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Showing posts with label dale bozzio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dale bozzio. Show all posts

11.04.2010

Noticeable One

I should begin by saying that I'm a product of the 80's and I'm not ashamed to admit it, in fact, I'm quite proud of it.  The 80's brought us MTV, and back when they used to actually play videos, MTV was great!

Adam Ant (the real one!) in 1980

WendyB (or Adam Ant??) in 2010

WendyB and I started planning our Halloween costumes last November (uh, yeah we are ridiculous) and when she told me her idea of dressing as Adam Ant, I felt comfortable enough to let her in on my secret desire to dress as Dale Bozzio from Missing Persons for years.  I never had the guts to prance around in a plastic bra and then, Lady Gaga happened.  Since Gaga practically stole Dale's look initially (though the Lady certainly has had some wild wardrobe ideas of her own), I didn't think anyone would pin me as Ms. Bozzio anymore.  I was sure that if I attempted a Dale outfit, I would be mistaken for Lady G. and would be lost in a sea of  hundreds of other Gaga costumes.  So, I switched gears (but not decades!) and came up with Siouxsie Sioux as an alternative.

Siouxsie Sioux

UPDATE: This photo just in! Thanks to beautiful, blonde, bombshell blogger, Tina (of the Occasional Cook).  You can even see my "feather lashes."

Julie (Marie Antoinette), Me (Siouxsie), WendyB (Adam Ant), Tina (blonde bombshell)
We were an 80's power couple!  Wendy was such a convincing Adam Ant, I wasn't sure I trusted myself to be alone with her.  Kidding!  I kid, people, I jest.  But seriously, her outfit and make-up were dead on... perfect!  I, on the other hand, wasn't quite so perfect.  After two hours of fussing with my eyes, lips and hair, I pretty much looked like a punk rock Cleopatra.  I'm not saying that's such a bad thing, but it seemed like a little too much effort to fall short of my goal.  Anyway, it was still a fun Halloween so I can't complain.  Maybe next year I'll just go for it and rock a blonde wig with a shock of pink and blue, some silver spandex and a plastic bra...

Dale Bozzio is most definitely a "Noticeable One"

3.22.2010

Not Your Typical Nunn...

As many of you know, I’m a huge fan of the music of the late 70’s and the 80’s – not the top forty crap, of course! So many interesting bands emerged during that era like; Talking Heads, Ramones, The Clash, Bauhaus, Roxy Music, The Stranglers, The Smiths, etc. MTV hit the airwaves in 1981 and The Buggles, “Video Killed the Radio Star” made history as the first music video shown.

Berlin lead singer, Terri Nunn with her signature hairstyle

Videos changed everything. Image became as important as the music (today it’s even more so) and people started to adopt the styles of their favorite artists. Women were extremely influential with performers like Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, Joan Jett, Siouxsie Sioux, Dale Bozzio (aka “the original Lady Gaga”), The Go Go’s and, of course, Madonna leading the way.

Terri Nunn, 1984

Back in the day, Terri Nunn was the coolest of cool in my book. The gorgeous Nunn is the lead singer of the band “Berlin,” known to most for their hit single “Take My Breath Away” in the film Top Gun. Ironically, this happens to be my LEAST favorite song! Why is it that bands I like only gain mainstream popularity when they release an average and uninspired tune? Anyway, the band hail from Orange County, CA and formed in 1979. They released their first single, “A Matter of Time” in 1980, and then in 1982, their controversial song “Sex (I’m A…)” was actually banned by some radio stations. I’m sure it would be considered quite tame by today’s standards!

The band in 1986 (Terri Nunn, Rob Brill & John Crawford)

In 1986, my awesome sister took me to see Berlin for my birthday. Because they were not well known, they were playing at a gym in a little college near our town in Pennsylvania. It was incredible. We were sitting on the bleachers watching the opening act when I noticed a very attractive man with cool hair over my right shoulder. I would know that spiky hairdo anywhere! It was John Crawford, the bassist for Berlin – just sitting there watching the warm up band! Unfortunately, I couldn’t muster up the courage to say hello to him before he slipped away out the side door to go get ready. That would never happen today! I’m not exactly the shy young kid I used to be.


one of my all time favorites!
Terri and the boys took the stage and she looked and sounded amazing. That’s what is so great about Berlin -- they have super style and talent. Ms. Nunn has pipes beyond belief. Just listen for yourself…

very cool "Bonnie & Clyde" style video

1.23.2010

The original Lady Gaga

In 1982 when the new-wave band Missing Persons released the hit song “Destination Unknown”, it’s not likely that lead singer Dale Bozzio (i.e. the original Lady Gaga) would have predicted she was destined for prison. Last year, Bozzio was sentenced to 90 days in prison for animal cruelty after authorities discovered 12 cats in her New Hampshire home, all of which had to be put down. It’s hard to fathom such a drop-dead gorgeous entertainer could fall so far (sarcasm implied).


Dale  Bozzio in the early 80's

Regardless of the recent incident, I’m still a huge fan of Bozzio. She was fearless, edgy and sexy. Her bold and inventive fashion sense influenced me. Clearly, Lady Gaga was influenced as well. Some 20+ years later, Gaga has “borrowed” Dale’s style and is enjoying fame of her own. I know my friend WendyB is a fan!

Dale wearing a bubble wrap vest (it's actually got nice structure and I like the use of small bubbles vs. large!)
Since their lyrics weren’t the most poetic and thoughtful (i.e. “Walking in L.A. Walking in L.A. Nobdoy walks in L.A.” Or, “My lips are moving and the sound is coming out.” Genius… ), it’s safe to say that Missing Persons’ success was largely due to Ms. Bozzio’s outfits. Light bulbs, electrical appliances and even bubble wrap were all parts of her ensembles. Dale is also known for her high-pitched squeaks with which she so often finished verses. Luckily, I’m able to imitate this fairly well so “Words” is my go-to tune when forced into a karaoke situation.


Dale with Missing Persons singing "Words" on Solid Gold!  Remember Marilyn McCoo?

It requires a high level of confidence to be influential or to be an icon. Thank goodness Bozzio was ballsy enough to step out on stage wearing nothing more than a sheet of tin foil or a few light bulbs! Fashion has greatly benefited from her avant-garde approach to style. It’s actually nice to see Lady Gaga bringing it all back. I’m feeling nostalgic…