) members
People from Medford, Massachusetts
Singers from Massachusetts
20th-century American women singers
20th-century American singers
21st-century American women singers
21st-century American singers