From producer to manager was the next step, with Missing Persons. While they are now remembered as one of those one-hit New Wave wonders, there was a lot of potential. The band featured drummer Terry Bozzio, guitarist Wayne Cuccurullo, and bassist Patrick O'Hearn, all of whom played in Frank Zappa's crack late-seventies band. Once they became famous, (thanks to those fish-bowl bras Terry’s wife Dale wore in their videos), the egos exploded, and their career imploded.
Today, Ken Scott is working in various digital projects, along with old friends such as Billy Cobham, Woody Woodmanson, and (with fences mended) Terry Bozzio, among others. Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust is quite a ride, and Ken Scott’s stories provide a wonderful window into a world the rest of us will never know. The most poignant moment for me comes near the end of the book, when he was working with George Harrison on the remastering of All Things Must Pass. George was very sick, and Ken was there the day he left his beloved Friar Park for the last time. Ken says that Harrison walked throughout the house, looking in each room long enough to take a “mental picture,” as if he knew he would not be coming back.
It is moments like those, which transcend the producer/client relationship that make this book so special. It is really quite a read, and all of the stories are offered with a “How did I get so lucky?” type of humility which I am sure is what endeared him to so many artists over the years. I believe that anyone who enjoys peeking behind the curtain at some of the greatest rock and jazz musicians of the past 40 years will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Speaking of the Tubes, I'll always remember someone's take on vocalist Fee Waybill's name: Sounds like an invoice a truck driver needs the warehouse manager to sign-off on upon delivery of goods.(or something like that)
Anyway, great review. I think I need to get this book.
2 - Greg Barbrick
Gordon - That's hilarious! I never thought of it, (being so enamored of his alter-ego Quay Lewd), but it is perfect.
I gotta say, Ken Scott's stories are really good, not "gossipy" (if that is a word), but very enlightening.
3 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
I forgot about 'Quay Lude.'And for some reason--though I can't remember the title of that big hit they had - snippets of the lyrics zip into my head: "have a herd of Winnebagos - we're giving them away!"; don't watch the food cook!"; and of course, "A Baby's arm holding an apple" (from a Tennessee Williams play, I think Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Anyway, check out Books promos after midnight...
4 - El Bicho
damn, that man has lived a charmed life. You fellas have ne hankering to hear "White Punks on Dope" really loud!